Sunday, September 20, 2009

Julie and Julia

I'm going to go and read Mom's post about this movie as soon as I'm done writing this. Mom told me on the phone she really liked the film, and she told me that Pop even went to see it by himself that's how highly she recommended it. Now everyone knows that I am a true Julia Child aficionado, so if anyone is qualified to review this movie it must be me. Maybe I knew this before and I had forgotten, but I was pleasantly suprised to see when the film opened that it was directed by Nora Ephron. She was perfect for this film, and did an excellent job telling a story in an interesting way that didn't feel contrived or distracting. It wasn't a biography either, yet a sweet, inspirational tale of the way lives are connected, and the ways people impact each other without realizing it. The four main characters were all well cast, the modern Julie (played by Amy Adams) and her husband fit well together. There is a definite hint of "You've Got Mail" in their modern, New York lifestyle, but I'm saying that as a good thing. Of course the reason I went to this movie was for Julia, and boy did Meryl Streep deliver. She was that kind of incredible where you're not watching her at all, you're watching Julia Child. It makes me wonder if she believes that she is Julia Child, because I can't imagine it not getting cofusing at some point. It wasn't just here voice, or the way she looks, rather it was everything. Her laugh, her body language and her personality. Even the aspects that I have no way of knowing thier accuracy are just so convincing the way Streep performs. And then there was Stanley Tucci, who delivers an outstanding performance as Julia's husband. I like how he takes this on as a supporting role and does just that, supports his wife, emotionally, with advice, with strenght and with love. This is just a great film, any way you look at it. Probably my favorite film this year, and I wouldn't be suprised if Streep and Tucci get nods around Oscar time.

1 comment:

mom said...

I am so glad you liked it--and I loved your review. I hope you're right about the Oscar nominations, particularly for Tucci.

Just for discussion: How does an actress separate herself from the self she plays on screen? Some actors (Peter Sellers comes to mind) seem to have no identity of their own--they are only the characters they play.