day 263

shocker: i review a movie

it's been...i don't know how long since i reviewed a movie. like christmas-long. so, here we go. at the beginning of summer (okay, it was really more july) i decided to go on a book-buying-binge. barnes and noble was having a red dot sale. how could i resist? one of the books i picked up was julie and julia, the 2005ish (i don't feel like looking it up) memoir by julie powell about her "year of cooking dangerously." the book documents julie's year of cooking all 524 (again, just a guesstimate because i don't feel like double checking) recipes in julia child's mastering the art of french cooking, including her time spent writing a blog all about the adventure. the book is a witty, tongue-in-cheek look at a once-in-a-lifetime trip down crazy lane that turned out to be a goldmine (both spiritually and physically) for powell. i bought the book mainly because i had seen previews for the movie and i have a rule - generally - that i have to read the book version of a movie before i watch the adaptation (case in point, i also read the time traveller's wife). when i finished the book, i was confused as to how julia child's life was going to be incorporated at all. julie and julia (the book) only makes reference to the julia child living inside julie powell's head, with re-imaginings of historical letters placed throughout. that's when i actually did some research and learned that the movie version of j and j was actually based, partially, on julia child's own memoir about her life in paris. i didn't get a chance to read that before watching the movie; but, after seeing it, i definitely will add it to my ever-growing pile of books to read. the movie divides its 2+ hour running time almost equally between julie and julia; writer/director nora ephron does a great job seamlessly paralleling the two women's stories. this is not a romantic comedy, but a comedy about finding yourself. julie and julia are both happily married so you don't have to sit through a contrived love story. well, to an extent. the love story you get to see is all about food. food plays such an important in j&j's lives that it's almost the third star of the film. the marquee should probably read "starring meryl streep, amy adams, and julia child's beef bourguignon." when i got to the theater i googled how long the movie ran and was immediately worried; at 122 minutes i was expecting a grueling experience in which i check my watch every 5 minutes. however, while i did check my watch a few times throughout, i was happily surprised. with the split narrative, it's like you're getting to watch two short movies (that complement each other perfectly) for the price of one. while i was sad to see that some of my favorite parts of julie and julia the book were changed, rearranged, and eliminated completely, i couldn't have asked for a better interpretation. all julie powell all the time would have been watch-inducing pain; same for all julia child all the time. but the pairing of them together was right on the money. and, for the $9 you're probably paying to see the flick, it better be. in my book, meryl streep can do no wrong...and amy adams is ready to inherit her throne when she's done with the movie biz. everything about the movie - from the creative techniques made to make 5 foot something streep appear 6'2" and the seamless transitions between both worlds - was cinematically appetizing. and just plain appetizing. i highly recommend both the book and the film. it would be a shame if you passed on either. in the words of julia child, bon apetit.