Julie/Julia - a film blog post about a film about a blog

[Repost from the short lived movie blog]

Through some twists and turns, here I am in cold, desolate Nome, Alaska clerking for the Superior Court and residing as deputy magistrate for the District Court. I like to think of this year-long clerkship in Nome as my Seven Years in Tibet. I just finished three insane years of law school chock full of stress, 14 hour days, binge drinking, womanizing and general debauchery. Now I am a 30 year-old bar certified lawyer relishing the solitude and reflection that only an arctic fly-in alcohol town with a mining problem can provide. I work out, I read, I watch Netflix movies and I try to figure out what I want to do with my life.

I have no internet at my house, nor do I have television. Therefore, I watch movie and have become quite obsessed with “film.” Yes, film. The pretentious, holier than thou moniker for “movies.” Subtitles, weird and risqué topics and a definitive lack of explosions make up my nightly viewing.

I didn’t intend to start a blog with a movie about a blog, but it just so happened that when I got home from vacation, reeling with a headcold I managed to pick up on the flight home, Julie/Julia was sitting in my mailbox. Lacking any energy to start doing laundry, I positioned my butt on the couch and pressed play.

Julie/Julia is the film adaptation of the Julie/Julia Project, a blog on Salon, where a turning 30 woman (Julie Powell) who has dreams of being a “writer” and is working a series of temp jobs, decides to cook her way through Julia Child’s "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year. The project gave Julie a goal – something concrete to work for to prove herself to herself. In doing so, she begins to read more and more background about Julia Child and quickly becomes obsessed with her fascinating life, marriage and general love of living.

In many ways Julie’s situation almost mirrors that of Julia Child. Julie Powell’s modern life is combined with Julia Child’s story from her book “My Life in France.” The film transitions back in forth between post-war France (which were beautifully shot) and modern Queens, NY showing the parallels and differences of the two: their respective rises to stardom, their marriages to seemingly perfect husbands (albeit Julie’s rise to blogosphere stardom did cause some ripples at first), and their personal growth through cooking.

Julia Child had been in government service (the movie hints at the spy rumor that came out a few years ago) and moved to Paris when her husband was stationed there. She, like Julie, was floating around Paris and attempting to figure out just what she wanted out of life. The one thing Julia Child loved above all else? Food. She forced her way into the male dominated world of French cuisine and we all know where she eventually landed. I won’t spoil the movie with the details. It is much better watching Meryl Streep show you.

Speaking of Meryl Streep, as usual, she steals the show. She plays an amazing characterization of Julia Child complete with all the head wobbly mannerisms that made her such a larger than life star. Streep is an idealized notion of Julia Child that exists in Julie Powell’s head, but at the same time keeps it grounded and shows that there was more to Julia Child than just the laughing, pan flipping persona we all know.

I really enjoyed this movie, probably because I have a lot in common with Julie Powell. Julie was floating and working a series of temp jobs. I was/am floating around working temp jobs or attending different schools. Julie was turning 30 and decided to master French cooking. I was turning 30 and decided to move to Nome, Alaska. Both of us were seeking self growth and a definitive goal. Julie got that trough cooking and I am getting it through cold isolation, movie watching and reading self-help books like "Think and Grow Rich" and "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

For all my late 20’s, early 30’s friends who are looking for something bigger and more substantial than what we are currently living, Julie/Julia would be a good movie for you. Is it going to “blow your mind” and magically instill a drive for success in you? Perhaps, but probably not. Is Meryl Streep’s giddy cackles going to amuse you for two hours and will it make you very hungry for beef Bourguignon? Definitely.