While I’m away on my imaginary vacation, I’m leaving the pantry stocked with posts from Exit 51 that would have been part of the Flashback Friday series. The following originally appeared on 7/15/09 at Exit 51, where I promise, it was completely topical at the time. Now, not so much.
Julie & Julia
Did you think that I would not eventually get around to talking about this? The movie trailer has made its way across the Internet and the movie opens soon. So I guess it’s about time for my two cents on the whole Julie/Julia thing.
To be completely honest, I enjoyed the book. I read it during one of SFC’s deployments…must have been the first one, I can’t really remember. It was probably the first “food” book that found its way into my hands. Since then, there’s been Anthony and Paula and Molly and Amanda. And like snowflakes, they’re all different and special in their own ways.
And I am looking forward to watching the movie, eventually. I think casting Meryl Streep as Julia Child was utterly brilliant. But the fuss that food bloggers are making over the movie scares me. It’s almost as though it’s implied that you can’t say you appreciate food unless you flock to the movie on opening day or somehow pay homage to the Project. I’ve run across the movie trailer on more food sites than I can count so maybe I’m a little over saturated with Julie and Julia at the moment and my enthusiasm just needs a little time on the back burner to come up to to a simmer.
Or maybe I need to find more pieces like the one over at MattBites. I love that he looked at the food in the movie. Because, in my opinion, the food is as central a character to this story as Julie and Julia are. Without the food, Julia Child would have never existed as we knew her and Julie Powell would have never endeavored to Master the Art of French Cooking.
So don’t worry about saving me a seat in the throngs of Foodies and Supper Clubbers who flock en masse to the nearest theater on August 7th. I’ve already got the movie in my Saved Titles on Netflix. And who knows, I may just channel my own inner Julia and whip up a tasty little snack to nosh on while I watch it. Enjoy your popcorn and Bon Appetit hon!
Bon Appetit Hon 
I liked the book too…it’s good to know I’m not the only non-Julie Powell hating food blogger out there. Now for Cleaving…that’s a whole other matter.
Cleaving, do tell. I’ve picked it up and put it back down in the bookstore many times.
I really enjoyed the movie. My hubs thought it was a snoozer, but he’s a dude.
Kitch, this really was a chick flick. I couldn’t even get The Mistah to consider watching it with me. I have to say I was hoping there would be more bonus features on the dvd. Then again, I watched it in a Darvocet haze so maybe there were and I was just too loopy to remember.
I like Julie & Julia too, but I haven’t read Cleaving yet. What did you think of the movie? Like everyone, I liked Julia’s scenes better than Julie’s.
Jen, between the book and the movie, I preferred the book. But I loved watching the Julia story and seeing all that stunning food.
I couldn’t read the book – I was so lost by the third chapter I set it down. I did see the movie. Streep as Child was a win. But Amy Adams as Powell… I didn’t buy it. My mouth did continually water through the film. Which is a plus.
Brooke, I completely agree with you about the movie. Loved the Julia story line (especially after reading My Life In France) but didn’t really connect with the Julie story.
I started reading Julie’s blog when she was about 6 months into the project so I was one of the few who was just fine with the Julie part of the movie. Although of course Meryl and Stanley stole the show. Have you read My Life in France yet? Now that is a book to dream about food with!
Stanly, how could I not have mentioned Stanley? Loved him in this almost as much as Big Night. I read My Life in France last year and thought it was a wonderful book. I think after reading it, that’s what made me really want to see more of that story.
Even though I didn’t care for the Julie storyline in the movie, cooking her way through the entire cookbook was a tremendous commitment. I couldn’t do it, that’s for sure.