No this is not a review of the movie Julie & Julia. If you're looking for that you can find a ton of reviews online and on most food blogs. I will say that I loved the movie. I think Meryl Streeps portrayal of Julia was brilliant. I own two copies of Mastering the Art of French Cooking (no I have not cooked from them yet). I own both books the movie was based on (see photo). Loved them both. And yes, I'm DYING to make Julias Beef Bourguignon. No this post is in defense of Julie Powell.
I do not know Julie Powell. I do not think she's the most awesome cook. I do not agree with all her political views nor all her "foodie" views. But I do think she's getting a bit of a raw deal when it comes to reviews of her and her portrayal in the movie. I can't seem to read a review of the movie these days that doesn't say how great Meryl Streeps portrayal of Julia child is without also reading how sucky Julie Powells story is. So, I would just like to throw my two cents in and comment on some of the negative comments I've come across.
*This is a MOVIE...that was BASED on two books. The movie was not a documentary. That means that certain things in both books were left out. And, as with most movies BASED on a book, certain things were combined or created and put in the movie that did not happen in real life. Certain scenes (think the meeting with the girlfriends at the start of the movie) didn't happen at all. Julie Powell admits that the Julie in the movie is much "softer" and nicer than she is. I found the Julie in the movie to be a lot less "fun" than the Julie in the book.
*I keep reading about how Julie Powell was "just another of those food bloggers who started her blog just to get a book deal and become famous, just like all the gazillion food bloggers currently out there". Folks, Julie started her blog in 2002. Though there were food bloggers back then, there wasn't nearly the amount there are these days. And back then bloggers weren't featured so readily in cooking magazines or newspapers. And I don't know any food bloggers who had book deals in 2002. Though it might have been a nice idea, getting a book deal was the furthest thing from her mind when she started the blog. 2002 was the year that blogging started to really take off. There were only 750,000 Blogger accounts that year. Wanna guess how many there are now and how many of those are food blogs? Yes, I think a lot of folks started blogging about their food after Julie and were hoping for a book deal just like her. But not every food blogger out there is after a book deal and I certainly don't think that was why Julie started her blog (though it seemed to be portrayed that way in the movie).
*"Julie had an affair. How dare they not put that in the movie." Yes. Julie had an affair, but it wasn't during the timeframe of the book. It happened way after. In fact, Julie has written a new book where she writes about the affair. But why should it have been in the movie? It wasn't in the book the movie was based upon and had no bearing on the story in general.
*"I hated the book, it didn't have many recipes". I had to laugh when I read this. Last time I checked Julie's book wasn't a cookbook. And last time I checked there already is a book that contains all the recipes Julie cooked. I have no idea why this makes Julie Powell such a person to hate or why her part in the movie should be frowned upon. By the way, don't go to see the movie if all you are looking for is recipes because there aren't any recipes in the movie either.
*"Julie Powell isn't a serious cook." Actually, though I saw this on a blog review or two, I think the quote came from Julia Child herself: "I don't think she's a serious cook." Julie didn’t start the blog to set out to be a better cook, she set out to become a better writer. Yes, she learned to cook, but that wasn’t the point. I don't think Julie Powell thinks of herself as a serious cook either. I'm not a serious cook. That doesn't mean I don't cook, love food (or read way to many food blogs!)
*I didn't like the blog/book because it was all about her (Julie)". And therefor they didn't like the Julie part of the movie because it was all about Julie. Um gee. Isn't a personal blog usually about the person who writes it? Yes, there are exceptions, but most food blogs I know are about the folks that write them and what they are cooking. It's about what the blogger finds interesting or newsworthy.
I'll stop now. I could go on because the reasons that folks have found to "dislike" the "Julie" part of the movie astound me. But I believe I'm starting to rant. I'm starting to sound like Julie in parts of her book. Except I can't use the "F" word on my blog. I have no problems with reviews of the movie, of the acting or the script. I too, found the Julia part of the movie much more interesting. And I'm not sure why I'm reacting so much to the negative reviews of Julie the person. I just know that along with Julia Child, the Food Network and other food bloggers, Julie Powell gave me that extra edge to get off my butt and start cooking. I will always thank her for that. And the realization that maybe, just maybe, I could take out Mastering the Art of French Cooking and cook from it (as soon as I find those two copies that are still in storage).
This is what Julie wrote on her blog about Julia Child "...the fact that she might not for whatever reason adore me as much as I adore her has absolutely no bearing on what is wonderful about her. Throughout her life, Julia nurtured and encouraged and gave great help to chefs and writers both. And she changed my life. No matter what she - or anyone else, for that matter - thought of the project. I know why I did what I did, and I am proud that I spent a year writing and cooking in tribute to one the most wonderful women I've ever not met."
Please note: This opinion is solely my own. Any resemblance to person or persons living or dead is purely coincidental. No animals were hurt in the making of this post. Your mileage may vary. Semper Fi.
Please note: I was going to post this Saturday, which would have been Julia Childs birthday. Alas I have the flu so I missed Julias birthday AND National Rum day which was yesterday. No worries, I'll just have some rum when I get well.