Hiya! Fáilte chuig mo Bhlog!! Welcome to my Blog! For ages I've avoided writing a "Blog" - even the use of the word was anathema to me -it sounds so unlyrical, ugly, even - and so I (perhaps foolishly, perhaps, snobbishly) resisted until, finally, I realised it was akin to holding out, Canute-like, against the use of the word "cool" or the wearing of hugely baggy trousers by young people...And so, here I am, contrite, humbled, writing on my Blog page. Oh, how the mighty have fallen...
Film Review: Julie & Julia |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Oct 02 2009 |
On the subject of fillums, (John Ford said that the Irish loved film so much that we gave it two syllables!) we went to our lovely local cinema in Bantry the other night. Our choice was “Julie & Julia”, written and directed by Norah Ephron and starring Meryl Streep, who’s performance has been receiving rave reviews.
I knew it was about the beloved US tv chef, Julia Child, and had heard great things about it from US friends, but I was a little anxious that, not growing up with Julia, or knowing anything about her, the film would not be for me.
Now, I did know that Norah Ephron is always witty - if she had done nothing else but “When Harry Met Sally”, her place in the Firmament would have been assured. (She also did the equally popular, but more cloying, ”Sleepless in Seattle”, but let’s draw a discreet veil over that, shall we?)(note: I love "An Affair to Remember", ok? So, don't think I don't like romantic films!)
To begin with, when I heard Meryl’s, no doubt very accurate, portrayal of Julia, I feared that she was going too much for a straight impersonation but I needn’t have! In no time at all, I loved the Julia in the film. As did the entire (small - it was a Wednesday night) audience. (Couldn’t help noticing that we were all of “a certain age”!!)
Now, the story line very cleverly intertwines the parts of Julia Child’s autobiography which deal with her development as a chef and her efforts to complete and have published her, now landmark, book, ”Mastering the Art of French Cooking” - which apparently, is in every home in the US, and a new book about and by a young woman, the “Julie” of the title, who decides to shake up her life by cooking every single recipe in Julia’s cookery book within one calendar year. She begins a blog to record her progress and lack thereof. Julie is played the always watchable and eminently likeable Amy Adams - I loved her in “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day”.
The film, in the fine old tradition of such movies, charts the ups and downs of the two projects as well as the personal lives of the women. That it does so in a charming and fresh manner is due to the strength of the writing and the performances of the actors. incidentally, ever reliable, Stanley Tucci is great as Julia’s husband, Paul. You get to care about and really like Julia and Julie and there are plenty of laughs along the way - as well as some poignant moments. Was Julia Child actually this adorable? I hope so. Another star in the film is the food itself. It looks glorious: I could almost feel my arteries hardening just looking! Bon appetite!!
A very small quibble: for heaven’s sake, why does Eric, Julie’s husband, eat like such a pig? Honestly, I’m sure the food was delicious, he’s a healthy, hungry young man, but could you please take your face out of the plate and look at the woman who made this delicious fare? Thank you, that’s off my chest now.
One other odd thing in a fillum of this stature: the mic kept appearing over the heads of the actors! Surely somebody noticed that at the editing stage? Strange.
Go and see it! It’s great entertainment.
Last changed: Oct 05 2009 at 8:43 PM
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