"Bon Appetit!"

Yesterday, as a part of Margo's going away party, her, Ben, and I joined a hundred grey-haired movie enthusiasts for another Meryl Streep knockout.

Julie & Julia

The movie is an adaptation of the same-named book, which follows the story of Julie Powell's (Amy Adams) life and blog about cooking her way through Julia Child's (Meryl Streep) cookbook, while integrating the story of Julia Child's adult life and rise to fame. It's much easier to follow than it sounds, as Nora Ephron does an excellent job mixing the stories of two American women who begin struggling to find excitement and meaning in their livies. But with the help of their respective supporting husbands, both women manage to find bliss.

Several natural laughs and over-the-top accents later, the film boasts great messages about life and finding success. It embodies the true lesson that it's never t0 late to find what makes you happy, and even in or after the prime of your life, you can search for, find, learn, and begin the career that suits you best. It's never too late.


For anyone pushing to make a case for an actor's talent proportionally rising with their age, Streep would have to be Exhibit A (with Jack as Exhibit B). It doesn't matter what age she is though, because she has always crushed expectations. She is a juggernaut.


She personifies Julia Child to a tee. Everything from the voice, to the personality, to the appearance is just remarkable. At one point, they show a picture of Julia that forces you to question which woman it actually is.


Ala Greg Maddux, she possesses infectious talent that enhances everyone around her. Alike in Doubt, Amy Adams is stunningly acceptable as a lead actress. She has dropped the tinge of obnoxiousness and replaced it with a touch of confidence that allows her to embody her character. I hope this is a sample of what is left to come from Amy, as Hollywood is in dire need of young, talented actresses. It seems like the pool of talent, for both men and women, has been a bit shallow as of late.


Although the movie is a 2 hours and 10 minutes long, it manages to do what the more recent excessive features have not been able to: keep your attention. At no point was I bored, checking the time, feeling like it was dragging on, or psychologically adding fictitious things to the movie to make it more entertaining. It didn't even give me the opportunity to divert my mind to the terrible stench of old people or considering how much I dislike them.

Really, the only exterior thoughts I had were those of jealously for how rapidly and amazingly Julie's (Amy Adams) blog blew up. If it were not based on a true story, I would've never believed how effortlessly she gained readership. I naively hope that over the course of the next year I can also be nationally covered by newspaper columnists and get offers from literary agents and publishing companies. I'd fucking sell both kidneys for that kind of success.


Assuming you have an interest in blogging, Meryl Streep, cooking, the smell of old people, Amy Adams, Paris, success stories, finding one's true calling, or just quality movies, I'd like to assert a strong recommendation for this delightful film.

That is, if you can stomach the sight of butter-filled bowls for two hours.

(4/5)


P.S. Old people are gross.