Last night I made a movie suggestion and showed Kristen the trailer for The Devil Wears Prada. We decided immediately to rent the film and watch it. The film involves a young woman ('the smart fat girl') trying her hand at her first job in a world with which she is not enamoured. As a comedy, the film loses its comical aspects as it drifts into plot and character development. Unfortunately, the love story does not fit well with the rest of the film at all. Ultimately, Kristen and I felt that about half of the story was contrived (i.e. the main character). However, this film is worth watching in order to understand the degree to which Meryl Streep brings magic, meaning, and depth to any role that she fills. Primarily, the film made an effort to not villify and lampoon the fashion industry (and they do a fabulous job, watch the movie if only for that fifteen second clip). The "devil" is the editor in chief of a high style fashion magazine, she is fabulous at what she does. But because it's Meryl Streep and because the director and writer wanted to make her a human being, Meryl Streep steals the show. She is the insensitive, demanding boss, the prissy but elegant and seductive fashionista, and a mother who is clearly torn up inside by her own inability to shelter her children through life (not unsurprisingly, they're spoiled brats). She is real. Half-way through the movie you will start thinking, "I'm not interested in this story about some lame scrupulous newby and her half-sincere friends who all get an 'F' for "communication skills." Show me more of Miranda Priestly!"
Mostly, I'm writing this review because, while I give the film a B+, it is exactly the case in which Meryl Streep's acting shines so brightly. In The Hours she is surrounded by Ed Harris, Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman, Claire Danes, Allison Janney, John C. Reilly, etc... You get the point, when she's well supported, we can't see just how good she is. The same is true of A Prairie Home Companion where there are so many good actors that even Lindsay Lohan did a good job. But in The Devil Wears Prada, we see her for the actor she is, outstanding. It's a funny film but rent it for Meryl Streep's performance.
Posted by Mendon at January 20, 2007 11:35 AMThat film left me livid. Unfortunately, I'm in a rush and must leave my commentary for another time. However, I do not disagree that Meryl Streep is an excellent actress. But from a feminist perspective, I wanted to rip my hair out.
Posted by: Mara at January 20, 2007 12:12 PMI thought that if it hadn't been advertised as a comedy- the few comedic moments would have been the pleaasant surprise that saved the show. This was one of those films I categorize under - that couple shouldn't end up together (included in this are Sweet Home Alabama, and High Fidelity).
Posted by: R. T. Bean at January 20, 2007 7:47 PMMara, I'm really interested in what you have to say about this film. Kristen and I didn't really see this film as an iconic touchstone for America's next generation of fashionistas (actually, we didn't see this movie as much of anything but Meryl Streep and, therefore, unlikely to contribute in any meaningful way to our culture). Our biggest feminist concern was that the main character was a completely unbelievable and unassertive woman.
Rae, I couldn't agree with you more, they shouldn't have ended up together. Kristen and I kept asking, "her friends are assholes, her boyfriend is no exception, why doesn't she ditch them and run with this job? At least the job has potential." As for High Fidelity, I think that I'm finally coming over to your side on this one.
Posted by: Mendon at January 20, 2007 8:00 PMOkay, my bones with the movie:
1. Hollywood is telling us Midwestern girls to avoid the traps of New York fashion? Hello?!
2. Anne Hathaway is in a job that she clearly labels as a stepping stone to something better - why do her friends get bent out of shape that she is making an effort?
3. Oh, wait, she is enjoying moments of this job? NO! Unforgivable (apparently. whatever.)
4. So boyfriend leaves her because she is beginning to enjoy this job, and knowing that she needs to hang in there for a year, is working hard at keeping it.
5. She quits. Meets up with ex-boyfriend, who, OH WAIT!, is moving to make progress in HIS career. And he invites her to follow him. So it's okay for him to work to progress in HIS career, but it was BAD for HER to work to progress in HER career.
That's my major beef with the Devil Wears Prada.
Posted by: Mara at January 20, 2007 8:25 PMCouldn't agree with you more. Except on that last note, Andy looks like she takes the job at the New York Mirror, perhaps she's blowing the boyfriend off? Yes, Kristen and I agree, what was Anne Hathaway's character doing in this movie? It would have been a lot funnier and more interesting just dropping in on that whole scene six months before Andy showed up. Miranda Priestly would have been in the same grooming mode with some other underling at that point that would have been less vomitrocious.
Posted by: Mendon at January 20, 2007 8:55 PMThe ending was definitely not complete/tidy, because they are headed for two different cities.
What killed me was that she went from a size 6 to a sixe 4in the movie. I would not have minded the 'size six ass' comments so much if she had only stayed that way all along. The size 4 comment was a bit disappointing. Kind of like how they decided to reveal Big's name in the end...and to top it off the name was John! Lame.
Posted by: R. T. Bean at January 20, 2007 10:39 PMsorry- I didn't explain my tangential thinking. the last comment refers to sex in the city.
Posted by: R. T. Bean at January 20, 2007 10:40 PM