There were a few items which brought the overall story down.
1. The use of the f-bomb - not in keeping for the era (late 50s) and unnecessary. It used to be this was a R rating for sure. Beyond that it was completely gratuitous and if left out would not have changed the impact of the scene (and film).
2. A few lame jabs are tossed out at U.S. Republicans. Those who see many films may be used to the typical Hollywood left slant - in this case the 'jokes' were not only non-nonsensical but actually detract from the film.
A.) Julie works for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation a government sponsored not unlike your local Housing Authority. Julie admits that she is a government employee and is shown to be honestly, actively engaged in her work even going 'above and beyond' on at least one occasion. Who has ever called a government employee a 'capitalist'?
B.) Seriously calling sick as plot device? What she needs a doctor's note; is this real life or Jr. High? What gov't employee does not have sick time or personal time? Was this chronic? If so the reprimand was justified. If not it doesn't make sense in light of effort to show her as the good worker. So why would her boss call attention to his idiocy? (I am not a Republican, I am not a schmuck. But don't do that again.) Is that funny? In any case they are elements that if left out would make the film better, kind of like the nudity in Schindler's List, self-indulgent and unnecessary.
3. But beyond all that is one of the underlying elements of the Julia segments - McCarthy. Absurdly, Paul is called all the way back to the states from France for 3 days of questioning; where he is exonerated. The significant question highlighted was "Are you a homosexual?" Was Joe McCarthy investigating homosexuality? Of course not. So what was it that Paul did that left him with a cloud of suspicion as a communist - taking 3 days to clear up? Lived in China as an embassy appointee, was involved with..... The only hint in the film is that he liked to check books out from the embassy library, which recently had it's collection reduced because of Joe. While I know nothing about Paul and Julia Child history has shown that Joe McCarthy was more often right than wrong. But this does not fit the conventional wisdom that McCarthyism = unjustified witch-hunt. And this in a story supposedly about 2 true stories.
A bit fuller critique here:
Would I watch it again? No.
2 star of 5
Would I recommend it? Possibly for adults.
Better off to watch Shadowlands, or Howards's End or Up!.
