|
 Meryl Streep, Golden Globe® winner 2010: Best Actress in a Comedy-Musical (Julie & Julia), Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Messina star in the delightfully delicious hit comedy Julie & Julia coming to Blu-ray™ and DVD on 8th March 2010 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Two women from different decades come together through their own true stories of culinary exploration when dissatisfied writer Julie Powell (Adams) decides to cook and blog her way through Julia Child’s (Streep) book Mastering the Art of French Cooking, which launched Child’s career..
Blu-ray and DVD special features include commentary by writer/director Nora Ephron and the behind-the-scenes featurette “Secret Ingredients: Creating Julie & Julia,” which features interviews with the cast and crew. The DVD also includes a cut-down version of the original cookbook, with all the recipes featured in the film and more.
The Blu-ray Disc is packed with exclusive features that will make mouths water. Included is “Julia’s Kitchen,” a tour of Julia Child’s one-of-a-kind kitchen now housed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, which was custom built by her husband Paul Child to accommodate her 6’ 2” frame and to serve as a television soundstage for her cooking shows. Also included is “Family & Friends Remember Julia Child,” which picks up where the film leaves off and chronicles her public life including other published works, her numerous television shows, her founding of the American Institute of Food and Wine, the many accolades she received, her philanthropy and her rarely discussed private life: the love story with her husband, her sense of humour, her amazing work ethic, and her love of teaching. Lastly, there’s “Cooking Lessons” with master chefs Julia Child, Jacques Pépin, Mark Peel, Suzanne Goin, Steven Lewandowski and Drew Nieporent demonstrating how to make such mouthwatering dishes as Braised Beef Short Ribs and Butter Poached Maine Lobster.
The Blu-ray Disc also features movieIQ with “Julia’s Recipe Collector,” where viewers can bookmark and email select Julia Child recipes featured throughout the film. movieIQ also allows viewers to access updated information on cast & crew while exploring relevant trivia such as production facts, music and soundtrack information.
Film Review:
A film about cooking and blogging. It doesn't sound very interesting does it? And we didn't think it would be. But here at MovieVortex we love to be surprised, and with the help of two of the best actresses in Hollywood we very much were.
Whilst the stories of both women offer plenty of human drama to get your teeth into, the real draw here is in the performances from the leading ladies (and only to a slightly lesser extent - their supporting men). Childs could easily have been a bombastic, gung-ho throwback to a time gone by but in the expert hands of Meryl Streep she is transformed into an immeasurably loveable character who will have a smile on your face for as long as your jaw muscles can cope. Amy Adams, meanwhile, takes all of the foibles and flaws of her struggling writer and turns them into endearing traits with which we can all identify. She lures us in with vulnerability before reassuring us with bursts of energetic drive, displaying an acting range worthy of acclaim.
For the filmmaker's part, the main thing I have to praise is the way in which joy of food was conveyed. There is only so far Julia's flambuoyed enjoyment can carry our sensation of the culinary delights on screen, but director Nora Ephron supplements this with some sumptuous shots of the meals as they're made, and washes these down with the most visceral munching and squelching and gorging sounds that you can imagine; all to great effect.
If you need a pick-me-up or fancy a low on effort, high on fun film then Julie and Julia is a worthy choice indeed.
Michael Edwards
Full review here
Blu-ray™ and DVD Extras Include the Behind-the-Scenes Featurette “Secret Ingredients: Creating Julie & Julia” and Commentary by Nora Ephron
Exclusive Blu-ray ™ Bonus Materials Feature a Tour of
Julia Child’s Kitchen in the Smithsonian Institution, a Look into Julia’s Off-Screen Life and Cooking Lessons from World Famous Master Chefs Including Julia Child
In Addition, the Blu-ray ™ Disc Features movieIQ,
Which Allows Viewers to Access Some of Julia Child’s Recipes That Were Either Prepared or Mentioned in the Film
Blu-ray™ and DVD Special Features Include:
Commentary with writer/director Nora Ephron
“Secret Ingredients: Creating Julie & Julia” - Go behind the scenes with Meryl Streep & Amy Adams to see how they became Julie & Julia.
Blu-ray™ Exclusive Special Features Include:
-“Family & Friends Remember Julia Child” - Julia’s closest family and friends tell us about the woman they knew and loved.
- “Julia’s Kitchen” - Learn all about how the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History acquired Julia’s kitchen and take a tour inside.
- “Cooking Lessons”:
- Poaching Eggs with Julia Child & Jacques Pépin
- Making Hollandaise Sauce with Julia Child & Jacques Pépin
- Mark Peel Prepares Scrambled Eggs
- Suzanne Goin Prepares Braised Beef Shortribs
- Steven Lewandowski & Drew Nieporent Prepare Butter Poached Maine Lobster
- movieIQ - “Julia’s Recipe Collector” - collect and email your favorite Julia Child recipes while watching the film!
Extras Rating: **** |
