Needs a story and a director. Bottom line: Who cares?
Julie & Julia
By
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com
Needs a story and a director. Bottom line: Who cares?
Here are the only things worth knowing: Julia Child (Meryl Streep) was a virgin until she married at the age of 40. However, she wisely waited long enough to make a brilliant marriage. Her husband Paul (Stanley Tucci) not only absolutely worshiped her, he thought she was a sex goddess, a genius, and indulged her wish to do something creative. Finally, she decided she wanted to learn French cooking at the legendary Cordon Bleu in Paris.
Being married to a diplomat had its privileges!
Following the pattern of "The Hours", Julia's life in post-war France is linked to Julie Powell's (Amy Adams) life in New York. Julie is a 30-year old who lives in Queens with her husband Eric (Chris Messina) and works in a government office cubicle taking calls from 9/11 victims.
Julie decides to cook all 524 recipes in Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in a year and blog about it. The blog becomes the Julie/Julia Project. Julie's husband is encouraging and supportive.
I have a well-worn hard copy of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and do consider it the textbook of cooking. However, I have kept away from slaying a lobster and deboning a duck.
Okay, so where's the story? What about conflict and hardship? How about an evil adversary? Nope, not a one.
While this is about Child and her iconic book, it was originally the work of two French chefs, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle. They were having a tough time finding a publisher for their cookbook on French cooking in English and asked Julia for help. The rest is history. We do learn too much about getting a publisher, losing a publisher, the contract, and how Bertholle was shunted aside for not contributing her equal share of the work.
But not by Julia! She was too happy-go-lucky and carefree to be concerned over author credits, royalties, and fame. That would come later when she rejected Julie!
Did Eric really storm out for 2 days because Julie was being a self-centered bitch? What a crisis! Now, if Eric had taken the cat%u2026
Julie becomes famous after a New York Times article. Quickly follows the TV appearances, book, movie, reality show, and the soon-to-be-announced Broadway musical. Eric and Julie will leave their apartment above a pizza store. Julie hangs out with Amy Adams.
But, when Julia Child's 90th birthday is approaching and a celebration planned, Julia does not want to meet Julie! In fact, the great mistress of French cooking is peeved at Julie for even attempting to best her by actually cooking all her recipes! Who does Julie think she is? Gordon Ramsey?
Julia Child will not be upstaged!
Streep has a very tough role. Child was 6'2" with a voice that has no ethnic history but is entirely her own creation. Julia is always happy-go-lucky, ready for sex, and lots of fun! Post-war France was oodles of fun, fun, fun!
Europe during World War ll? Let's not ruin things by mentioning food coupons and bombed-out farms!
Poor Adams, being true to a working class New Yorker who lives above a pizza store, her wardrobe is lousy, her apartment a mess, and she has no hot office faux-romance. There is no Gerard Butler, or gay friend, encouraging her to cook recipe number 89! She has to hunt for fresh basil on her own.
There is the great Jane Lynch. When I saw her name in the beginning credits, I knew we would have at least one character for Streep to play off. They are a fabulous pair. Let's see them together again!
How does Meryl Streep do it? She goes from looking 35 ("Mamma Mia!") to looking 50!
Writer-director Nora Ephron has no sense of romance, drama or pacing. "Julie & Julia" drags on. It is a mess. Nora Ephron should retire. Her time has come and gone.
Skip the movie and read Julia Child's memoir "My Life in France." The paperback edition is filled with personal photographs (Anchor Books, A Division of Random House, Inc.)
My weekly column, "The Devil's Hammer," is posted every Monday. The Devil's Hammer on FTB. If you would like to be included on my private distribution list for a weekly preview, just email me at masauu@aol.com.
Victoria Alexander lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and answers every email. You can contact Victoria directly at masauu@aol.com.
By
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com
Needs a story and a director. Bottom line: Who cares?
Here are the only things worth knowing: Julia Child (Meryl Streep) was a virgin until she married at the age of 40. However, she wisely waited long enough to make a brilliant marriage. Her husband Paul (Stanley Tucci) not only absolutely worshiped her, he thought she was a sex goddess, a genius, and indulged her wish to do something creative. Finally, she decided she wanted to learn French cooking at the legendary Cordon Bleu in Paris.
Being married to a diplomat had its privileges!
Following the pattern of "The Hours", Julia's life in post-war France is linked to Julie Powell's (Amy Adams) life in New York. Julie is a 30-year old who lives in Queens with her husband Eric (Chris Messina) and works in a government office cubicle taking calls from 9/11 victims.
Julie decides to cook all 524 recipes in Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in a year and blog about it. The blog becomes the Julie/Julia Project. Julie's husband is encouraging and supportive.
I have a well-worn hard copy of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and do consider it the textbook of cooking. However, I have kept away from slaying a lobster and deboning a duck.
Okay, so where's the story? What about conflict and hardship? How about an evil adversary? Nope, not a one.
While this is about Child and her iconic book, it was originally the work of two French chefs, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle. They were having a tough time finding a publisher for their cookbook on French cooking in English and asked Julia for help. The rest is history. We do learn too much about getting a publisher, losing a publisher, the contract, and how Bertholle was shunted aside for not contributing her equal share of the work.
But not by Julia! She was too happy-go-lucky and carefree to be concerned over author credits, royalties, and fame. That would come later when she rejected Julie!
Did Eric really storm out for 2 days because Julie was being a self-centered bitch? What a crisis! Now, if Eric had taken the cat%u2026
Julie becomes famous after a New York Times article. Quickly follows the TV appearances, book, movie, reality show, and the soon-to-be-announced Broadway musical. Eric and Julie will leave their apartment above a pizza store. Julie hangs out with Amy Adams.
But, when Julia Child's 90th birthday is approaching and a celebration planned, Julia does not want to meet Julie! In fact, the great mistress of French cooking is peeved at Julie for even attempting to best her by actually cooking all her recipes! Who does Julie think she is? Gordon Ramsey?
Julia Child will not be upstaged!
Streep has a very tough role. Child was 6'2" with a voice that has no ethnic history but is entirely her own creation. Julia is always happy-go-lucky, ready for sex, and lots of fun! Post-war France was oodles of fun, fun, fun!
Europe during World War ll? Let's not ruin things by mentioning food coupons and bombed-out farms!
Poor Adams, being true to a working class New Yorker who lives above a pizza store, her wardrobe is lousy, her apartment a mess, and she has no hot office faux-romance. There is no Gerard Butler, or gay friend, encouraging her to cook recipe number 89! She has to hunt for fresh basil on her own.
There is the great Jane Lynch. When I saw her name in the beginning credits, I knew we would have at least one character for Streep to play off. They are a fabulous pair. Let's see them together again!
How does Meryl Streep do it? She goes from looking 35 ("Mamma Mia!") to looking 50!
Writer-director Nora Ephron has no sense of romance, drama or pacing. "Julie & Julia" drags on. It is a mess. Nora Ephron should retire. Her time has come and gone.
Skip the movie and read Julia Child's memoir "My Life in France." The paperback edition is filled with personal photographs (Anchor Books, A Division of Random House, Inc.)
My weekly column, "The Devil's Hammer," is posted every Monday. The Devil's Hammer on FTB. If you would like to be included on my private distribution list for a weekly preview, just email me at masauu@aol.com.
Victoria Alexander lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and answers every email. You can contact Victoria directly at masauu@aol.com.
(1-13 of 13 posts) | Reply
on Jul 30 2009 09:19 PM THAT'S the spirit, Vicky! Who Cares? How about a review where at least one single sentence within it consists of more than six words? WHO CARES? What do you think about sentences in a said review connecting or having anything to do with the previous and upcoming words surrounding them? WHO CARES? And what about trying to practice an ability of fair criticm rather than calling any film you don't like "a tedious bore". WHO- hey look...pudding! (Reply to this) |
on Jul 31 2009 02:50 AM Marcus's comment is hilarious. I'm a mixed bag here, been wanting to tsee this movie, but Levy gave it a rotten (which I tend to disagree with him sometimes, but I respect his word). I think I will see the movie anyways, but I'm trying to cut down costs so I go see movies for watching. Working at the local theater helps the cost though. (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 31 2009 03:28 AM Really, a story? You don't call two different books this movie is based on a story? The movie is balanced between Meryl and Amy, and you don't think it is a story? Amy wants to learn everything that Julia Child put in a cookbook, and you don't call that a story? There are even some martial issues in the movie the enhance the story even more. Seriously, some critics just don't know what they are talking about. Watch them praise a piece of a garbage movie like "A Perfect Getaway" when that gets released next week. Julie and Julia is a good movie, bottom line. I can't believe it is 20% on here already. (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 31 2009 12:00 PM I have to agree. I don't really care about whether or not she liked the film, but the review is just this strange James Joyceian nonsensical stream of consciousness. I know that people often make the joke about a reviewer being stoned, but in the case, the extreme level of unconnected thoughts and complete abandonment of the narrative process actually make this a strong possibility. I've seen text messages written by a tweener that were more reasoned and articulate. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 02 2009 11:09 AM whatever struck ms Alexander so effectively and so deeply that she is compelled to destroy this movie with the dumbest of the many dumb reviews I ever read? something tells me this movie must be real good (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 02 2009 09:06 PM "Seriously, some critics just don't know what they are talking about." AMEN! Here's an example =) (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 03 2009 07:00 AM This is not a movie that asks a big fat plot. 'Julia & Julia' has the charm of 'Ratatouille'. And in a weird way, that's enough. What about the chameleon-performance of Streep? While I'm sure this doesn't have a chance to be nominated, this is Oscar-worthy. On the other hand ... 'Tropic Thunder' was nominated. Crazy world. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 03 2009 10:02 AM And this review is from a critic who only seems to like a movie if it has male frontal nudity. A quote from her review of Sex in the City: " And then there is the outdoor, full frontal shower scene of Gilles Marini. In fairness, I must applaud and make note when a director chooses to show the penis. It's about time." Also a quote from her review of The Ugly Truth: "Butler almost made me forget a naked Leonidas. Here is the benchmark for charisma and chemistry with a co-star." I waited a long time to see this movie and it is fabulous! News flash, Victoria, just because it doesn't have male frontal nudity doesn't make it a bad movie. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 03 2009 08:03 PM Go swim in a volcano. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2009 02:38 PM This woman has a paying job as a writer? How is this possible? She can't write! (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 05 2009 05:37 AM She barely has a coherent opinion. All she talks about is what happens. She has no decent criticism. (Reply to this) |
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on Sep 09 2009 05:04 PM you are without a doubt, the worst writer i have ever seen. wtf are you even talking about? i can't follow your writing at all. you should listen to what the world is telling you and go swim in a volcano or something else along those lines. (Reply to this) |
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on Sep 09 2009 05:06 PM you are without a doubt, the worst writer i have ever seen. wtf are you even talking about? i can't follow your writing at all. you should listen to what the world is telling you and go swim in a volcano or something else along those lines. (Reply to this) |
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