Julie & Julia
As a blogger and self proclaimed "foodie" I knew I would identify with the main character Julie Powell, and my excitement was so great that I even went and bought the book a month before the release of the movie. The movie, I have to admitt is much better and contains about 75% less foul language than the book.
What vulgarity is left in the movie is in fact unnecessary and I'm eager to see if I can eventually get it from one of those movie editing sites where they take out all the crud. I don't particularly mind it, I'm not so easilly offended, but honestly there's plenty of French words in the film already.
The movie covered a lot of interesting points when it comes to blogging. The excitement of your first comment, the realisation that people are actually reading you, the free stuff (sure I get mine from winning things on other blogs but still), and ultimately the fact that sometimes blog life and real life become one, and they don't always mix.
"Don't write about this in your blog!" The husband of Julie Powell states in the movie. A direct quote also taken from my husband who in the theatre turned to me and glared, his eyes turning into pointing accusational fingers.
Ultimately, the movie left me feeling slightly empty. Not because it wasn't a good movie. The acting was pure genuis. Meryl Streep and Amy Adams just bring life to the story, and since it's a true story (two in fact) it's pretty helpful. The love shared between the husbands and wives is real and romantic at the same time. The empty feeling I was getting afterwards was also not because I was hungry after watching two hours of french cooking (although we did need to stop somewhere directly on the way home to pick up a bite).
No. The empty feeling came from the understanding that I got from the bloggers point of view. Having a purpose in your blog, and questioning that purpose constantly. Failing, but getting up to fail again. Realising that perhaps the only people reading are your friends and family, and if there are others out there reading, what if you stopped writing? Their lives would of course ultimately continue, but have you made an impact at all?
There's other reasons I left feeling as though the story was not properly completed, but I won't spoil anyone, you'll have to see it for yourself.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find a purpose for my blog and wonder if I can cook my way through Paula Deen's cookbooks and blog about it. I could call it 'Mastering the Art of Butter'.
Bon Apetit!
