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Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
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ILikePineapples
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
I just got back from seeing this with my mom... I didn't read the book so I can't comment on that, but I think the criticisms of the Julie Powell bits of the movie are unfair. The movie makes Julia Child basically perfectly likable and lovable (many characters reference the idea that 'everyone loves Julia'), while the Julie character is the more flawed and narcissistic. I could relate far more to her character, although it was more amusing (for lack of a better word) watching the Julia parts because she's such a big, fun character, especially as acted by Meryl Streep.
But come on, who among us has not become a little self-absorbed when taking on a project that consumes so much of our interest and our time? I liked seeing the Julie character work through that, and didn't think those parts were at all less entertaining than the Julia parts.
I highly recommend this movie! My mom and I loved it.
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maybeimamazed02 promoted this comment Edited by ILikePineapples at 08/07/09 5:09 PM ILikePineapples was starred ILikePineapples was unstarred

maybeimamazed02
08/07/09

@ILikePineapples: Yes! You know, I remember hearing the same criticisms about Julie Powell before I read the book and when I read it...I liked her. She readily admitted she wasn't perfect and she had a tendency to get mopey and self-absorbed. I could identify with that because I'm certainly not perfect either.
I really loved both parts of the movie, and thought both women were incredibly interesting. Also, they were played by two very talented actresses.
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thebizz
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
Good lord, please let me never write a blog and get a book deal and get a movie and have a skinny actress play me just so that another blog can list every single bad review all in a row. I know this is what you guys do, but still.
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mrsryan
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
I don't mind Amy Adams, but it bothered when she was told during her Allure interview that the real Julie Powell had an affair following her blog fame, and Adams, horrified, insisted that "her" Julie would never have an affair. I don't know. If you play someone you have to love something about them...or at the very least accept that they're human.
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clevernamehere promoted this comment Edited by mrsryan at 08/07/09 4:17 PM mrsryan was starred mrsryan was unstarred

clevernamehere
08/07/09

@mrsryan: But there is a difference between Julie Powell the person and Julie Powell the film charecter.
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queenieinmanhattan
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
When I read Julie & Julia, I could not get past how irritating Julie Powell was, mainly because she seemed to view cooking as some kind of war, as opposed to something to be experienced and enjoyed - which is pretty much the opposite of Julia's approach to life.

Sounds like the movie keeps that part of her character intact - but I'll still be going tomorrow, along with a group of about 20 other food-lovers and some contraband madeleines!
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Edited by queenieinmanhattan at 08/07/09 4:02 PM queenieinmanhattan was starred

normawilahmina
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
The Julia Child parts were the most interesting pages in the book. Julie Powell's character was just a self-centered snob. If I behaved that way, I'd have no friends and my family would refuse to talk to me. All I can remember is how much disdain she seemed to have for families of victims of the World Trade Center attacks, how much she complained about everything, and how much she hated not living in Manhattan. I wanted to grab her and shake her and scream "GET OVER IT!"
And everything about Julia Child, who I knew very little about, was fascinating. She was smart, strong, and independent, which just made Julie even more frustrating in comparison.
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queenieinmanhattan
08/07/09

@normawilahmina: The Julia Child side of things is adapted from her memoir (My Life in France), though, not from Julie Powell's book. If you haven't read it, do! It's amazing...her voice and lust for life come charging off the page. It's an incredible read.

Julie's obvious irritation at living in NYC made me want to scream, "Then effing move already!" Living in NYC is not easy, unless you have gobs of money, and those who do not deal well with constant mass transit annoyances or closed shopfronts are not meant for the long haul.
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Edited by queenieinmanhattan at 08/07/09 4:13 PM queenieinmanhattan was starred

ArtfulSlinger
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
I will support this movie, if only to sit enamored at the talent that is Meryl Streep for two hours. I also love that this movie, while about two very different types of women, showcase them in a light that does not revolve around them searching for men, great shoes or beautiful apt. It has one becoming a powerhouse within the culinary world and another realizing that her utterly anonymous existence will not suffice.
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sympathyforthebasementcat
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
This movie may not be perfect, but every dollar we spend on it is a vote to have more female-centric movies with interesting casts, original scripts and food.
This gets my vote.
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maybeimamazed02
08/07/09

@sympathyforthebasementcat: THIS. I personally loved the movie (got to see it two weeks ago at an advance screening). I'd read the book, but I knew very little about Julia Child going in. Now...damn, that woman was awesome!
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Cunning_Linguist
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Julia Child was 6'2"!!? Wow.

Sorry, I've got it out of my system. I'd watch anything Meryl Streep is in. ANYTHING.
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Edited by Cunning_Linguist at 08/07/09 3:43 PM Cunning_Linguist was starred Cunning_Linguist was unstarred

LaMorena
08/07/09

@Cunning_Linguist: That was a major discovery for me when I read the book. It was expecially funny b/c Julia and Paul spent a good deal of time in Asia as part of the OSS (predecessor to the CIA, I think, but don't quote me). The idea of tall, loud, energetic Julia trying to do ANY kind of clandestine work in Asia 50+ years ago is pretty entertaining.
To quote My Cousin Vinny, "Yeah, you blend."
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rednrowdy
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
i loved the nyt review that basically implied nora ephron's whole shtick:
"From the very start, Paris in the late '40s and early '50s is - well, it's postwar Paris, a dream world of fabulous clothes, architecture, sex, food, cigarettes and political intrigue. And New York in 2002 is made, a little unfairly, to seem drab and soulless by comparison. Queens, demographically the most cosmopolitan of the five boroughs and something of a foodie mecca, is treated with easy Manhattanite disdain, as a punch line and punching bag."
how can you find post-war paris less interesting than QUEENS, for pete's sake?! of COURSE it's going to be more interesting than long island city!
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ArtfulSlinger
08/07/09

@rednrowdy: How anything could be more interesting than the area I live in is puzzling to me? Water Taxi Beach bar. 7 Italian restaurants. And the 7 train. Take that City of Lights.
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clevernamehere
08/07/09

@rednrowdy: Truthfully, I find Long Island City a little depressing but it makes me think of how Ugly Betty is shot. They sometimes managed to capture the vibrancy of a multi-cultural neighborhood like Jackson Heights and not just "This is where poor people live."
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hellosunshine
08/07/09

@ArtfulSlinger: The Creek & The Cave, the LIC waterfront...
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Zombie Ms. Skittles
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
(how in God's name does one bone a duck?)
Well, when a man and a duck love each other very, very much and they're absolutely sure that nobody is watching...
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slowpoke.r
08/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: Ooh, you beat me to it!
EW needs to brush up on their cooking terms.
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queenieinmanhattan
08/07/09

@slowpoke.r: Actually, "bone" is the correct term. "Debone" works, too. "Bone" is just funnier.
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Lymed
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
So we know to go out for popcorn refills during the Julie scenes...just have to make sure we sneak in some truffle oil to make that popcorn Julia approved.
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queenieinmanhattan
08/07/09

@Lymed: I think real butter would suffice for Julia.
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dripdrop
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
I don't understand why they had to give Amy Adams that awful hair style. I've seen photos of Julie Powell at the premiere and her hair looked nothing like that.
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CherriSpryte
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
I've got tickets for this tonight, and I"m really excited. I just think its a fantastic thing that its a movie about women that ISN'T about romantic relationships and hijinks that ensue.
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LadyFabulous
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
Critics think that Julia is butter than Julie? That's rich.
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dianersb was bit by a zombie
08/07/09

@LadyFabulous: Well I guess the proof will be in the pudding.
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lalaland13
08/07/09

@LadyFabulous: Julia was a pretty saucy lady, but it's not fair to margarinalize Julie.
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Ailatan
08/07/09

@lalaland13: well, Adams has to mustard up the courage to ketchup with Streep.
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dianersb was bit by a zombie
08/07/09

@Ailatan: Steep truly is the creme de la creme
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sympathyforthebasementcat
08/07/09

@LadyFabulous: Do you expect the critics to do anything other than pâté Meryl Streep on the back?
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Ailatan
08/07/09

@dianersb was bit by a zombie: Indeed she is, and this film has the right ingredients for wholewheat entertainment.
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dianersb was bit by a zombie
08/07/09

@Ailatan: No matter what the critics say it has to be better than any of the other popcorn fare out this weekend!
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justcallmeangel
08/07/09

@dianersb was bit by a zombie: something about top banana...oh never mind (slinks back to gray-print oblivion)
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dianersb was bit by a zombie promoted this comment justcallmeangel was starred justcallmeangel was unstarred

dianersb was bit by a zombie
08/07/09

@justcallmeangel: Oh Julia was definitely the top banana. She was the queen of the crop.
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Goldsworthy
08/07/09

In reply to Julie & Julia Needs More Julia, Only A Dash Of Julie
As much as I love me some Meryl, the Julia voice is the easiest thing ever to do.
In fact, I'm doing it right now.
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Zombie Ms. Skittles promoted this comment Goldsworthy was starred Goldsworthy was unstarred

Zombie Ms. Skittles
08/07/09

@Goldsworthy: Whenever I try to do it, I always turn into Mrs. Doubtfire.
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jemandtheholograms
08/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: Thats whose voice I hear when I think of Julia Child, but know that's not really what it sounds like!
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