Reese Witherspoon... Peggy Lee screen siren film bio! Legally Blonde star to portray singer!

Reese Witherspoon is one smark cookie.

Early on in her career, as her star was on the rise, she was quick to snap up the rights to the life story of Peggy Lee.

Now, there was an interesting character I'd trot off to the local movie house to discover more about.

Reese - a talented pretty actress - was honored with an Oscar (2005) for her portrayal of Country & Western star June Carter in "Walk the Line".

According to inside reports, Ms. Witherspoon will knock heads with writer-director Nora Ephron, in respect to the creative end of the project.

The project has been allegedly picked up by Fox studios.

Witherspoon has not been giving the green light to star in the screen bio yet, but is expected to have producer credits along with Marc Platt.

Through contacts, Ms. Witherspoon secured rights to the legendary chanteuse's life story from the estate of Peggy Lee.

If you recall, Platt produced the successful comedy "Legally Blonde".

Nora Ephron, became involved, because she is a big fan of Peggy Lee.

Lee was a remarkable popular singer who was blessed with a long illustrious career which prevailed and spanned over the years.

Lee - a perky blond - who started out in the 1940s singing for the famous Benny Goodman band, went on to record popular jazz-influenced albums - in addition to - composing music for film soundtracks.

Lee's best-known role on screen was in the 1953 Al Johnson movie "The Jazz Singer".

"Pete Kelly's Blues" - a 1955 musical - earned her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Like many old-time stars, Peggy Lee was forced to fight for back-residuals, when financial aspects of the industry dramatically-changed and transformed over the years.

In fact, the 1955 film - "Lady and the Tramp" (Disney) - sparked a lawsuit over her right and entitlement to video-tape royalties.

Peggy Lee is best-known for her sultry rendition of  the hit tune - "Is that All there is?"

Witherspoon, meanwhile, has not remained idle when it comes to her acting chops.

In December (Christmas), Reese will appear in the James Brooks film "How Do You Know".

Fans of the comedy feature - Julie & Julia - are keen to the fact that Nora Ephron wrote and directed the bio on top Food Chef Julia Child which starred Meryl Streep and was well-received at the box office last year.

 http://www.julianayrs.com/

Julie & Julia...sidesplitting comedy! Signed Victor Price letter references "Child"...

Initially, as I lazily made my way up the 3rd Street promenade on the weekend, I dithered about whether to catch Meryl Streep's latest flick, "Julie & Julia".

It was a woman's bonbon movie, wasn't it?

As I approached the Theatre, though, I spied a line of excited film fans that snaked down the street which consisted of ticket-holders of all sexual persuasion (young and old alike).

That cinched it for me, 'cause the word of mouth was obviously good.

Shortly after the opening credits crawled to a close, and the feature sprang to life on the wide-screen, I found myself guffawing out loud.

In fact, I don't recall having such side-splitting fun at a screening in months.

The plot consists of two stories, really, that intertwine.

Half of the scenes zero in on celebrated author Julia Child in her lettuce-and-salad days in France, where she painstakingly toiled away (with collaborators) on the manuscript for a cookbook, which eventually landed on the best-seller list (at last count publishers were boasting 49 editions).

On the other side of the ocean, a few decades later, the entertaining comedy also tracks a spirited young married woman in search for her calling in life.

If you're a daily blogger, then get ye to the cinema, straight-a-way!

After all, the film is partly about the ubiquitous blogosphere that shadows our daily lives, and the ups-and-downs of blogging.

Insider-humor about the Internet phenomenon is downright hilarious (and bang on).

In a nutshell, our ballsy heroine launches a blog on the topic of cooking, with Julia Child's "Bible" on cooking in hand, with the ultimate goal of getting her bearings in life once and for all.

Meryl Streep is an utter delight!

Although much-touted for her dramatic acting skills, in this well-crafted feature it's quite evident that the award-winning actress has an awesome natural flair for comedy that may end up landing her a much-deserved nod from the Academy for the campy portrayal (a tough row to hoe, I know).

Amy Adams, all sweetness and light, is suitably cast here.

Die-hard fans (and then some) are flocking to catch her latest performance, according to my spies.

For reasons you'll understand later, the review tidily finishes up here.

However, I am inclined to mention a curious scenario that unfolded this week, that was quite intriguing in view of the recent release of "Julie & Julia" in the Los Angeles area.

In a post yesterday, I noted that I stumbled across two cartons of unwanted books left at the curb, in West Hollywood.

Post: 08/11/2009

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/08/vincent-price-signed-letter-gold.html

Ironically, when I rifled through the boxes (the day after I took the Streep comedy), I found a two-page type-written letter tucked inside a hardcover book written on elegant stationary from a San Francisco organization known as:

"The American Institute of Wine & Food"

Julia Child & Robert Modavi were listed on the letterhead as Honorary Chairmen!

In the body of the letter, Vincent Price actually refers to Julia Child in passing, to a member.

"We continue to watch as an ever increasingly remarkable group of people become Founders and join us in an array of events and programs."

"The national Founders group means that whether founders convene for festive weekends in Santa Barbara with Julia Child or special meals in New York City hosted by Anne Rosenzweig of "21", we are assured of doing so with talented and interesting friends from all over the country."

Imagine that!

The synchronicity here is simply astounding, isn't it?

On that note, eat well, and be healthy!

Underrated actress has starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio

http://www.julianayrs.com