What I'm Watching #207

The poster for the movie reads like some military recruitment campaign with the question: "Do You Have What It Takes?" And believe me, it's no coincidence as we witness Julie Powell's attack on the recipes in the seminal cookbook "The Art of French Cooking" by her idol, Julia Child (Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle), paralleled against Child & Company's own heroic offensive in creating and getting the original work published. As ad campaigns go, this one seeks to counter-act the movie's real strength and I suppose broaden the innocent appeal of the movie -- a movie that is not about drama, but in the best sense and execution of the genre: relationships.

A mon avis, this is the best film Nora Ephron has ever made. Meryl Streep is stunningly endearing as the irrepressible diva of all things "au sujet de la cuisson." The performances of her co-conspirators in the project: Linda Emond & Helen Carey (both familiar to those of us hooked on the "Law & Order" franchise for their varied and reoccurring roles) are delightful. Stanley Tucci delivers such a restrained and beautiful performance as Julia's beloved husband, Paul. Tucci is the epitome of an actor, because he knows exactly what not to do in a scene to make you forget that you're watching a reenactment of anything. The scenes of affection and romance between he and Meryl brought tears to my eyes every time. The costumes and settings were just as much characters in conveying me to the 50's and Julia Child's amazing world.

The story of the here and now was Amy Adams alone, and she carried it with an at times innocent aggression that gave what could have been a sidekick in this film the presence of an equal. This is one I look forward to adding to my DVD collection.

Bon Appetit!