How to See the Movie Julie & Julia
If you’re going to see the movie Julie & Julia you must see it with a group of bloggers. Women bloggers. Women bloggers who bring treats, aka mom bloggers. One of the gang smuggled in entire boxes of cookies and brownies. If you’re not a blogger or don’t know any, see it with a group of girlfriends and eat before or after. As part of the fun.
This was not a food movie on caliber with Eat Drink Man Woman, Babbette’s Feast or some of the other most amazing movies focused on food. It was more about charm — specifically the charm of Julia Child. Julia is so herself at every moment and so comfortable with herself. Meryl Streep captured that beautifully.
Food was incidental to the movie and too rushed but this was not a rich drama, it was a charming tea. It was more about marriages and a very familiar dilemma of what to do with one’s life. How to get through the tough or dull parts that inevitably come to you.
Authors will be able to relate to the process of writing and getting a book published. So for that reason it’s as much about the life of a writer and a wife than it is about food. Or at least since I’m both that’s how I saw it.
As a blogger I could relate to the stages of blogging that Julie went through:
1. The process of deciding to write a blog.
2. You start blogging and your mom is the only one talking about your blog. She offers her opinion of what you write and is glad to know what you’re thinking and doing from day to day.
3. You get your first real comment, which is a celebration.
4. The first time you realize you have an audience. And they like you. At this point you’re hooked.
5. Something dramatic happens and you want to stop blogging.
6. You experience the emotional ups and downs that come from going public with your life or passion.
Favorite Quote from the movie: You should’ve seen the way those men looked at me! But then they discovered I was fearless!
Worst part of the movie: Julie leaves a block of butter by Julia’s picture. Did not work for me. The film was sweet without being sentimental or deep. But at that point it crossed into cheesy territory. Overall it’s a charming movie, one that you should see at least once.
9 Responses to “How to See the Movie Julie & Julia”
Leave a Reply
August 12th, 2009 at 9:59 am
great review! i totally want to see that movie. good to hear you liked it.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:03 am
thanks for your comment Lyndsey (a fellow paper girl)! I wish you’d come last night. I should get your number and remember to invite you. Too bad I don’t live closer.
You’ll have to tell me what you think when you get to see it.
-Janet
August 12th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I agree that the food was actually incidental in the movie. I was surprised because the reviews I had read prior to last night all said the food was the star. I definitely saw it more as 2 women’s path to self discovery and how that effected the world around them.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:57 am
I saw it Monday night alone and I loved it. I read the Julie book and liked it– but too much F-word for my tastes. I agree that Meryl Streep did such a good job that I never thought about her as an actor, just Julia. As far as the butter goes, that was in the book and better done in the book. Good review, thanks
August 12th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Janet. I am so glad you went with us last night. Great review. My favorite parts of seeing the movie was watching “Julia” of course, and listening to the audience get and laugh at the jokes and hearing the foodies (which I am not one) “Oooo” and “Aaahhhh” whenever the camera zoomed in on the food.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Lorna, So did you like the book or the movie best? I keep hearing Julia’s voice in my head. I want to see it again but with just Julia.
Jones
Thanks for inviting me – it was fun to see you, April and everyone who came. I thought it would make me hungry but it didn’t. Funny, I didn’t notice the crowd at all.
Thanks for commenting!
-Janet
August 15th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I enjoyed your review Janet. I am not sure I will get my husband to this one. I guess I had better get a a group of ladies together. He did go to “500 Days of Summer,” however. I had to go see it because my daughter said it was a painful replay of her doomed relationship (she was the guy) It is very artsy. You might like it.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:29 am
[...] How to See the Movie Julie & Julia [...]
January 5th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
[...] highlight of the year was seeing Julie & Julia with a group of bloggers (we paid). I think that bookstores who bring in authors and movie theaters [...]