ViewGuide

Created Aug 27, 2009 07:47PM PST • Edited Apr 13, 2013 09:53AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   This schizophrenic biography of a legendary woman and the blogger who idolized her would have been better if it was simply Julia sans Julie. Still it works as concocted due to the tremendous vitality, grace and good humor of Julia Child and the nonpareil actress who brings her to life.

   You don’t have to be a fan of Child’s to enjoy the movie, though it’s helpful to be a fan of things French, especially the food. Ah the food: the butter, the sauces, the pastries, the soufflés! Think of this movie as Taking Woodstock for foodies.

   It also helps to have a Julia Child fan on your arm. Then you’re both guaranteed to have a good time.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   The incomparable Meryl Streep and the sublime Stanley Tucci deliver an acting tour de force, like butter and wine combining into an intoxicatingly delicious Beurre Blanc sauce. Master thespians, they work effortlessly with each other. Of course Meryl steals the show playing an inimitable string-of-pearl-wearing 6’ 2" revolutionary woman. Streep nails Child’s gangly physicality, joie de vivre, and quicksilver intelligence. Bravo.

   Amy Adams and Chris Messina pale in comparison due to their dull roles and inferior talent. To be fair, who can compete with Streep and Tucci? Still, the youngsters hardly make the most of their scenes. Even their big fight and resultant makeup isn’t very compelling.

   A couple of supporting actresses are worth noting:

   • Mary Lynn Rajskub always brings integrity and an odd soulfulness to her roles. Plus it’s good that her Chloe O’Brian gets away from Jack Bauer every 24 hours or so.
   • Jane Lynch, as Julia Child’s also tall sister, injects near equivalent joie de vivre as Meryl herself. [Check out Glee to see Lynch’s indelible creation, conniving cheer coach Sue Sylvester.)

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

   Stanley Tucci is Great. Chris Messina is OK. Result is Good.

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

   Meryl is Perfect, as always. Amy Adams is merely Good. Result is Great.

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    The great Nora Ephron has only directed eight movies and written five more, including this one. But when that list includes Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally…, and Silkwood, she’s long since proven her cinematic mastery. Here she blends a rather self-indulgent blog by the otherwise unknown Julie Powell (the Julie who precedes Julia in the title) with Child’s autobiographical My Life in France and turns what could have been an unappetizing mélange into a coherent film. She should write a cookbook for aspiring filmmakers.

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Great 4.0

    The Parisian scenes are particular highlights: the cosmopolitan vitality, the sensual sophistication, the light. She captures it all.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.4

    Tame, notwithstanding Julia Child’s earthy description of some hot items coming off the boil.

17. Sex Innocent 1.5

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Salty 1.6

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

    The movie illuminates two media revolutions: early reality TV in the form of Julia Child’s cooking show and the rise of citizen journalists in the form of blogging. The former isn’t actually shown in the movie, since the story leaves off right before Julia takes to the WGBH airwaves. However, it shows how an otherwise unprepossessing individual could rise to star status due to media innovation, whether via a local PBS station or a Blogger account. Or perhaps even a ViewGuide account. ;-)

    It also shows the roots of America’s culinary awakening, now in full flower from sea to shining sea. For this we must say Merci Julia et Bon Appétit!

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0