The Liz Smith Column | 08/18/2009 11:00 pm
Liz Smith: Gobbling Up 'Julie and Julia'
Also from Our Gossip Girl, pot ban for dad Brad … ‘Nightline’ is supreme for seventh week.
Joan Juliet Buck © Robin Platzer, Twin Images
"You can observe a lot by just watching!" said the one and only Yogi Berra.
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I don’t know about you but I thought it was very touching when Brad Pitt, out promoting his "Inglourious Basterds" movie, appeared on TV with Bill Maher and the host reminded him of years ago at a party when he (Brad) rolled the perfect joint – "Like a machine," said Maher.
Pitt at first answered, "I’m an artist." Then he got serious, saying he has given up marijuana. "I’m a dad now … You want to be alert."
Bravo, Brad!
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I watched the return of "Mad Men" last Sunday night with bated breath, happy that this TV show, which I believe I was the first person ever to write enthusiastically about … has won so much acclaim.
As for the new episode, if you never saw "Mad Men" before, you wouldn’t have had a clue what was going on. I’m not sure I knew what was going on. Speaking of TV, I usually don’t like advertising embodying dirty jokes but the "Deadliest Catch" won my heart in Variety this week. They show fishermen being beaten down by hard work under the line "Not Bad for a Bunch of Guys With Crabs." (Four Emmy nominations!)
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You can see wowOwow.com’s own Cynthia McFadden this week every night on "Nightline," and while she does her usual fine job of exuding intelligence, charm and what seems to be the rare expertise of excellent ethical journalism, she never brags. So, we at wOw will do it for her. Cynthia’s ABC show "Nightline" has outperformed Conan O’Brien and David Letterman for the seventh week in a row. If you can stay up late at night, you’ll see Cynthia doing her stuff all this week. (Her co-anchors are Terry Moran and Martin Bashir.)
And she isn’t the only wOw member who is making news. What about our fabulous writer friend Joan Juliet Buck, sometimes referred to on this website as "Violet" and using a photo where she is drinking a cup of coffee? Joan has a small but trenchant role in the current Nora Ephron hit "Julie and Julia," wherein she plays an acerbic, bitter and bitchy head of the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. She despises Julia Child and has a final scene with Julia (Meryl Streep) where she exits laughing at the very idea that such a woman might ever become a great cook. And when you see "Julie and Julia" – and you will (you have to!) – don’t fail to notice Joan Buck’s clunky incredible shoes.
I knew Joan Buck had been a child actor in Paris back in the days when her papa, a movie producer, started her off. I knew she even made American movies such as "Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog." I knew that as a very fine writer for Vogue and everybody else worthwhile, she still yearned to act. But I didn’t know she was so talented. This is a small role, but it’s a winner!
I am sure other wOw women are doing great things. For instance, my pet Whoopi Goldberg is buying herself a hideaway only 40 minutes as the crow flies in New Jersey. She can then get away from it all without getting too much away from it all.
If you’d like to be entertained, tune in to shelterpop.com on the Web and you’ll see the photos of Whoopi’s studio apartment in Greenwich Village. It is now for sale.
Read more about: Amy Adams, Bill Maher, Brad Pitt, Celebrities, Conan O'Brien, Cynthia McFadden, Film, Gossip, Joan Juliet Buck, Julie and Julia, Liz Smith, Mad Men, Martin Bashir, Meryl Streep, News, Terry Moran, The Liz Smith Column, Whoopi Goldberg
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20 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
Fun afternoon at the movies…Streep was spectacular as usual.
However, Nora Ephron just couldn’t resist her liberal digs at Republicans. There were some scenes that didn’t add to the movie in any way…but certainly were added for a liberal slant to the story…which was totally unnecessary and distracting.
It also leaves one wondering why Julia had decided that she did not like Julia….not very opened minded of her….?
FSM~
Dear Sweet Liz: I think your typo about eagerly waiting to watch "Mad Men" with baited breath is so cute! (I keep imagining you eating sardines on Triscuits). I know you meant to type "bated breath".
Best from the word patrol - Christine
My husband and myself had the pleasure of seeing the movie "Julie and Julia" this past sunday. The movie was wonderful to watch. I have been a long time lover of Julia Child, because she placed the confidence in you, that cooking can be fun and enjoyable with all the fresh and great food there is to cook. With the out come looking gorgeous.
We are starting a new book club called the "ART OF THE BOOK" and our first book is" Julie and Julia". The premise of this book club is to read books about Food, Cooking, Art, Gardening and Entertaining. We look forward to having fun while making new friends, networking in a fun and positive way and just enjoying the evening.
The first meeting will be Sept. 16, 2009 at 7p.m. All of you through this web site can join in with your comments if you would like. Otherwise the meeting place is in St. Louis Missouri. Send me an e-mail if you would like to attend.
The movie "Julie and Julia" is absolutely delicious. I’ve read both books on which the movie is based (and I am rereading the one in which Julia Child reminisces about her life in France - yum!!). I also used, when I was younger, all Julia’s cookbooks so I know her recipes well.
Everything in the movie about Julia is spectacular. Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci are gorgeously lascivious together and, if one or both of them doesn’t win an Oscar, I’ll eat my hat (farci à la française, of course).
For an oldster like me, the bits about Julie are less interesting but, without Julie, there would have been no movie so we have to give her some credit.
For a wonderful evening out, with girlfriends or without, or even with a m….an, go see this movie!
The book is called "My Life in France" and it’s written by Julia Child and Alex Prud’homme (her grand-nephew). Julia related stories to Alex and he captured her voice and wrote the book. Bon Appetit!
I agree that Amy Adams is an excellent actress who probably gets ignored each time she’s on screen with Meryl Streep, not because she deserves to be ignore, but because the critics don’t bother to pay enough attention in her more subtle characters.
My daughter and I plan to see ‘Julie and Julia’ together. My daughter is a fan of Meryl Streep (as I’m sure most acting majors are) and cooking is her hobby so this movie is right up her alley. My husband on the other hand, is no fan of Streep and has never heard of Julia Child (she must not have been very big in Ireland)…. so I’ve picked the best theater mate for this one, hands down.
BTW, if anyone here has a first edition of Julia Child’s "The Joy of Cooking", it’s gong for about $1500 on Ebay. Wonderful what a little publicity will do.
Dear JJBuck,
I hated you in that movie Julie and Julia which was the whole point of course. I didn’t recognize you and that is another tribute to how good you were in the movie. Wonderful movie - wonderful performances by all.
Dear Patrice,
The book you have referred to " The Joy of Cooking" is not written by Julia Child. However, I think you are referring to her book " Mastering the Art of French Cooking". I also have found that this book is being auctioned off on e-bay for more than $1500.00.
If anyone has a copy of "Larousse Gastronomique" which was printed and or published in the 40’s or 50’s it is worth a big bundle. A new copy sells for approx. $80.00
Bon Appetite!