The Devil Wears Prada (2006). 110 minutes, 20th Century Fox. Directed by David Frankel.
This an unpleasant, annoying movie about unpleasant, annoying people.
Apparently I'm not the target for this movie. I thought it would be a fun film about people working for a "boss from hell" and how the hell-boss eventually gets their comeuppance. Instead, it's a movie about a boss from hell and how everyone else who works for her is also a person from hell, and how someone you think might be a halfway decent person turns out to just be another denizen of hell.
I know nothing about the world of fashion. I've read that the character Miranda, played by Meryl Streep, is loosely based on some actual real-world person. If that's true, whoever that real person is must be the most miserable, pointless excuse for human existence the world has ever known. Why... why... would anyone, anywhere, live or work in such an environment? The first second I was treated the way anyone in this film is treated, I would've said, "You can shove this job right up your ass. See ya", and walked out the door. In any organization I've ever worked for, "Miranda" would've lasted about 3 days before everyone who worked for her would've sabotaged her every move.
At least half a dozen times, some character or another says something along the lines of "millions of people would kill for this job", etc. Really? I find that really, really hard to believe. I found this whole movie hard to believe - and I like science fiction and comic book super heroes!
Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Watching this movie was an unpleasant and grating experience. I actually tossed this DVD into the trash after we finished watching it. It was not funny, not enlightening, not... anything. Avoid this. And for god's sake, if anyone out their works in the field of fashion, and if it actually is anything remotely like what is portrayed in this film... then may I suggest you please find a more uplifting line of employment, such as working in a slaughterhouse or dissecting human cadavers.
I don't plan to see it, but at least you found a way to make it entertaining. Great article.
Thanks for saving me some time.
Seems to me you've completely missed the point of the movie. I understand your distaste of the characters and plot and even your sentiments of "shove the job" because I'm with you 100%.
But it goes a little deeper than that. I will assure you that the people portrayed most certainly exist somewhere in this country and espouse the same putrid attitudes. Meryl Strep, among others, have various monologues where they explain exactly how and why they are like they are and what you have to do and what is expected.
Hot ass what's her name begins to understand and conform until FINALLY she realizes that the rest of the character's simple materialism is not and should not be a way of life. Leave it to those exceptionally miserable, lonely people to indulge themselves in their shallow existence - Have a true to yourself life, as she did in the end.
I think most the most notable part in the movie was when the bald, gay assistance had his hopes and dreams crushed so that Meryl could make some political moves. "She repay me for that one day." "Are you sure about that?"
Heh.
Oh well, I'm off to read your X-Men 3 review. When I saw that on the side I had to make sure you weren't one of those people that disliked this movie because you like a travesty like X-Men 3. Luckily, that isn't the case. ;) BTW, I like to think of it as "Xtra-Men 3: The Last Standins."
Jonathan!! Thanks so much for the link to this blog!! Your writing and thoughts are brilliant!! Anyway, I just wanted to say that Meryl Streep's character in this movie is based on Anna Wintour, the (British!) editor of American Vogue. Believe it or not, one of my best friends was her nanny (I think her two kids are in their twenties now, which certainly dates me! Oops!) Many times when I was visiting my friend at Anna's house, the lady of the manor herself swanned in, glared at me with ICY HATRED and SUSPICION, turned and stormed out of the room. This happened so often I found it amusing. I remember once Anna's car was broken into, and my nanny friend was afraid Anna would think that I had done it! LOL! Anyway, the point is, apparently Anna was very friendly to her nanny all the time...she raised her kids for years! But in the office she was known as exactly the type of person Meryl Streep portrayed her as (and to strangers in her house, as I saw firsthand!) Why anyone would want to work for her in the office environment, however, is quite obvious. People will put up with all sorts of abuse for a sniff at fame. I think you're right, though,...dissecting human cadavers is a more worthwhile, and probably more pleasant, profession!! LOL!!