"Julie & Julia"

I went to see this new film, starring Meryl Streep as the late, great Julia Child, on a Tuesday night. Afterward, I went straight home to my kitchen, and didn't stop cooking until Wednesday morning.

I left the theater half-starved from drooling over all the delectable dishes whipped up in the movie, and inspired to recreate them myself.

But beyond the obvious culinary delights of the movie, there is an inspiring message: if you believe in yourself, you can do anything you set your mind to. Add a dollop of butter, and you've got a pretty tasty recipe for success.

The film follows two storylines that converge on that message. The film is based on the real-life blogs of writer Julie Powell and on My Life in France, the memoir of Julia Child.

Julie Powell is turning 30 and stuck in a spiritual rut. She decides to start a blog (the Julie/Julia project) and cook every single recipe in Julia Child's first cookbook, Mastering The Art of French Cooking in one single year. The image of Julia Child becomes a spiritual guide, and Julie Powell transforms her life for the better.

At the same time, the film flashes back to Paris in the 1950's, where a younger Julia Child is struggling in the same rut as Julie Powell. She decides to attend an elite cooking school and undertake the writing of a large recipe book, which would become Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The result is a personal transformation that vaulted Julia Child to fame as a household name.

This is the first mainstream Hollywood film to be based on a blog. Oscar-nominated director Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally) made it work well! Amy Adams' characteristic bubbly performance enriches the plot. And Meryl Streep's portrayal of Julia Child...well, let's just say I caught a whiff of another possible Oscar-nod!

Read more about Julie Powell in Cooking Up Something Good!

Watch this video in a bigger player.

And find some more Reel Inspiration.

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