Last night I saw the movie Julie and Julia, written and directed by Nora Ephron. Normally, when a movie comes out that I really want to see, I refuse to watch any promotional interviews and ads because I want to be surprised. This was one of those movies. Of course, now I want to go back and find any Nora Ephron interviews, so if anyone knows of any, send 'em on. And if you're like me and need to shut out the world until you've seen the film, and haven't seen Julie and Julia yet, then for the first time I'll tell you to skip today's blogpost!
Four reasons why I loved this movie:
1. Written and directed by Nora Ephron.
Need I say more? Ephron has successfully interwoven two stories of two very different women living different lives in different times, and yet manages to create parallels and that so wonderfully connect the two. Brilliant. Plus, Ephron includes her signature charm and grace in terms of costume, style, language, music, and, of course, food. Ephron herself is a renowned cook and food lover, having tackled many recipes in the Julia Child cookbook and writing about it.
2. Starring Meryl Streep.
Again, need I say more? Streep puts on another Oscar-worthy performance. Unlike the caricature portrayals of George Bush and company in W, Streep brings Julia Child to life as a lover of pleasurable things, one who fully embraces life and love (and, of course, food -- that phrase will undoubtedly be repeated at least one more time). She is strong-willed, self-sufficient, disciplined, yet also vulnerable. You can see an extraordinary woman, one who lived behind the icon that we all came to know and love.
3. Delicious.
Everything about this movie was delicious: the writing, the story, and (wait for it), of course, the food. I love films where food becomes a supporting character (Chocolat comes to mind), and this was one of them. Better still, it didn't dominate the film like one might expect. This film is clearly about the story. Which leads me to my final reason.
4. A love story.
Love stories abound in this film, and Ephron tells them all brilliantly. Julia and Paul. Julie and Eric. Julie and Julia. Julia and her sister. Julia and Paris. Julia and food. Julie and food. Us and Julie and Julia and food. And so on. Everywhere we turn, love abounds. True love. Simple love. Magical love. Transformative love.
Yesterday I posted about the love for my manuscript. My co-writer and I knew we were writing a love story with the same kind of multi-levels as this film has. I can only hope that we do our novel the same justice that Ephron did for Julie and Julia. And if she wants to make a movie out of our novel, so be it.
Nora Ephron rocks. Meryl Streep rocks. Go see Julie and Julia today. And Bon Appetit!
6 comments:
I haven't seen this movie yet, mostly because I was hearing very mixed reviews. Nora Ephron writes wonderful scripts, however, and I think Meryl Streep has enough talent for 20 people.
Oddly enough my mystery novel is about the many different aspects of love. Love for a person, love of money, love of position, love of history, etc. I didn't realize this when I was first writing it which goes to show I'm either much cleverer than I thought or thick as a plank.
Shall now make an effort to see the movie - hope it's still on around here!
Elspeth
I'm biased, but I just can't see how it could possibly get anything but a good review.
And as for you -- clever. Definitely clever. Remember that Aaron didn't know that Josh and Donna liked each other for the first few episodes. And I hadn't set out to write a rhetorical relationship between Andi and Devin despite that she was teaching him rhetoric.
I call them "happy accidents".
:)
I've been meaning to see this movie! Every time I'm ready, though, something comes up. At this point, it'll be at the dollar theater before I get around to seeing it!
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Elizabeth-
You have a dollar theatre?? I wanna go THERE! haha!!
No matter when you go, you'll enjoy it. Treat yourself!
Thanks for your comment and for visiting my blog -- I hope you'll become a Follower!
Aww I keep meaning to see this movie, it looks so cute. But with movies bein 11 bucks I think I'm gonna havta wait till it comes to blockbuster. Great review. :)
Thanks Danni-- go see it in the afternoon if you can (we grabbed the early evening for 7 bucks), and skip the popcorn (which will pale significantly in the presence of all those recipes)!
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