The Post

THE POST is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Meryl Streep as Kay Graham, a Washington D.C. newspaper heiress, and Tom Hanks as Ben Bradlee, the editor who works for her at The Washington Post.  The movie is set in the 1970's, and features the real story of journalists at The Washington Post attempting to publish an article titled The Pentagon Papers, which consists of classified documents never released about the involvement of the United States (U.S.) government in the Vietnam War.

THE POST makes journalism look exciting and basically highlights Amendment I of the U.S. Constitution, which grants freedom to the press.  Even though this movie is set during the 1970's, its release is timely.  We are living in a time when freedom of the press is being threatened, because some people question the integrity of most publications and news broadcasts. A common expression often used is 'fake news.'  Many people are concerned about this, and the audience I watched THE POST with clapped at the end of the movie. It is fair to assume the crowd supports the Constitution.

THE POST is currently playing in theatres.  The official Web site is https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-post.

Julie & Julia

Yesterday I saw the motion picture JULIE & JULIA, starring Meryl Streep as “Julia Child” and Amy Adams as “Julie Powell.” The movie was beautifully written and directed by Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail), and based on two true stories, My Life in France written by Julia Child and Alex Prud’homme and a memoir by Julie Powell. The two stories were uniquely woven together to emphasize their similarities.

“Julie Powell” (Adams) is a modern day woman living in Queens, New York with her husband “Eric Powell” (Chris Messina) and is “supposed to be a writer,” but instead works as a telephone operator at a crisis headquarters office. She loves to cook, and decides to start a blog documenting 524 of Julia Childs’ recipes in 365 days. Apparently, this is the first movie to focus on blogging. I am grateful for the salute, and had fun watching “Julie” prepare meals, with some slight mishaps, on her quest to be like Julia Child.

Meanwhile, viewers are taken to France 1949 to the 1950s to see how “Julia Child” (Streep) lives with her husband “Paul Child” (Stanley Tucci), takes/teaches cooking classes, and decides to write a cookbook. I appreciate seeing the famous chef’s humble outlook on her expertise. Meryl Streep truly takes on the persona of Julia Child. Her performance makes following the story even more enjoyable.

JULIE & JULIA will be in theatres August 7th. For more information visit the Web site http://www.julieandjulia.com/. Be sure to watch this movie with a full stomach. If not, all the food and scenes with characters eating will make you even more hungry than you probably already were before entering the theatre.