AT THE MOVIES WITH DILLON KIMMEL
The Devil Wears Prada was first brought to life by author Lauren Weisberger, who once worked on the staff of the fashion magazine Vogue. Weisberger reportedly based the book on Vogue’s overbearing editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. The book has been on the national bestseller list for nearly a year, and director David Frankel (Sex and the City, Entourage) bought film rights to the book, casting the eternal Meryl Streep in the movie version.
In the world of New York fashion, where starving yourself to be thin is expected and nine-inch heels are required, Runway magazine is the bible. Editing the publication is Miranda Priestly, the legendary but ice-cold queen of Valentino and Chanel. Anyone who wants to become anything in the fashion industry must first get past Miranda, and that is no easy task. She not only expects 110% from her worker bees, she offers no pats on the back. With no one is she more demanding than with her assistants, who are filed in and fired at a dizzying speed. And it just so happens there is an opening available.
Recent Northwestern grad Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is out of options. Having moved to New York to be a journalist, she has sent her resumé to dozens of places and has received no responses, save one. Her last resort is an assistant position at Runway magazine. Not only has she never heard of the magazine or of Miranda, but she has no fashion sense. But Miranda is tired of the narrow-minded, stupid assistants that keep disappointing her and takes a chance on the “educated fat girl.”
Slowly but surely, Andy learns how Miranda ticks and develops a fashion sense. Soon, she becomes one of the Clackers, named for the sound their stiletto heels make on the marble floor. She begins name-dropping some of the hottest designers while continuing to impress her boss with her intense work ethic.
But her social life soon begins to suffer. With Miranda’s insistence she stays on-call at all hours, and she has less and less time for her boyfriend, Nate (Adrián Grenier). It becomes clear the only relationship she is in is with the increasingly demanding Miranda. As her co-worker Nigel (Stanley Tucci) puts it, “When your life goes up in smoke, that’s when it’s time for a promotion.”
Andy is determined to not let that happen, but is also hesitant to let her recent professional success (not to mention her new million dollar wardrobe) go to waste. But something has to give. It takes a shocking act of betrayal to make her really reevaluate her life, but which will she choose? Her life or her job?
As far as casting goes, the moviemakers hit the nail on the head with this one. Meryl Streep is so perfect for this role it is scary. Streep dominates her role (and everyone around her) not by snarling and screaming but with a soft, controlled voice and the occasional pursing of the lips or raising of the eyebrow. Her dialogue is so devilish it makes the skin crawl. Her demands of Andy are completely impossible but she fully expects her to carry them out (i.e. she demands the unreleased manuscript of the new Harry Potter book for her twin girls and when her flight from Miami to New York gets cancelled because of a hurricane, she demands Andy find her a way home). Anne Hathaway is also perfect as the innocent and frumpy Andy Sachs. Moviegoers cannot help feeling sorry for her as she nearly kills herself trying to make Miranda happy.
Miranda uses her power to hurt and tear down those around her, and Andy must eventually come face to face with her own lust for power and decide if that is the person she wants to become. The end result is a surprising look into the blurring world of New York fashion and a young woman’s initiation into the ethical decisions that shape a person in the workplace.
4 Stars
> Read More Information About Us
> More Articles Written By Our Staff
- Community Invited To Paint Rocks For Urban League Project - April 26, 2024
- The “Bad Guys” In Your Garden & What To Do About Them - April 26, 2024
- Why Voting In The Primary Election Matters - April 26, 2024