Written by: Tim Luisi
Last year Amy Adams and Meryl Streep went toe to toe in the enthralling Doubt: Streep as the shrewish Sister Aloysius set in her ways and clamoring for the removal of Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and Adams as Sister James stuck doubting whether he was innocent or guilty of the crimes of which he had been accused. Following the release of the film, both were Oscar nominated for their roles.
Just one year after their exciting face off the two played opposite each other once again, albeit this time separated by nearly fifty years in the charming and thoroughly entertaining Julie and Julia.
The film, helmed by director Nora Ephron (You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle), represents one of the funniest films of the year as well as one of the best scripted. While scenes filled with simply cooking could have become monotonous, here they lend themselves to character development especially in the scenes with Amy Adams.
In the film, Adams plays Julie Powell, a woman who is at a crossroads in her life and entirely unsure what she should be doing. Hearing of a friend’s success with blogging she turns to that and vows to cook all of Julia Child’s (Meryl Streep) recipes from her cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking and to blog about each meal in one years time. While this adventure gives her newly found purpose it also puts strain on the relationships around her, making her a nearly different person by the story’s end.
Adams, who first slammed onto the Hollywood scene with her entirely endearing and Oscar-nominated turn in Junebug, keeps her incredibly hot streak alive here. More charming than Julia Roberts ever was in her 90’s run, she is an actress who automatically brings sincerity to every role and an adorable presence to each film she is in. Perhaps what is most impressive about her performance here is that it is much more complex than that of Streep’s. While Streep’s may be flashier, Adams’ role is ultimately the backbone of the entire narrative. Reminiscent of Meg Ryan in her prime Adams, who has been unfairly maligned by some critics for always playing cute characters, here has to play her most normal role to date and she pulls it off without a hitch.
Meanwhile, when the film is not focused on Adams, it flips to the time Julia Child spent in Paris, where she first learned how to cook. This section of the film, while entertaining, is also surprisingly informative, dealing not only with Child’s efforts to put together her cookbook, but also the trials that her husband Paul Child went through as he was accused by Joseph McCarthy of holding communist ties. Ultimately it is this section of the film that many have found the better of the two and that has mainly to do with Meryl Streep, who is as always completely fabulous.
Streep has always been a master of accents and here once again she sports a new one, perfectly emulating Child’s strange hybrid of Bostonian and British speech. More than just an imitation, however, this is a fully realized and perfectly hilarious performance. Moving from a nun in Maine to this, Streep once again shows her diversity, but more importantly, why she is the greatest living actress, if not perhaps the greatest actress of all time.
Moving on from the performances that are the main driving force of the film, it must be said that while this is an entertaining film, it is also a very complicated one. Serving as basically two different biopics, there were so many ways that this adaptation could have fallen flat, but despite all of the obstacles it manages to work very well because of a well put together screenplay which gave both stories several different connections throughout the film. Even though Adams and Streep may not have shared screentime together, neither performance would have been able to work without the complement of the other.
The film is not perfect. It is slow at times and features nearly nothing for any of the supporting cast to do. And yet, this is a huge step up for Nora Ephron and offers two more great performances from Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. While this may not be a film that is watched many times by anyone or one that has great ideas, it is still very enjoyable and one that would be well worth most anyone’s time.
Rating: 8/10
Last year Amy Adams and Meryl Streep went toe to toe in the enthralling Doubt: Streep as the shrewish Sister Aloysius set in her ways and clamoring for the removal of Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and Adams as Sister James stuck doubting whether he was innocent or guilty of the crimes of which he had been accused. Following the release of the film, both were Oscar nominated for their roles.
Just one year after their exciting face off the two played opposite each other once again, albeit this time separated by nearly fifty years in the charming and thoroughly entertaining Julie and Julia.
The film, helmed by director Nora Ephron (You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle), represents one of the funniest films of the year as well as one of the best scripted. While scenes filled with simply cooking could have become monotonous, here they lend themselves to character development especially in the scenes with Amy Adams.
In the film, Adams plays Julie Powell, a woman who is at a crossroads in her life and entirely unsure what she should be doing. Hearing of a friend’s success with blogging she turns to that and vows to cook all of Julia Child’s (Meryl Streep) recipes from her cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking and to blog about each meal in one years time. While this adventure gives her newly found purpose it also puts strain on the relationships around her, making her a nearly different person by the story’s end.
Adams, who first slammed onto the Hollywood scene with her entirely endearing and Oscar-nominated turn in Junebug, keeps her incredibly hot streak alive here. More charming than Julia Roberts ever was in her 90’s run, she is an actress who automatically brings sincerity to every role and an adorable presence to each film she is in. Perhaps what is most impressive about her performance here is that it is much more complex than that of Streep’s. While Streep’s may be flashier, Adams’ role is ultimately the backbone of the entire narrative. Reminiscent of Meg Ryan in her prime Adams, who has been unfairly maligned by some critics for always playing cute characters, here has to play her most normal role to date and she pulls it off without a hitch.
Meanwhile, when the film is not focused on Adams, it flips to the time Julia Child spent in Paris, where she first learned how to cook. This section of the film, while entertaining, is also surprisingly informative, dealing not only with Child’s efforts to put together her cookbook, but also the trials that her husband Paul Child went through as he was accused by Joseph McCarthy of holding communist ties. Ultimately it is this section of the film that many have found the better of the two and that has mainly to do with Meryl Streep, who is as always completely fabulous.
Streep has always been a master of accents and here once again she sports a new one, perfectly emulating Child’s strange hybrid of Bostonian and British speech. More than just an imitation, however, this is a fully realized and perfectly hilarious performance. Moving from a nun in Maine to this, Streep once again shows her diversity, but more importantly, why she is the greatest living actress, if not perhaps the greatest actress of all time.
Moving on from the performances that are the main driving force of the film, it must be said that while this is an entertaining film, it is also a very complicated one. Serving as basically two different biopics, there were so many ways that this adaptation could have fallen flat, but despite all of the obstacles it manages to work very well because of a well put together screenplay which gave both stories several different connections throughout the film. Even though Adams and Streep may not have shared screentime together, neither performance would have been able to work without the complement of the other.
The film is not perfect. It is slow at times and features nearly nothing for any of the supporting cast to do. And yet, this is a huge step up for Nora Ephron and offers two more great performances from Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. While this may not be a film that is watched many times by anyone or one that has great ideas, it is still very enjoyable and one that would be well worth most anyone’s time.
Rating: 8/10
Written by: Corey Wackel
“Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” This seemingly simple advice was given by Julia Child, an individual who clearly found something that she was incredibly passionate about, in her lifetime. Her 1963 show "The French Cook" was an influential show which ran for an impressive 10 years, and her 1961 cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking is on its way to its 49th printing. So, it would be no stretch to say that Child found a passion for food. In doing so, though, Child also found a passion for something much more: life. While the new film “Julie & Julia” puts wonderful foods on display for the observing audience, it’s more apparent that the new film is actually about each character’s passion to live their lives.
The new film, from Oscar-nominated, writer-director Nora Ephron, is quite something. It’s not easy to bring two real life stories to the screen, and it’s arguable much more difficult to bring the story of Julia Child to the screen. The culinary wizard is known by much of the older generation, and her trademark voice and movements are known by anyone who’s ever seen one of her many TV appearances. The storyline follows a year in the life of Julie Powell, who attempts to cook all 524 recipes from Child’s cookbook. In addition, the film also follows the life of Julia and Paul Child as they move through various locations in the 1950’s and 60’s. Juggling the stories is no easy task, and while some reviewers believe that Ephron hasn’t succeeded at doing so, I would have to agree. The stories of the two women mesh really well together, and that can be attributed to Ephron’s wonderful eye for a great story. Adapting one bestselling novel would be difficult enough, but she also chooses to adapt Child’s own memoir, My Life in France. Though separated by time, the two women in the film are brought together not only by their love for cooking, but also by their fearlessness and by their passion for life.
Each element to this film acts like the perfect ingredient needed to complete a recipe. Ephron’s script and direction is, of course, a large part. She succeeds on both ends, too, delivering her best effort in years. The most important element of this film, however, is the acting. Lucky for us, what we have are two great actresses reminding us how great they are, and a slew of superb supporting work. Oscar winner Meryl Streep and two-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams were together just last year in the brilliant film “Doubt,” and it’s wonderful to see them back together so soon. While they share no screen time, their individual presences wouldn’t mean quite as much without the connection created by the actresses. Most reviewers have complained that Adams is the weak point in the film, and I tend to agree. While watching the film, one can't help but think how great of a film "Julie & Julia" would have been...well without Julie. It's not that Adams is a bad actor. I just believe that a biopic strictly about Julia Child would have made for a much better film. Streep is, afterall, the star of the film. She seems to be doing much of the same, portraying Child as a woman who is attempting the find out exactly where she belongs.
What’s perhaps most important about Streep’s performance is that is not merely trying to imitate Julia Child. Child’s trademark voice is perfectly brought forth, but Streep herself has told us that her performance of Child is actually more of a homage to her mother. Streep’s creation is another one of her brilliant roles in a long line of performances. In one scene, Streep manages to portray heartbreak and happiness in the matter of a few seconds. It’s another wonderfully comedic role for Streep, but she also brings the dramatic element to the role that is needed. She makes it her own, re-creating Julia Child as we believe she would be, an individual driven by passion and love. The individual on the receiving end of much of that love is Paul Child. Paul is wonderfully brought to life by Stanley Tucci, who gives the second best performance of the film. His scenes with Streep are wonderful, and their love for one another is what drives much of the film. Their relationship seems to be what we all imagine true love is. Their interactions are frequently funny, and often very heartfelt. The other supporting actors add quite a bit, with the appearance of Jane Lynch being the best.
Looking back on the film as a whole, the genuine hard work of all the actors in the film seems to largely work. The sets and costumes are great. The transition from New York to Paris works wonderfully, and, in the process, a very unique look is given to each individual story. The movie is part period piece and part contemporary. Yet, no matter what year the film portrays, it works. In the end, the film has as much to say about human connections, as it does about food. It tells us to have a life filled with passion, and, perhaps more importantly, it reminds us how much we rely on those around us.
Final Thought: “Julia & Julia” is a fresh and fun summer film. It’s the kind of summer fare we look forward to, and the performances by Streep and Adams are wonderfully realized. Streep’s Julia Child is something to behold, and she's rightfully on her way to another Oscar nomination.
Rating: 7/10
“Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” This seemingly simple advice was given by Julia Child, an individual who clearly found something that she was incredibly passionate about, in her lifetime. Her 1963 show "The French Cook" was an influential show which ran for an impressive 10 years, and her 1961 cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking is on its way to its 49th printing. So, it would be no stretch to say that Child found a passion for food. In doing so, though, Child also found a passion for something much more: life. While the new film “Julie & Julia” puts wonderful foods on display for the observing audience, it’s more apparent that the new film is actually about each character’s passion to live their lives.
The new film, from Oscar-nominated, writer-director Nora Ephron, is quite something. It’s not easy to bring two real life stories to the screen, and it’s arguable much more difficult to bring the story of Julia Child to the screen. The culinary wizard is known by much of the older generation, and her trademark voice and movements are known by anyone who’s ever seen one of her many TV appearances. The storyline follows a year in the life of Julie Powell, who attempts to cook all 524 recipes from Child’s cookbook. In addition, the film also follows the life of Julia and Paul Child as they move through various locations in the 1950’s and 60’s. Juggling the stories is no easy task, and while some reviewers believe that Ephron hasn’t succeeded at doing so, I would have to agree. The stories of the two women mesh really well together, and that can be attributed to Ephron’s wonderful eye for a great story. Adapting one bestselling novel would be difficult enough, but she also chooses to adapt Child’s own memoir, My Life in France. Though separated by time, the two women in the film are brought together not only by their love for cooking, but also by their fearlessness and by their passion for life.
Each element to this film acts like the perfect ingredient needed to complete a recipe. Ephron’s script and direction is, of course, a large part. She succeeds on both ends, too, delivering her best effort in years. The most important element of this film, however, is the acting. Lucky for us, what we have are two great actresses reminding us how great they are, and a slew of superb supporting work. Oscar winner Meryl Streep and two-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams were together just last year in the brilliant film “Doubt,” and it’s wonderful to see them back together so soon. While they share no screen time, their individual presences wouldn’t mean quite as much without the connection created by the actresses. Most reviewers have complained that Adams is the weak point in the film, and I tend to agree. While watching the film, one can't help but think how great of a film "Julie & Julia" would have been...well without Julie. It's not that Adams is a bad actor. I just believe that a biopic strictly about Julia Child would have made for a much better film. Streep is, afterall, the star of the film. She seems to be doing much of the same, portraying Child as a woman who is attempting the find out exactly where she belongs.
What’s perhaps most important about Streep’s performance is that is not merely trying to imitate Julia Child. Child’s trademark voice is perfectly brought forth, but Streep herself has told us that her performance of Child is actually more of a homage to her mother. Streep’s creation is another one of her brilliant roles in a long line of performances. In one scene, Streep manages to portray heartbreak and happiness in the matter of a few seconds. It’s another wonderfully comedic role for Streep, but she also brings the dramatic element to the role that is needed. She makes it her own, re-creating Julia Child as we believe she would be, an individual driven by passion and love. The individual on the receiving end of much of that love is Paul Child. Paul is wonderfully brought to life by Stanley Tucci, who gives the second best performance of the film. His scenes with Streep are wonderful, and their love for one another is what drives much of the film. Their relationship seems to be what we all imagine true love is. Their interactions are frequently funny, and often very heartfelt. The other supporting actors add quite a bit, with the appearance of Jane Lynch being the best.
Looking back on the film as a whole, the genuine hard work of all the actors in the film seems to largely work. The sets and costumes are great. The transition from New York to Paris works wonderfully, and, in the process, a very unique look is given to each individual story. The movie is part period piece and part contemporary. Yet, no matter what year the film portrays, it works. In the end, the film has as much to say about human connections, as it does about food. It tells us to have a life filled with passion, and, perhaps more importantly, it reminds us how much we rely on those around us.
Final Thought: “Julia & Julia” is a fresh and fun summer film. It’s the kind of summer fare we look forward to, and the performances by Streep and Adams are wonderfully realized. Streep’s Julia Child is something to behold, and she's rightfully on her way to another Oscar nomination.
Rating: 7/10