Meryl Streep is Julia Child and Amy Adams is writer Julie Powell in Nora Ephron’s comedy Julie & Julia. Before Ina, before Rachael, before Emeril, there was Julia, the woman who forever changed the way America cooks. But in 1948, Julia Child (Meryl Streep) was just an American woman living in France. Her husband's job has brought them to Paris, and with her indefatigable spirit, she yearned for something to do. Fifty years later, Julie Powell (Amy Adams) is stuck. Pushing 30, living in Queens and working in a cubicle as her friends achieve stunning successes, she seizes on a seemingly insane plan to focus her energies. Julie decides to spend exactly a year cooking all 524 recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking (which Child co-wrote with Louise Bertholle and Simone Beck) – and write a blog about her experiences.
Director-writer-producer Nora Ephron seamlessly melds these two remarkable true stories into a comedy that proves that if you have the right combination of passion, obsession, and butter, you can change your life and achieve your dreams.
In 1948, the Powerful Effects Theory was very prevalent. It is about the mass media being very influential and audiences are passive. This thoery became popular after WW2 and it is not really true in Julia Child's case as we can see that Julia is not a person who is influenced easily by the messages transmitted through the mass medis.
Fifty years later, the Moderate effects models became prevalent. It is about the ability of the media to influence its audiences still remains and media selectivity does not equate no effects. It shows when Julie Powell wants to write about her experiences when she was learning the to cook the dishes in all 524 recipes of Julia's Child Mastering the art of French cooking.
In my opinion, I felt that this was a good movie as it relates true stories and motivates the audiences to change their lives and achieve their dreams. It is up to the audience on how they perceive the message of this movie to be.
This movie is rather encouraging. It teaches those who failed to pick themselves up and try again. Failures make people a better person and it gives them experience in the area they are working on to pursue their dreams.
ReplyDeleteI feel that this movie depicts a good model of teaching and motivating the young to work towards their dreams. It tells them that dreams are achievable and it is just a matter of time.
ReplyDeleteIts not failure who makes a better person out of you but actually picking oneself up and learning from it.
ReplyDeleteI think an important point that can be taught is about the idea of adapting to change. Uprooting oneself to a foreign land which you know little about can be a harrowing and at times an unforgiving situation. Especially, at a time where our communication systems were not as efficient as todays which meant that information on other countries such as its culture is difficult to get. (Though even in todays context reading about a country's culture is certainly different to experiencing it for yourself.) The 1940s were certainly not the best of times especially in Europe no thanks to the effects of WW2. Such uncertainties would have certainly deflated many but the Julia decided not to sit around but actually get up and try to do something meaningful. Only a person with a strong willpower would be able to do what she did and decide to learn the ways of cooking in a different culture.
"ones best success comes after their greatest disappointments" - Henry Ward Beecher. :)
ReplyDeleteBouncing up after a fall is what determines success
ReplyDeleteI agree that different communication theories apply to different years as we move into the future. This is because we have progressed over the years and our social norms are always changing. Therefore, only certain theories are applicable to today's context.
ReplyDeleteYes. This movie does motivate us to work towards our goals and make our dreams come true. It might sound like a fairytale but this movie showed that it is possible to happen.
ReplyDeleteTrue stories do relate to us better and give us the motivation to pursue our goals and this movie is just one fine example. I agree with James that different communication theoris apply to us differently as our social norms are always changing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mark that people need strong willpower to pursue their dreams nowadays. This is to ensure that they can survive and adapt to different cultures and environment.
ReplyDeleteI think this was an interesting movie as the writers had made an interesting effort to integrate both lives and show how they are similar and related even though both lead characters lived in a different era.
ReplyDeleteThe movie had also showcase the common problems that society faced in each particular era. And this shows that with just motivation, self-confidence and effort, anyone can overcome any situational problem. Of course, it is always better to have help.
Media is a powerful tool that can actually influence our opinions and the way we see things. For instance, in this case, Julie was influenced by Julia to try and cook all the 524 cooking receipes in one year. This actually shows how powerful the media can shape our beliefs and make us do things which we normally do not do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with En that the media can shape our beliefs and make us do the things which we normally do not do. This will then become our culture and part of us. Therefore, I agree with you that different theories are for different year because of the progress of society.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather be a small thing climbing up than a big thing falling down. Good Movie.
ReplyDeleteThis movie made me realise that no matter what setbacks you face, you should stand up and do your best to conquer that problem.
ReplyDeleteIt encourages one to keep on perservering until you succeed.
Good and meaningful movie!
This is a good movie. It has a nice meaning behind it and the story plot is interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis movie is definitely good for those who have failed many times and about to give up trying. From this movie, the will be encouraged to strive on to achieve their goals.