I can't say I don't have time but I am sooooo disorganised!
I can't say I don't have time but I am sooooo disorganised!
Member since:08.12.2005
Reviews:99
Members who trust:51
This came on telly a while ago. I didn't see it at the cinema, although I had been mildly tempted out of curiosity, it is not the sort of thing I normally go for. Nevertheless, I didn't mind watching it on telly when I had little else to be doing! I'd seen plenty of trailers, so had some vague ideas about the film, so my expectations were not too high.
Story
After a dreadful interview with the completely disinterested Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is shocked to learn that she is actually offered the job. It will not be easy, however, and quickly the frosty reception of her colleague Emily (Emily Blunt) reveals an organisational culture of arrogance, self-promotion and power-madness. Yet she is told repeatedly that this is a job millions of girls dream of having. Frankly, I'd be interested to meet these 'girls' as I've never heard of anyone dreaming of being fashion slave and slave to the queen of cold.
This film will not be for everyone, although I was surprised to find that whilst I usually hate these types of stories I found this one quite interesting. At the start the whole story wound me up quite a bit. I thought it was going to be another, what I call "drippy princess story" about some girl who looks a disaster (but in the movie sense, so actually she is gorgeous) and goes on a mission to learn how to fit in with everyone else then lives happily ever after. Such crap makes me sick to the stomach. I forgive this film, however, as it shows how truly brutal that world
of fashion can actually be. Right the way through I think most people are thinking that this girl must be crazy for wanting to be like them, even if we understand how someone can get sucked in so easily. It shows how someone so sure of what they believe can be led astray and can lose sight of their own goals, just because someone else has dictated to them what they should want. In this story, we get a very convincing insight into how the fashion industry could have so much power and control over so many people, yet let them think that the wand is in their hand.
I started out cringing a lot, thinking this would be one of those films that really annoyed me, but also that this poor girl (Andy) would be treated so badly I'd find it quite upsetting. The focus soon moves on, however, so stick it out and you'll see that actually the film does become more light-hearted and fun as it progresses.
Acting/Characters
I don't think I have seen many films with Anne Hathaway in, so this was something different for me. She is good at showing that nervy, semi-confident type of woman, who comes in almost sure of what she wants, but soon ends up almost completely lost. I'm glad she did not portray Andy as a timid, weak creature, but rather as a very ordinary young woman. Had she made her character more flimsy the film would not have worked at all. I think Andy had to be the kind of character that most of us could relate to (at least women, but perhaps some men too?). To find it harder to argue that that could never be us means that we cannot dismiss what happens to her as being unlikely. Basically we would not 'get the message'. In the same way that people need to understand that anyone could fall victim to something like domestic violence, this film needs to show that anyone could be a victim of fashion, simply because we lose sight of our true goals.
The actress who stood out most for me was actually Emily Blunt, although this is not to say that she upstaged the heroine of the story. Emily is completely stuck up and arrogant, and it truly repulses me. Watching Blunt really had me on the edge of my seat, and she has a way of making you feel quite uncomfortable in your sofa. Unlike Andy, I think a lot of people would look at her and think 'I'm way too nice for that!' In truth though, we have to realise that she is really human underneath. This could have been brought out a bit more, but Blunt certainly did justice to the more feisty side of her character.
Meryl Streep is a real classic and tends to come off well whatever she does. In this case, her character is cold and unpleasant, but not all bad. She holds back a lot on emotion, yet manages to tell us all that this woman obviously has deep underlying issues.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is, for the most part, quite modern "pop" style songs and music. It does, to an extent, give the film a younger, more teeny-bop feel, but it does not spoil the film for other age groups. Most memorable song for me was "Suddenly I see" by KT Tunstall, which is quite a catchy tune anyway. The music is generally along these lines, so a bit cheesey but fun.
Classification
The film is classified as a PG. I don't recall much swearing, and there is no violence in the film. The rating is probably fair, and since it is really a film aimed and young teens and above, I doubt younger audiences will be in a hurry to see it. Apparently the rating is based on some quite cosy scenes that perhaps parents may feel uncomfortable allowing their kids to see. To be honest, I don't remember anything too 'ooer' in this film, so I can't really comment on this, apart from to say that it certainly could not have been the focus of the film.
Conclusion
Overall this is quite a fun and entertaining film with an interesting perspective on the world of fashion. I think most people these days do agree that the fashion world is brutal, but this film does really bring it to life. Although the final message left me somewhat bemused as to whether I really agreed, I do think the film allows you to think it through and make your own conclusion. There is a moral to the story, but it is kept vague enough for you to interpret it either for the better or for the worse. Alternatively, you could just enjoy the film for what it is and forget about it after, because it is not the most powerful of films and is not really moving either.
I doubt I would go out of my way to see this film again, even though I did quite enjoy it the first time. Consequently, I'd say it's best just seen on telly as I did, or as a rented DVD for a movie night in with the girls. As for the guys, most will probably not even be interested in seeing this film, but if you are, I'm sure there's something in there to be enjoyed by all!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Based on the hilarious best-selling novel, this stylish and funny movie starring Meryl ... more
Streep and Anne Hathaway is a sensational must-see.As assistant to impossibly demanding New York fashion magazine editor Miranda Prestly (Streep), young Andy Sachs (...
Advantages: Urbane and witty script; Streep, Blunt,Tucci; humanized boss; fashion glitz, glamour; Paris. Disadvantages: Hypocrisy of friends; Andy's false character turn; film wants to have it both ways.
![The Devil Wears Prada [DVD] [2006]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78188044.jpg "The Devil Wears Prada [DVD] [2006]")
exceptional by (9%):
very helpful by (91%):
