Julie & Julia

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Last evening I snuck out during the football game to meet a friend for a movie. Because this was such a foodie movie, I thought I'd post my thoughts here.

I really enjoyed it.

Except for the gratuitous s*x. Why do they do that? It was so unnecessary. There was a child (roughly age 12) in the row behind me and all I could think was what that child was seeing. What do I care, you ask? It's not my child. I can't help it.

Anyway, other than that, I really enjoyed it. I loved Amy Adams as Julie, and as much as I avoid Meryl Streep movies for her political outspokenness, she made a fabulous Julia.

First, the food. Well, if you have seen this movie you know what I mean. This movie made me hungry for really good food and I was not actually hungry. Artichokes and hollandaise, red wine, yellow cake with chocolate frosting, heirloom tomato bruschetta, red wine, crusty French bread and creamy French cheese, red wine, and, of course, boeuf bourguignon. I "Mmmmed" through the movie. If you have not seen it, don't see it on an empty stomach.

Second, the blogging. I found it mildly uncomfortable watching a movie about blogging. I can't explain why. Possibly, I was afraid I would see something negative that would cause me to think twice about blogging. Fortunately, not so. I found it interesting that Julie wrote her blog in very much the same way as we all do. And she agonized the comments, like I suppose we all do to some degree.

Third, the love. Julie's relationship with her husband was nice. They seemed to be well-matched, but the intricacies were not revealed in the way those of Julia's relationship with her husband were revealed. Seemingly (much of this was supposition) they had a fabulous relationship. I loved how he sat in the kitchen just to be near her, something my own husband has never done. Maybe that has something to with how pleasant she was to be near while she cooked and how not as pleasant I can be in my own kitchen. I think I need to drink more red wine while I cook. Or maybe it was because there was no 24/7 sports channel on television and so, he had no alternate activity.

While much of the focus of this movie was food, most of the depth was brought by relationships. There was not as much actually cooking as I thought there would be. One hysterical scene in which Julia is practicing chopping onions, so as not to be outdone by her fellow (male) students at Le Cordon Bleu, had me in tears I was laughing so hard. I really enjoyed the scenes of her at Cordon Bleu and I enjoyed the scenes of Julie cooking in her own tiny Queens kitchen. I wish that there had been more cooking. But then, I'm a foodie.

I thought that I would leave the movie feeling very motivated to bone up on some French cooking techniques; to try my hand at some complicated French recipes. Alas, I am not at all. I pulled out my only Julia Child cookbook when I got home (one that I promised I'd send to my friend Margaret) and flipped through it while I sipped some hot water and honey. I was actually seeking something to inspire me, but no. Not inspired. It will be in the mail this week Margaret. Go at it.

What I was inspired to do by this movie is cook for those I love, which I do now. We all love our favorite people in different ways, and some of us do it with food. That I can honestly say I have in common with Julia Child. Food is love.

By the by, if you've seen the movie or read the book, yet have not found the blog, the first day can be seen here. Click on the calendar to get to each consecutive day.

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