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Julia Roberts Headlines Eat, Pray, Love

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (34)

julia_roberts.jpg

A few months ago, as part of the Cannonball Read, the lovely Nicole wrote a review for Eat, Pray, Love, the huge-selling Elizabeth Gilbert memoir about her experience living in three different places around the world for a year. Of it, Nicole wrote, in part:

I started the book while hungover, and took this as a bad omen that I was about to subject myself to 108 chapters of woo-woo nonsense. I finished it with a feeling of admiration and introspection. Sure, I can’t spend a year living in three countries (Italy, India and Indonesia) in a quest to “find myself,” but the author treats the experience with an open, frank and funny tone as she takes the reader through innumerable plates of pasta, days spent in an Ashram, and the creation of a unique circle of friends in Bali.


Essentially, the book is about a woman who — after failing to get pregnant — sets out to “find herself,” which sounds kind of hokey and platitudinous, but the book has been well received by most who have read it.

And now they are making a movie out of it, of course. Julia Roberts, in fact, has been tapped for the lead. Ryan Murphy is set to direct, which is a mixed blessing. His cinematic adaptation of Running with Scissors was a huge disappointment, but the first couple of seasons of his “Nip/Tuck” were outstanding, before it careened off the rails and landed in a big bowl of failure pie (is that show still on? I gave up after the 4th season).

But the best news about the project is that Richard Jenkins just signed on, and Jenkins — besides looking like a damn fine accountant — is a seriously cool dude, and a great, unappreciated character actor. He’s definitely one of the good guys, and his presence is generally enough to compel me to see a film. And while Julia Roberts doesn’t hold the same appeal, I got nothing against her.

Eat, Pray, Love begins filming in July, and it’s set for a 2011 release.







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Comments

I was all set to rant about how much I hated this book and how I want Elizabeth Gilbert to drown in a bowl of linguine, but then I got distracted by the ad directly underneath that's peddling a porny medieval something and now I can't stop laughing.

"Start your journey^ NOW my lord."

^: in my petticoats

Posted by: Julie at April 16, 2009 10:25 AM

Julia Roberts?? Barf.

Richard Jenkins??? YAY!!!

Posted by: boo at April 16, 2009 10:31 AM

Julia "I mimicked a real live person and won an oscar for it" Roberts.

I hate that shit, but I guess I'll save it for the next Oscar thread.

Posted by: boo at April 16, 2009 10:32 AM

The question that has to be answered is whether Jenkins is an accomplished Horse Whisperer. That is the only way there could be anything that resembles chemistry between a male and Roberts.

I wonder if they stick peanut-butter to the roof of her mouth to make her move her lips.

Posted by: admin at April 16, 2009 10:34 AM

Ugh! I am so NOT excited about this. The thing about the books main character I liked so much was her sense of humor and adventure, I just don't see Julia Roberts having much of either. She's not relatable unless, as admin has pointed out, you are a horse whisperer.

Posted by: Wormer at April 16, 2009 10:43 AM

Sounds kind of hokey and platitudinous? If you read it, you'd know it is as bad as it sounds. This book made me want to gauge my eyes out and I didn't even make it past page 60. What an overrated, self-indulgent, pile of manure. Should be right up Julia Roberts' alley!

Posted by: Sarah at April 16, 2009 10:45 AM

"Julia Roberts, in fact, has been tapped for the lead..."

Thus guaranteeing that I will, NEVER...EVER, watch it.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at April 16, 2009 10:48 AM

I'm worried about this one for the same reason as "Julie and Julia."

That the screenwriter will, instead of capturing the individual voice, completely cheap out and go for every chick flick cliche already in every other shitty chick flick movie.

... and even with the writer's quite down-to-earth voice, it was still a bit annoying to know that she'd 'found herself' after a three-month world tour with no other obligations. Funny thing, three months of wealth in foreign lands with no responsibilities and I think I could find myself, you, her, and that other guy, no problem.

Posted by: twig at April 16, 2009 10:55 AM

I've read this, I can't remember much about it. I was fairly unmoved and I think I didn't like the writer very much.

Posted by: Carrie at April 16, 2009 11:14 AM

It always disappoints me when I read comments discussing what an actor looks like (and it's usually female actors, not male) and not their acting abilities - especially on a website like Pajiba, which I personally enjoy for the above average film critiques.

I'm not a big Julia Roberts fan either (I'd put her on a par with Harrison Ford - a few decent roles but mostly over-rated) but comparing someone to a horse is kind of a lame way to criticise them.

I guess what really bugs me about this type of commenting is that if a female actor isn't what some would consider a decent actor they become categorised as hot sluts (Megan Fox) or derided as ugly by people who, I hasten to add, are hidden nicely from view behind their computer screens.
And in this day and age that's a pretty depressing attitude.

Posted by: missh at April 16, 2009 11:21 AM

Ugh, Eat Pray Love was smug, fake, and as textbook as you can get. Not to mention Roberts is about 15-20 years older than Gilbert was in the book. Someone give Jenkins some real work.

Posted by: Rachel at April 16, 2009 11:31 AM

It always disappoints me when I read comments discussing what an actor looks like (and it's usually female actors, not male) and not their acting abilities...

Pardon me, I was comparing Ms. Roberts acting abilities to those of Mr. Ed. I made no comment about her physical appearance whatsoever.

Posted by: admin at April 16, 2009 11:36 AM

I think Julia Roberts is really pretty. Always have. Suck it, bitches :)

Posted by: Julie at April 16, 2009 11:46 AM

"It always disappoints me when I read comments discussing what an actor looks like (and it's usually female actors, not male) and not their acting abilities -..."

------------------------------------------------

Ok, let's talk about what a huge whore she is.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at April 16, 2009 11:49 AM

I read the back of the book and knew I should stay far, far away from it. As to Roberts, I have always thought she was beautiful.

Posted by: samantha t at April 16, 2009 12:02 PM

Richard Jenkins... you just want to hug him and tell him everything is going to be all right. If I had a pair of those absolute-pity-inspiring eyes, I'd get laid all the time.

Posted by: Sunsneezer at April 16, 2009 12:19 PM

I've always found Roberts profoundly boring.

And horsey.

Hee, admin.

Posted by: figgy at April 16, 2009 12:41 PM

That's not really what starts her on her journey at all - she goes through a messy, messy divorce, then a break-up from her rebound relationship (not a spoiler - that happens in the first 10 pages of the book). Maybe she also tries to get pregnant but I don't even remember that as part of the book and it's not the big impetus for the trip.

Just nitpicking!

Posted by: J at April 16, 2009 12:54 PM

The issue with Roberts is that she's so damn distracting on screen. It's the Tom Cruise syndrome: you are always very aware of the fact that you are watching them playing a part and end up disconnecting from what's going on.

Posted by: courtney at April 16, 2009 1:03 PM

I had to read this book for one of my classes this semester, though I still cannot figure out why. My teacher must be a big fan or something, so she shoehorned it into an otherwise unrelated english course. Anyways, I thought it was terrible. The author is extraordinarily narcissistic and the book was really trite and, call me cynical, but I didn't connect with her plight at all. "Oh woe is me, my publisher has payed me 200,000 dollars to go on vacation for a year and all I can do is feel sorry for myself" Gilbert deserves no better than to be portrayed by Julia Roberts in an equally terrible movie. Shame about Richard Jenkins though. Guess he needs the money.

Posted by: Andy at April 16, 2009 1:11 PM

Eat, Pray, Love...barf.

Posted by: Che Grovera at April 16, 2009 1:12 PM

I haven't read this book, although I did see Gilbert making the promotional rounds on tv for her memoir. Maybe I shouldn't have any opinion on this but, as someone who's only listened to Gilbert in interviews, I think Julia Roberts is a great pick for the movie adaptation. If there is any emotional depth to the novel, then don't pick Roberts. Otherwise, I think Julia is a perfect choice for making a superficial movie out of a book premise that, if you haven't read it, comes off as sounding convoluted.

Posted by: Mika at April 16, 2009 1:56 PM

I agree with samantha and Julie. While she isn't conventionally pretty, I think Julia Roberts is certainly attractive and has actually gotten better looking as she's aged.

And while I won't go see a movie just because she is in it, I won't avoid it either. I liked her in Erin Brokovich, Oceans 11, and Steel Magnolias. And I liked Steel Magnolias. Ha!

Posted by: MN_Jen at April 16, 2009 2:37 PM

Don't ever put that hag's photo on this site, ever again, or you will hear from my attorneys, the firm of Smith & Wesson.

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at April 16, 2009 3:02 PM

Are these the three tenets of a sheep's life?

1) Necessary. No agenda there.

2) WTF? Yes talk to the invisible friend your family has insisted exists.

3) Optional. Most Americans mistake it for lust, but it's all the same anyway.

Posted by: Recondite at April 16, 2009 3:19 PM

Yes, it's SO hip to slag on Julia Roberts. Maybe if I can craft JUST the right slag, I can get into the Top Ten Comments of the Week...

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at April 16, 2009 6:49 PM

She is a sweetheart, grow up, and leave her alone.

Posted by: awc at April 16, 2009 9:13 PM

Didn't read it, won't see it. Not even for RJ.

Posted by: Cindy at April 16, 2009 9:42 PM

She's a sweetheart? Um... do you know her? Personally? Or do you not know the difference between a character in a movie and a real person?

Posted by: Batman at April 16, 2009 10:07 PM

As to Roberts, I have always thought she was beautiful.

Posted by: samantha t at April 16, 2009 12:02 PM
---
You mean Iggy Pop up there?

Wait, that was a terrible thing to say. I must apologize.

I'm sorry, Iggy.

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at April 17, 2009 1:25 AM

MN_Jen: Thank you for your support. I just think it's a bit ridiculous for a populace that collectively loses its mind over the likes of Kristen Bell and Allyson Hannigan to deem Roberts unattractive. Again, it's just people being contrary.

Posted by: samantha t at April 17, 2009 7:22 AM

FWIW, it's not just that I find her appearance unattractive, I find the whole idea, the whole package of JR unattractive. It's just way more convenient to type

Whinny

than to explain all that.

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at April 17, 2009 11:10 AM

Julie: ...in my petticoats

It's the new fortune cookie ad lib.

"You will find success and riches- in my petticoats."

Posted by: Sweetie Dahling at April 17, 2009 12:07 PM

MN_Jen: Thank you for your support. I just think it's a bit ridiculous for a populace that collectively loses its mind over the likes of Kristen Bell and Allyson Hannigan to deem Roberts unattractive. Again, it's just people being contrary.

Uh I'd like to think the populace is more diverse about their wimmenz. In fact most women that seem to garner love on Pajiba I'm quite "meh" about. Of course that's because none of the current young stock of actresses impress me.

More Helen Mirren please. Fuck the rest.

Posted by: Hurp Durp at April 17, 2009 2:56 PM


















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