"Julie and Julia" (2009) - Movie Review

If there is one thing I could relate to Julie Powell (Amy Adams), thinking back make it two, that would be blogging and cooking. This film is supposed to be the first one to find its birth in the blogosphere. In the August of 2002, Powell decided to revamp her life by writing about her cooking adventures through the 524 recipes of Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” in 365 days. The curious character skin of Julia Child is worn by Meryl Streep in this film. Given that I have no clue of the TV show Julia Child did and her success in cooking, Streep’s Child is an annoying entertainment. Adapted by the blog turned book of Julia Powell and the part of Child’s life from Julia Child’s “My Life in France”, Nora Ephron writes and directs a film which after point forgot that there is an end to a film.

Ephron appears to be a specialist in faceless people meeting over the lines of human invented communication. She also has a liking for chances, coincidences and through that a relationship coming through in a cliche guising as novel idea. She is good at that and did good in writing “When Harry Met Sally”. Here there is a good film, a better film and it stays so until we realize that the time spent out here is more than enough. It is getting a little bit overwhelming and that even for a second put an otherwise nice film into jeopardy.

Ephron does a good thing of slicing the screen time between Julie and Julia. One moving in to a new place above a Pizzeria in Queens, New York while the other moving to a different country. Julie is on her brink of an early life crisis while Julia hunts for the passion which exist right in front of her, food. Both women have the two most sweetest, patient and lovable spouses. Paul Child (Stanley Tucci) works in the US Embassy and completely is in support and love for Julia Child. She is sweet and nice too, a little too much if you get the drift.

In the current modern world where this reviewers scribbling getting a chance to float around in the space of bytes, Julie Powell is having a day job hearing angry, sad and frustrating phone calls. Her friends who exist solely to have a lunch to talk over their cell phones and careers reeking the thoughts of Powell, a small apartment in Queens does not help. Eric Powell (Chris Messina) tries to cheer up his wife and that helps but Powell needs more. The meaning of the time left in this world and hence to make something of it. Thus begins this venture and time and again we see how both Powell and Child learning, mastering and finally finding success in the business of her cooking.

All merry and fine stories to be filmed and make the feel good film of the dawning fall of this year. Julia Child through the books becomes the mentor, friend and guide for Powell. She begins to write about it. To keep her writing career afloat, this seems to be an effective outlet which I have no choice than to agree. I know that many people whom I have never met or will never meet read or may be not. The joy of writing these reviews are immeasurable. It keeps my other side of the life sane and most of all something to be passionate about. Yet when I got that first comment, it made an odd tingling sensation. It is a rejoice to know that someone took time not alone to read but to write something. That is not alone encouraging but the psychological need to be fulfilled of being known and given a physical presence in this diminishing life. Even if it is hateful and critical, the notice and approval is paramount. In that sense, I could relate with Julie Powell when she begins to write. And Amy Adams with Nora Ephron gives that not in knife out of the sheath treatment but good enough to be honest.

“Julie and Julia” tells the ever smiling, ever bubbly and a fight to cook attitude in Julia Child. It also tells how lives of people affects other in manner they would not imagine. Admiring and idolizing someone to make your life is constructive but once the point is reached to be self sustaining, the idea of that person becomes an obsession and longing for approval. While I suffered from that through Roger Ebert, I learned that the idea of him in keeping me writing was myself and of course my friend Mathi. The inspiration of the man cannot be denied but growing out of it is important enough to be not consumed by it. “Julie and Julia” is not a deep tale about it but it reminded me of that and it does not deal it with the profoundness. Of course it is not expected in a film like this either. I cannot really say that I liked it as much as I could not say I did not like it. It is a true middle ground. I revisited the origins of this blog and the joy of seeing the first comment which I described with such closeness and I forgot to say what was in it. It was a woman because the name sounded like it which I do not remember and she wanted to sell me something, mostly an erotic magazine. For some reason she never responded to the reply comment I posted (not to mention that she never did send those e-magazines either). Do you know why? I am kidding. I do not even remember the first comment posted in my blog. (Do you know why?)