FILMS

Streep seasons ‘Julie & Julia’ just right

Reviewed by Rebecca Bostic | Sept. 3, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

In every recipe there are special ingredients that bring out the best possible flavor in an entrée. In the food-centered film “Julie & Julia” (Columbia), Meryl Streep is the unique ingredient that turns this film — that might have otherwise been bland — into a culinary and cinematic masterpiece.

Streep plays Julia Child, the famous co-author of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” who later became well known for her instructional television show. Whether her French cooking improved is uncertain, but what is obvious is that Streep has mastered the art of acting.

As Child, she is captivating. Scenes without her are good, but nonetheless leave you wishing the storyline would return to Child.

While half of the film is about the adult life of Julia Child from the 1950s forward, the other half tells the story of Julie, a struggling writer in 2002.

Played by Amy Adams, Julie is a government worker who cooks to escape the stresses of everyday life. Encouraged by her husband to expand her writing, she begins a blog about her one-year mission to cook each of the more than 500 recipes in Julia Child’s book. The blog finds a following and with the inspiration of Julia, Julie finds self worth and commercial success.

Although Adams does a lovely job portraying Julie, the character is so bland next to Streep’s that those parts of the film lag. Julie is negative, depressed and mean to her husband who is extremely supportive of her.

It is difficult to empathize with such a sulky character, particularly in contrast to the energetic Child. However, it is in this contrast that the moral of the film is illustrated.

Child chooses joy in the face of difficulties in her life — like having to move from her beloved city of Paris, the U.S. government’s suspicion of her husband’s communist sympathies and her inability to bear a child. She befriends every person she comes in contact with and continually chooses to be happy despite adversity and disappointment.

“Let anyone who comes to you go away feeling better and happier,” Mother Teresa of Calcutta said. “Everyone one should see the goodness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile. Joy shows from the eyes. It appears when we speak and walk. It cannot be kept closed inside us. It reacts outside. Joy is very infectious.”

Mother Teresa and Child were on the same page here. Child made the life of every character in the movie better because she chose to celebrate every part of her life. Her joyful nature infects Julie, giving her a new outlook on life.

Although the film never delves into particularly religious territory, Julia’s love for life and the world around her serves as an inspiration.

Furthermore, “Julie & Julia” offers the most positive portrayal of marriage in recent cinema history. Both women are married to extremely supportive men who are invested in their well being on every level. The film showcases the benefits of a loving and caring union.

While the acting, and by extension directing, is terrific, it is not its only strength. The costume and art direction that follow Julia through Paris and Europe in the 1950s and ’60s is spectacular. The overall storyline is interesting. In a way, its biggest fault is Streep, whose performance is so delicious, that the other half of the film begs for some more seasoning.

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Media critic Rebecca Bostic is a regular contributor to The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.