What a great job Stanley Tucci and Meryl Streep did in this.
I knew of Julia Child, but wasn’t a big fan, or even very knowledgeable about her cook book or television show. Nevertheless, her story really grabbed me, I think because of the chemistry between Tucci and Streep, and Streep’s spooky ability to portray Child, a huge stork of a woman, who doesn’t fit in, but always carries herself with purpose and poise.
The story is a contrast between the lives of an unknown blogger (Amy Adams as the titular Julie) and Child, as each tries to find her niche in life. The Child parts of the story are much more powerful than the anonymous blogger parts, but as my wife pointed out: the movie might not have worked with just Child’s story. It needed some sort of counterpoint and the social and economic contrast between Child (upper middle class, 50s era) and Julie (struggling middle class, 21st century) was understated but clearly important. I am undecided whether to lay blame at Adams feet or lazy screen writing, but Julie’s life just didn’t resonate with me. When Child finally gets her book deal, I want to cheer, weep, or a little of both. When Julie gets hers, I think: shit, I could have done that.
Still, really worth a look.
Present Tense 
Tim, I felt exactly the same way about this movie. I read the book, and Julie the blogger got on my nerves in a major way. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to sit thru the movie. Fortunately, they did show that she was kind of a petulant self-centered annoying creature at times. I thought Meryl Streep seemed literally larger than life, and Child’s story definitely carried the momentum of the movie. For more on Julia Child, I recommend her autobiography, “My Life in France”. I listened to the audiobook version and was riveted. (I was also encouraged by the fact that she didn’t discover her true passion and purpose until after the age of 40.) AND…I too believe you could someday write a book that becomes a movie, and when you do, I want Ellen DeGeneres to play me. Thanks.
C2 Laurie! I rather like the hippish feel of writing C2.
Holly tells me she saw Child’s “Life in France” on display next to “Julia & Julie” at Elliott Bay Book Store, one of the most wonderful independent book stores in Seattle. Next time you’re up this way, I want to take you. Hopefully one day I will have a book of my own on one of their racks. Wouldn’t that be something!
Yes, I think Ellen might really be able to do you justice. Note to self: Streep out; Ellen to play Laurie.
[…] & Julia – Meryl Streep is so much fun to watch. Stanley Tucci is a […]