Julie & Julia
August 23, 2009
Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams is based on two memoirs – one by Julie Powell and the other by Julia Child. The two memoirs are:
- My Life in France by Julia Child is set in the late 1940′s and early 1950′s, when Julia and her husband Paul were living in Paris. Julia needed something to do, and decided to go to culinary school since she loved to eat and did it so well. Her story continues to the publication of her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I really want to read My Life in France after seeing the movie.
- Julie & Julia by Julie Powell is the story of a frustrated government worker, who is feeling gloomy because she’s about to turn thirty. She decides to try to cook all 524 recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking and starts a blog to document her progress. I listened to the audio version of this book and really enjoyed it. Julie Powell has quite the potty mouth in the book, but the language is cleaned up for the movie.
Nora Ephron does a fantastic job of combining these two stories. She transitions between the stories very smoothly. Both Amy Adams and Meryl Streep are fabulous in their roles. I had to keep reminding myself that I was watching someone play Julia Child – that it was not her up on the screen. Both Carl and I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I think it is the best movie I’ve seen this year, and I highly recommend it.
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I loved both Julie and Julia (the book) and My Life in France. I am a Julia-a-holic. My Life in France really touched me…I cried at the end. It could be in my top ten books ever written. So anyway, when the movie came out, and my husband was out of town, I bribed the kids to go see the movie with me (hoping that the language had been cleaned up!). The three of us adored the movie. I shed a tear…I am so emotional about Julia. I’m just mad that I didn’t think of cooking and blogging first!!! haha
So jealous of u right now. The movie doesn’t release here till Oct I guess. I want to watch it so badly. I read My Life In France last month and it is such a good book. Do read it.
Thanks for your review. I can’t wait to read Julia and Julie. I think Julia had a wonderful goal and the nerve to tackle it too.
this has finally turned up in our book shops. I have been on the lookout for ages. I can’t wait to read it.
Very nice review!
I also really enjoyed the movie and found that I wanted to run to the kitchen and start cooking. I also want to now read My Life in France, and make at least some of the recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Hmmm, I haven’t read either of books mainly because cooking is my least favorite subject (I don’t even like cooking in real life) but it seems that at least My Life in France is so much more than that. I don’t know about watching the movie though, maybe I’ll wait for it to be out on dvd and then check this out. I do like Meryl Streep and you say it was a great movie so it’ll be worth watching.
If all goes well, Denis and I will be going to see “Julie & Julia” this coming Wednesday. I’ve really been looking forward to it!
You know, the memoirs and the movie don’t sound like something I’d normally read/watch, but all the great reviews they’ve been getting are making me want to give them a try.
So glad you liked it I can’t wait to see the movie, book was great!
Do not miss out on reading My Life in France. I so loved it. I have Julie and Julia sitting here — unopened. Sigh.
I’m so glad you loved it. I did too. It says a lot for books and blogging.
while overall, I very much liked the movie, I would have been happy with a lot more Julia (Streep is excellent) and a bit less Julie, who as a character I found self centered and a bit annoying.
maybe that is just me…lol
I haven’t read either book yet, but I would like to see the movie at some point.
My 15 year old daughter (the one that has just started culinary training this year) and I went to see the matinee yesterday afternoon and I agree 100% with your review! Meryl Streep absolutely nailed Julia Child, and I am very anxious to read My Life in France after seeing this movie.
I thought the director did a fabulous job of combining both books, and I was very grateful that the language was cleaned up for the movie.
You have been on a major movie kick recently!
I can’t wait to see this. My mom and I were talking last week about remembering Julia’s shows.
Now if I can just convince my husband to go. My dad is raving about this one as well. My dad!
I absolutely agree. I loved the movie as well. When it came out, the initial reviews weren’t shining like I expected them to be. Most people loved Meryl Streep, but felt like they could have done with out Amy Adams as Julie. Still, I loved them both. I loved seeing how one woman used the recipes of another to improve her life. Although the movie probably would have been wonderful if it was merely documenting Julia’s life in France, I loved having Amy Adam’s contemporary character to relate to.
My daughter and I both liked this movie a lot. “Julie and Julia” is coming in the mail soon and I picked up “My Life In France” yesterday. May have to pick up her cookbook next–but I’m definitely not cooking my way thru it!
I really want to see this. I read JULIE & JULIA earlier this week, and it left me eager to both watch the movie and read MY LIFE IN FRANCE.
I’m going to have to watch the movie and read the book. The previews and reviews for it have been great!
We’re going to see this today! I can always get my husband to see a movie with Meryl Streep!
I absolutely loved this one, too! And I actually found it incredibly inspiring for bloggers… though I don’t write about f0od, obviously, the whole story seemed to validate the “work” we do — and the time we invest — in something we love. In our case, books!
So glad you liked it, too.
I almost saw this yesterday, but we opted for the Time Traveller’s Wife. I can’t wait to see it!
This is still on my book shelf and I cant wait to read it!
So happy you loved this movie as much as me. (how about the scene where the guy is imitating J.C preparing duck—was that too funny or what?? I could not stop roaring LOL LOL)
This book is on my TBR pile….have to read the book before seeing the movie…I have a feeling I’ll be seeing it on DVD.
I saw Julie and Julia last weekend. I really liked it, too. It was a real “feel good” movie. Now my mom and I wander around saying things like, “You do like reading.”
“I DOOO like reading!”
I can’t wait to see this movie and your review has me itching to see it soon!! I’m going to have to gather up my book club or another friend who asked me to see the movie with her. I’ve read Julie & Julia and loved it but have not read My Life In France which is on my wishlist.
I read the book earlier this year and LOVED it. Julie’s voice is so entertaining and I really enjoyed her take on trying to accomplish a seemingly-impossible goal. The movie wasn’t as good at showing Julie’s story, I thought, but I liked that they went into more detail with Julia Child’s life. I’d love to see a movie about her years as a spy!
Great review – can’t wait to see it!
Kathy… I really want to see this movie!
You should link in this review on Mr. Linky tonight around 8pm-ish on Monday’s Movies.
Hugs & good thoughts for an awesome Sunday!
Sheri
I read, and loved, Julie & Julia when it came out and had, in fact, followed Julie’s blog. I’m listening to My Life in France right now! So I can’t wait to see this movie and am so glad to see you loved it!! Thanks for the great review!
Lovely review of the film. I’ve been mixed about seeing it, but it does sound terrific.
Oops, meant to also tell you there’s an award for you on my blog!
I have an award for you.
http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/award-presentation/
I am 100% dying to see this one. Hope to see it soon. Love Meryl more than any actress on the screen.
I really loved the story about Julia Childs and her husband, I’d like to see a movie about their life. I enjoyed the heck out of the movie, Amy Adams is such a little cutie patootie!
I enjoyed the book and definitely want to see the movie. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I’m so going to see this on Saturday!!!! I can’t wait!
I really want to see this movie! Meryl Streep is such a fabulous actress and of course I love Ephron from her When Harry Met Sally days. so glad you liked this one, Kathy!
I really want to see this movie. Looks really good. Thanks Kathy for sharing it. I am Julie/Julia to read for the bookclub and I am behind
I cannot wait to see this movie. I am going to read the book first though. I just love Nora Ephron. She has captivated me since Heartburn.
I really want to see & read this. Thanks for the great review!
I loved the movie enough to pick up the Powell book this weekend, and got hooked. It is, as everyone here points out, very different from the movie.
I loved this movie, too. Now I really want to read Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking!
I can’t wait to see this one. It looks so fun.
I read the book awhile ago and loved it, and recently saw the movie. I thought both were very well done, and I thought that Meryl Streep did an awesome job playing Julia. I am glad you enjoyed both of these as well.
I loved this movie – Meryl Streep as Julia was fantastic. Some of her scenes had my laughing so hard I was crying.
I also really enjoyed Julie & Julia the book. It was that book that inspired me to start blogging
This is one movie I so want to see
Everyone is talking about it!
I didn’t know this movie was by Nora Ephron. It looks very amusing and sweet, but I don’t have anyone who wants to go see it with me.
Oh well.
I agree – the movie was really good. Meryl Streep is just so talented!!
Wow, I’m really glad you enjoyed this one so much!
I keep forgetting to write about these books. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I may wait for the DVD.
Anyway, I loved My Life in France, so I definitely recommend reading it.
Saw this last night. It was so funny and a bit emotional. Another movie I loved.
I’ve been wanting to see this movie, but I’ll wait until it comes out on the movie channels. I’m reading Julie & Julia right now, and it’s just okay.
–Anna