@sparklylegwarmers: Kind of nice to know that "the movie editions of 'My Life in France,' the 2006 book that chronicles Ms. Child’s years there and provided biographical material for the movie, have been reprinted nine times by Knopf."
There is actually someone smart enough to have read Child's book who thinks that a can of mushroom soup is healthier than a nice dollop of fat? Oy.
And does no one notice that the lady herself lived to a vigorous 91, in fine fettle to the end? Good ingredients, small portions, and, as I'm sure Julia would add, lashings of gin and butter - that's the secret to a long and happy life.
@Muscato: I'm so charmed by this comment that I want to toast you with a glass of Muscat, even though I loathe sweet wines.
Julia did love her alcohol--there's a lengthy confessional in her adored "My Life in France" where she talks about how she and Paul routinely killed a bottle of wine at lunch and another at dinner, plus assorted mixed drinks when the cocktail hour struck. And how this boozing regimen plus the steady intake of butter initially gave them both terrible tummy aches, or as the French put it, "crises de foie."
Julia wasn't a Brit. She was from California. She just came from an uptight WASP family who spoke the way they do in old movies. Julia was joyously American in the very best sense.
@Airvault: But how sexist of her to choose the boy! I don't know how Julia could keep putting things in ovens like that. It must have been a torment Nora Ephron chose not to touch on.
(All right, I'm being fucking awful here, and I apologize for the black humor. And I also apologize to black comedians everywhere too. Ugh, I hate myself. )
@Baroness: I didn't really think of Julia as American or British. Really she just seemed otherworldly. If someone told me as was from Mars, I would have believed it. But yep, born in California.
@Airvault: Julia was a famous markswoman, and her legendary feat of bringing back 10,000 dead dingoes for bored American housewives to make a tasy meal of is not something i'll let you scoff at, sir. In fact, i believe it's a major upcoming plot point of Mad Men. Betty's about to kill Don, when suddenly Julia's blood bespattered image appears on the black-and-white TV. Instead of murdering her husband, Betty makes a tasty roast loin of dingo, with an apricot and garlic sauce. And the children wonder where the family dog went to.
I'm following you around today. OK stalking. (Standing on the corner fake whistling whilst rocking back on heels swiftly looking in other directions every time you glance over smiling slightly out of the corner of my out of the side of my mouth not facing you.)
The mention above is not original to American Life. It is one of my favorite documentaries entitled "Hands on a Hard Body."
It isn't available on DVD but Allen's Alley on 23rd and 9th has it on VHS.
I just found a copy! I bet you would also like the documentaries "American Movie" (about Mark Borchardt the amateur film maker and his sidekick Mike) and "Fistful of Quarters" (the baddest Donkey Kong competitors ever). Both hilarious. I love a good documentary that involves a mullet or two.
We should have a movie night... if you'd prefer to stalk me you can watch through my window. I'll bring you out a beer.
There was a really, REALLY funny story about some guy (hilariously crazy guy) on This American Life, who would participate in those contests where everyone stands around a car and the last person left standing still touching the vehicle wins it (the kind of contest often covered by local radio stations and car dealerships). Apparently he has a knack for this and won himself a truck or two and carried on about how out of control his ego got with the power and rush that these wins afforded him.
So my guess to your question about how much fame it takes is... very little.
I haven't seen the movie, but Kristin Stewart's body language and inability to make eye contact during interviews make me think she could have Aspergers or wasn't socialized properly (or just can't act...even like herself, in an interview).
@EleanorRigby: My son is autistic and one of my daughters is an aspie (I have 3 daughters & 2 sons)and I had the same thought you did, watching Stewart. She may just be an off-putting young lady who has had her fame go to her head, though.
@user5000: She isn't very famous, is she? Though she's been in films, and is receiving press for this one, she isn't really a star. Which makes me wonder exactly how much fame is needed for it to go to one's head.
I saw this at 7:00 PM on Friday night - the epicenter of the teenage girl vampire riot. My thoughts on the experience:
1.) If you're a teenage boy, go see this. Girls your age will outnumber you 20:1. Free advice: put on a black hoody and go stand in line for this.
2.) Virtually every seen involving Richard Pattinson arriving or doing something sexy/heroic will elicit a shriek from the audience. If you can't stand that, go when the little 'uns are past curfew.
3.) Suburban/semi-urban parking will actually be quite good, because most of the audience is being dropped off.
4.) The movie is 121 minutes, and you will feel every excruciating second. The book is interminable, and the movie has opted to keep that dynamic. Bring your iPhone/BlackBerry/laptop/cyanide.
5.) Kristen Stewart is the most wooden actress I've ever seen get this much screen time. She has fewer facial expressions than Ben Affleck.
6.) For the menfolk/ladies in search of lipstick: they have a tremendously attractive woman named Ashley Greene playing one of the vampires. Perk up if you hear the name "Alice." She's off-the-charts beautiful.
7.) You know what the star of this movie is? The Volvo C30. The car had me swooning. Perk up if you hear tires.
I try to spelunk into every cultural phenomenon I can. My wife made me do this one, though - she's a fan of the books despite acknowledging their awfulness. Her addiction to literary junk food is one of the most attractive things about her.
@ADismalScience: ...go when the little 'uns are past curfew.
Haven't you noticed? The little 'uns are NEVER past curfew anymore. They run around in packs like jackals at all hours of the evening. I blame our parents for my generation's absolute lack of parenting skills. Well, that and too much Brady Bunch
@ADismalScience: I agree about the Volvo C30. I think it was hotter than Edward with his amazing amount of makeup.
I really wished they had addressed the makeup--I mean, burgundy lipstick does look hot on a goth guy, but tell me why he randomly has so much of it on, please.
08/24/09
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And does no one notice that the lady herself lived to a vigorous 91, in fine fettle to the end? Good ingredients, small portions, and, as I'm sure Julia would add, lashings of gin and butter - that's the secret to a long and happy life.
08/24/09
Julia did love her alcohol--there's a lengthy confessional in her adored "My Life in France" where she talks about how she and Paul routinely killed a bottle of wine at lunch and another at dinner, plus assorted mixed drinks when the cocktail hour struck. And how this boozing regimen plus the steady intake of butter initially gave them both terrible tummy aches, or as the French put it, "crises de foie."
08/23/09
08/24/09
08/24/09
(All right, I'm being fucking awful here, and I apologize for the black humor. And I also apologize to black comedians everywhere too. Ugh, I hate myself. )
08/24/09
08/24/09
08/24/09
08/24/09
08/23/09
11/22/08
The mention above is not original to American Life. It is one of my favorite documentaries entitled "Hands on a Hard Body."
It isn't available on DVD but Allen's Alley on 23rd and 9th has it on VHS.
Amazing.
11/22/08
I just found a copy! I bet you would also like the documentaries "American Movie" (about Mark Borchardt the amateur film maker and his sidekick Mike) and "Fistful of Quarters" (the baddest Donkey Kong competitors ever). Both hilarious. I love a good documentary that involves a mullet or two.
We should have a movie night... if you'd prefer to stalk me you can watch through my window. I'll bring you out a beer.
11/22/08
So my guess to your question about how much fame it takes is... very little.
11/22/08
This comment is for @rajmahall: .
11/22/08
11/22/08
11/22/08
Yes!! I haven't seen the documentary yet... and I can't wait. I've only heard the short NPR version. Thanks guys.
11/22/08
11/22/08
11/22/08
11/22/08
11/22/08
I'm a bozo.
11/22/08
Holy shit. I don't know how to use Gawker anymore. And I'm not even drunk.
11/22/08
11/22/08
Yeah.
11/22/08
The plot was pretty thin and James Pattinson wasn't totally hot. For starters he has absolutely no bod.
The blonde boy who played the bad vampire can suck on any part of me he desires.
11/22/08
11/22/08
11/22/08
11/22/08
1.) If you're a teenage boy, go see this. Girls your age will outnumber you 20:1. Free advice: put on a black hoody and go stand in line for this.
2.) Virtually every seen involving Richard Pattinson arriving or doing something sexy/heroic will elicit a shriek from the audience. If you can't stand that, go when the little 'uns are past curfew.
3.) Suburban/semi-urban parking will actually be quite good, because most of the audience is being dropped off.
4.) The movie is 121 minutes, and you will feel every excruciating second. The book is interminable, and the movie has opted to keep that dynamic. Bring your iPhone/BlackBerry/laptop/cyanide.
5.) Kristen Stewart is the most wooden actress I've ever seen get this much screen time. She has fewer facial expressions than Ben Affleck.
6.) For the menfolk/ladies in search of lipstick: they have a tremendously attractive woman named Ashley Greene playing one of the vampires. Perk up if you hear the name "Alice." She's off-the-charts beautiful.
7.) You know what the star of this movie is? The Volvo C30. The car had me swooning. Perk up if you hear tires.
8.) Drink beforehand. It helped.
11/22/08
*scene
11/22/08
11/22/08
Was this a date Dismal? Or a purely anthropological undertaking for our benefit?
11/22/08
I try to spelunk into every cultural phenomenon I can. My wife made me do this one, though - she's a fan of the books despite acknowledging their awfulness. Her addiction to literary junk food is one of the most attractive things about her.
11/22/08
11/22/08
11/22/08
Haven't you noticed? The little 'uns are NEVER past curfew anymore. They run around in packs like jackals at all hours of the evening. I blame our parents for my generation's absolute lack of parenting skills. Well, that and too much Brady Bunch
11/22/08
11/22/08
11/22/08
Also strikingly reminds me of someone's wife! Heh.
11/23/08
I really wished they had addressed the makeup--I mean, burgundy lipstick does look hot on a goth guy, but tell me why he randomly has so much of it on, please.
I didn't read the book.