Julie/Julia -- the Cod's luck runs out.

I'd done a good job not seeing Julie/Julia. I was happy. Unbeknownst to me, the cinetrix smuggled the feelgood hit of '09 into our Netflix queue, and popped it in the player during a brief pause in my bowl binge.

A few thoughts:

1) Streep's performance is terrible. It was cruel of the filmmakers to include a clip of Ackroyd's SNL turn as Julia, who is actually a more convincing mimic. Streep's performance consists largely of hoots and caws, giving the impression that Streep is mute, and she is operating one of those talking keychains, except for Julia Child, rather than The Dude or Scarface.  I would have been interested to see Jane Lynch, who turns up as JC's sister, take a crack at the role.

  2) It seems like a cruel joke go with the remarkably flattering casting of Amy Adams as Julie Powell, then renege on about 90% of that flattery by insisting that Amy Adams sport a mullet.

3) It is problematic to have a film that relies to any extent on the notion that Stanley Tucci is sexually irresistible.

4) It's hard to make an exciting movie about writing a blog. Ephron is reduced to plot points like the time Judith Jones does not come to dinner.

5) Chris Messina, as Julie's husband, is the most sympathetic character in the film. Too bad he's the one who gets thrown under the bus by Julie in her new jawn.

Comments

[BK]

That shit is cold, Cinetrix. Damn. It's hard out there for a Cod.

[dubarry]

It's remarkable, even after trying to make her likable, how much of c*nt Julie Powell seems like. Jeez.

[Doctor Yinz]

I fail to understand why Streep decided to create a yelping cartoon character version of Julia Child when she could easily have created a realistic portrait that actually sounded like her.

As to Amy Adams, I invoke what I call The Sheryl Crow Principle: my desire to make sweet love to a performer in no way means that they have any talent.

[Bridget Callahan]

I think Streep's problem is that she understands how beloved she is by the 30yroldgirl/30yroldgay community.

[carlos]

It was a great performance and everyone needs to wise up and stop riding the hate train.