‘Julie & Julia’ is Enjoyable, if Not Wholly Satisfying
-----‘Julie & Julia’ looked like a good chick flick. So rarely does there seem to be a movie centered towards a female demographic that isn’t a romantic comedy that it comes as a breath of fresh air when there is one. With ‘Julie & Julia,’ you’ve got two of today’s most prominent actresses, and unfortunately they share no screen time. And yet, the film still manages to be a good one.
-----‘Julie & Julia’ is based on two true stories. One is that of Julia Child, and takes place primarily in France in the 40s and 50s. The other true story is that of Julie Powell, living in 2002 New York City. Inspired by Julia’s classic book on French cooking, Julie decides to write a blog on the application of Julia’s recipes. She vows to cook the book’s 524 recipes in 365 days. Meanwhile, we see the progression of Julia Child into the iconic chef she would become.
-----Amy Adams is good in the role of Julie Powell, even when proving to be far less than perfect. Given the nature of true stories, Adams’ character has many misgivings, many of which are pointed out by her husband, played thoughtfully by Chris Messina. Adams’ trademark energy is here in select scenes, though the real Julie Powell proves to be much less likable than Adams’ typical characters, and always seems to be in a state of feeling sorry for herself. Powell has a number of tantrums, which grow tiring, along with her obsession with Julia, which drives the film, getting downright creepy at its worst. For the most part however, Adams is fun, her character enjoyable and relatable. Julia Child is played excellently by seasoned actor Meryl Streep. Her character seems to be much more consistently congenial, enthusiastic, and optimistic, while still remaining believable. Her accent and line delivery alone provide a number of laughs, though her story, much like Julie’s, becomes a bit repetitive with time. Playing her husband is Stanley Tucci who, like Messina, manages to portray a real and relevant character, both of them playing the straight men in their respective wives’ lives.
-----One of the significant errors that makes ‘Julie & Julia’ an experience that need only be lived once, is the anticlimactic and rather unsatisfying ending. Given the true story it’s based on, Julie never meets Julia. Their stories are completely separate, the film jumping back and forth at chiefly appropriate intervals, and the characters lives never actually intertwine. I especially recall Powell remarking, “She saved me.” This only furthers my distaste of Powell’s eventual obsession with a woman she never even met, but who was still alive during her lifetime. Though in her defense, I can’t very well go shake hands with Peter Jackson and Christopher Nolan. The film then proceeds to open up a subplot in the last few minutes that leaves the audience unsure of Julie’s actions more than anything, as it never addresses the vague, but harsh, new conflict. The movie also becomes extremely repetitive towards its end, with the last half hour finding Julie and Julia at standstills in their lives, all of it swiftly concluded in the final minutes of the film.
-----Behind the camera things are quite sound. The cinematography is never distracting, and the old-school costumes from Julia’s era are elaborate yet unassuming. The locations used are also very potent in the story, with France and New York providing diverse backdrops for the leads. The music is warm, providing an ample soundtrack, and the whole film has a cozy feel to it. The transitions between stories are not always so smooth, but manage to keep two slow paced stories going at moderate speeds.
-----I would not be surprised to learn that, in the fashion of the characters they portray, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams never met during filming. This lack of coherence between the two stories unfortunately becomes a hindrance for an otherwise enjoyable film. Even Adams’ effortless charm is put to test by the time she has her third onscreen “meltdown,” and Streeps’ storyline at times feels irrelevant because her eventual success is already spelled out for the audience. This is often the problem with true story adaptations; what actually happened is rarely fully satisfying after an enticing build up to an absent climax. With Powell’s fame only being tapped on at the end of the film by way phone calls, the audience is never really witness to the payoff, save the fact that the movie we’re watching is about her. Modern movie deals are so fast-tracked nowadays that the movie itself is the greatest claim-to-fame of the still young protagonists they’re based on. And in coordination with this, the flat-line ending defeats the possibility of an enjoyable second viewing. Now, I’m not completely objected to a second viewing, but I’m nearly certain that after an enjoyable first hour or so I would begin to greatly regret the decision to see it again. All in all, for anyone sold on the trailer, I strongly recommend you rent this one, for the first viewing is, above all, a very enjoyable experience hindered only by the unsatisfying realities of the true story it’s based on.
-----Oscar Watch: I can’t pretend that I see too many movies with female protagonists, but even the ones that I do see rarely seem worried about Oscars. With ‘Julia & Julia’ however, there’s some material that might be recognized by the Academy, seeing as it is a true story. I’m speaking of course about Meryl Streep, whom the academy loves and, whom may get an Oscar Nod come January for her energetic portrayal of Julia Child.
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