Dec 12

Written by: Bill Bonfanti
12/12/2009 11:17 PM 

8.5 out of 10

Hello film goers! My name is Danielle Bonfanti and I will be your guest blogger today. I don’t claim to be a reviewer or a critic but I am co-founder of FilmGo and married to a huge movie buff and box office analyst.   My husband and partner Bill fills me and the rest of our FilmGo fans in on so many box office hits but tends to leave the chick flicks behind.  I am however a chick flick fan and feel they too need a voice!  I am a working mother of 2 and a student so when I sit down without the hubby and kids to a “chick flick” I want to feel the film and find what I am looking for…. Love, inspiration, joy, sometimes a good cry and I don’t have time to be disappointed. 

Julie & Julia was exactly what I needed! It is an inspirational film based on a blog written by Julie Powell.  Julie played by Amy Adams gave herself the impossible task of making 524 of Julia Child’s recipes in 365 days.  Julie narrates the story of Julia’s life in her blog as she documents her thoughts, lessons and experiences in the kitchen that she would gain from a woman she would never meet.  As Julie tells her story we watch how her love for cooking and Julia Child changed her for the better. With every recipe Julie makes, part of Julia Child’s life unfolds. The audience becomes part of both Julie’s and Julia’s growth.  Julia played by Meryl Steep is an inspiring woman who believed she was meant to accomplish something!  She never gave up or took no for an answer and she was determined to learn to cook and to become a teacher.  Director Nora Ephron tells the story of two women living in different countries, in different decades and manages to bring every scene together effortlessly.  I was sucked right in and felt part of Julie and Julia’s experience.

Julie’s love for cooking and for a woman she never met inspired her to be the woman she didn’t know she had in her. She wanted Julia to be proud! As Julie Powell, Amy Adams gives a heartfelt performance that every woman can relate to. She is stuck in a job and home she hates along with the idea she is a failed writer. Thank goodness she has a loving and supportive husband, just like Julia. Julie’s commitment to herself and Julia takes her on a journey; a journey that would make the “writer” and woman she is, proud. This journey reminded me that we are all here for a purpose; you just have to find it within you. The film is a reminder to all women that anything is possible!  All you need to do is find your inspiration and then commit. After all Julia Child didn’t even learn to cook until she was in her 40’s and she accomplished greatness. Meryl Steep as usual gives a riveting performance. She was witty and lit up the screen. I believed every moment of her performance and wanted her character to succeed.

So from one woman looking for a good movie to another I say go for it. It’s a great movie that takes women to a place that they want to go when their watching a flick for them! The movie left me thinking about it and inspired me to write this review. I hope you enjoyed!

Tags: