Didn't understand Julia's reaction - Julie & Julia (2009) Discussion

[–] BanjeeBanjo 9 years ago

Personally, I completely get it. Imagine that you spend the better part of a decade preparing this magnum opus of a cookbook, intended to empower cooks to elevate their skills and home menus to something more than a dish that includes a mix. You've poured your education, you heart, your life, and your soul into making this book that is intended to be studied and used to better someone's life and then this person who is suffering a delayed quarter-life crisis uses it as means to escape the humdrum-ness of their day-to-day. Julie Powell, for all intents and purposes, used Julia Child's status as an icon to catapult her whiny, self-obsessed "cooking" blog to something more than it actually was. I think, if I was Julia Child, I would also feel that my life's work had been trivialized and feel some resentment for someone piggy-backing on the success I accomplished through extremely hard work and perseverance.

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[–] jnonnenkamp 9 years ago

The real Julie Powell is not much like Amy Adams' portrayal of her. The actual blog was laden with profanity and didn't even explain things very well. Even in the movie, Adams' version of Powell claims "the bitch lied", hardly a respectful treatment of a woman she claims to admire.

Julie Powell also admitted that she just did the blog as a way to earn fame. When Judith Jones canceled her dinner visit (and I doubt such a meeting was ever really scheduled), Julie reacts by saying "I was thinking book deal!". Then when she hears Julia doesn't like the blog, she claims "do you think she thinks I'm just using her to get a name for myself?" Duh. Is the sky blue?

In the movie, Julie Powell is the former editor of a magazine who's sob story made another magazine cover, but I also don't think that part of the story is true. The real Julie Powell moved to New York to be an actress but was too lazy to go to auditions.

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[–] FreyjaAlexa 9 years ago

Exactly, the real Julie doesn't come across as very respectful of Julia Child or really anything for that matter.

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] Kencrogers300 8 years ago

Thank you for that explanation. I have watched the movie over an over, and even the special features which has Julie Powell was in, she seemed very nice. And I DID NOT read her blogs...I wonder if they are anywhere to read? Thank you again for post. k

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[–] Cali7 9 years ago

In the context of the movie (I haven't read the real Julie's blog, so I can't comment on that), I didn't either. Julie seemed very complimentary of Julia Child in her blog (e.g., constantly praising her, mentioning that she felt connected to her on a spiritual level, the whole bit about how Julia was a good wife/good person and she wasn't, etc). The challenge to cook all of Julia's recipes in one year was positive and fun, plus it brought attention back to Child's book and her in general, so I'm not sure what the big deal was?

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[–] eimpson 9 years ago

"Well," she said, "she just doesn't seem very serious, does she?

"I worked very hard on that book. I tested and retested those recipes for eight years so that everybody could cook them. And many, many people have. I don't understand how she could have problems with them. She just must not be much of a cook."

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/12/food/fo-calcook12

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[–] Storywatcher 9 years ago

Actually, that makes sense and got all my questions answered. In real life, Julie's bad behaviour would be obvious but in the context of the movie that statement cleared all my doubts. Thank you all.

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[–] CarFish-jcbnyc 8 years ago

The vulgarity of Julie's blog didn't help matters. Serious, intelligent people can always express themselves without resorting to cuss words.

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[–] amorehl-93-99338 8 years ago

Well, as the "FAQ" section of this site explains:

Julia's long time friend and publisher at Knopf said this: Jones says Child did not approve of Powell's cook-every-recipe-in-one-year project. The editor and author read Powell's blog together ('Julie and Julia' was published a year after Child's 2004 death). Julia said,' I don't think she's a serious cook.' Jones thinks there was a generational difference between Powell and Child. Flinging around four-letter words when cooking isn't attractive, to me or Julia. She didn't want to endorse it. What came through on the blog was somebody who was doing it almost for the sake of a stunt. She would never really describe the end results, how delicious it was, and what she learned. Julia didn't like what she called the flimsies. She didn't suffer fools, if you know what I mean.

I'm with Julia on the profanity usage.

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[–] A-Checkered-Life 8 years ago

It has been a few years since I first watched Julie and Julia, which I thought was very good and watching others cook is always a delight. Meryl and Amy are two of my favorite actresses.

What became clear to me this time was the the film demonstrated Amy's Julie as seeing Julia to be an imaginary mentor and life coach. She projected herself and experiences on Julia many times throughout the film in a way that drove her portion of the story. She was very respectful of in her passion to follow the recipes and to share her journey.

We do not hear four letter words when Julie narrating as she enters her blog; however, in one of the last scenes, she asks Eric if that might be a reason that Julia did not show interest in her project. He said that it was possible since Julia was an elderly woman with different cultures expectations. I know nothing of the real Julie, but I think that Nora Ephron did an excellent job in writing clarity and grace into that interaction to handle an awkward situation created outside of the movie.

The young woman in this film is someone whom I liked, admired, understood (even as she felt overwhelmed, challenged, and emotionally growing up in the process), and cheered. Who hasn't been there at some time or other? With one exception, her friends were not really interested, except for eating great dinners. I also admired her tenacity and focus, in spite of her constantly belittling mother (that actress did a great job while being heard and not seen).

As a person never blessed with the ability or gift of cooking, I always rejoice in Julia disclaiming her passion for eating in an early scene. I share that completely, without a single gram of interest in Mastering the Art of French Cooking. After this second viewing of J&J, I feel compelled to buy a used copy of the book just to read and savor - mentally - the delights that were created, tested, and perfected by Mrs. Child. YUM!!

I do not drool while watching foodie movies, but this was nearly the one.



A Checkered Life speaks of myriad diverse adventures being the rewards of endless curiosity.

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[–] bookwormdreamer 7 years ago

I thought maybe it was a generational thing. Julia was what 90 at the time.
Now I haven't read the blog so maybe there were things about she didn't approve of.

For me this movie is a guilt pleasure.! I would never think a movie about cooking could be so enjoyable!

I share the love for eating but I find cooking exhausting. I wish I didn't. I always get hungry watching it.

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