‘Julie and Julia’: a delightful adaptation
By Rama Gaind
Julie and Julia: This adaptation of two best-selling memoirs is an engaging, though overly long, glimpse into the fairly ordinary existence of two women and how their lives changed as a result of their love for food.
Even though the two stories are separated by five decades, the narratives are well intertwined for easy grasp of the plot.
The two lead players – Meryl Streep and Amy Adams – have worked together in ‘Doubt’.
In this film, as the legendary TV chef Julia Child, Meryl Streep is impeccable with her accent and mannerisms. Stanley Tucci is a good choice as her doting diplomat husband.
In the role of Julie Powell, Amy Adams lacks conviction. Instead, she lets her married life be dominated with her obsession.
While Julia was looking for a career, Julie feels creatively stifled and is talked into starting a blog by her husband (Chris Messina). However, she appears restricted when it comes to documenting the trials and tribulations involving the 524 recipes in 52 weeks from Child’s ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ . Perhaps, that’s due to the tiny confines of the apartment kitchen.
On the other hand, Streep appears to get the best scenes and lines. Contemporary New York backdrops are fine, but Julia in Paris are marvellous.
Good support also comes from Jane Lynch as Child’s sister and Linda Emond as the cookbook collaborator.
Writer-director Nora Ephron’s adaptation of – Powell’s ‘Julie & Julia’and Child’s ‘My Life in France’ – make for a delightful film.
Since both the women were happily married, the successful recipe must lie with combining marriage and food.
