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The Devil Wears Prada [2006] | | |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Reviews
This clever, funny big-screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's best-seller takes some of the snarky bite out of the chick lit book, but smoothes out the characters' boxy edges to make a more satisfying movie. There's no doubt The Devil Wears Prada belongs to Meryl Streep, who turns in an Oscar-worthy (seriously!) strut as the monster editor-in-chief of Runway, an elite fashion magazine full of size-0, impossibly well-dressed plebes. This makes new second-assistant Andrea (Anne Hathaway), who's smart but an unacceptable size 6, stick out like a sore thumb. Streep has a ball sending her new slave on any whimsical errand, whether it's finding the seventh (unpublished) Harry Potter book or knowing what type she means when she wants "skirts." Though Andrea thumbs her nose at the shallow world of fashion (she's only doing the job to open doors to a position at The New Yorker someday), she finds herself dually disgusted yet seduced by the perks of the fast life. The film sends a basic message: Make work your priority, and you'll be rich and powerful... and lonely. Any other actress would have turned Miranda into a scenery-chewing Cruella, but Streep's underplayed, brilliant comic timing make her a fascinating, unapologetic character. Adding frills to the movie's fun are Stanley Tucci as Streep's second-in-command, Emily Blunt (My Summer of Love) as the overworked first assistant, Simon Baker as a sexy writer, and breathtaking couture designs any reader of Vogue would salivate over. -- Ellen A. Kim
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| Customer Reviews:
 I was a little cautious at first... December 16, 2006
Mr. J. McCabe (London)
39 out of 43 found this review helpful
After reading the book, I thought can I be bothered to go and pay to watch this? But I'm glad I did! Its the type of movie you can watch with anyone, the plots are simple the editing straight forward. It doesn't challenge you, and is probably suitable for most ages, and that rare gem where you find the film is actually better than the book...
What I liked most was the character of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), who plays the boss to end all bosses and was really encouraged by her on screen dipiction of, what I believe is based on Anna Wintour.
Would recommend it for large groups of friends or just a pizza kinda movie, its rare to find such a movie that you could just leave on in the background and still enjoy!
Better than I expected! December 14, 2006
Charles Wolf (Italia)
36 out of 39 found this review helpful
This movie is a great adaptation of a novel by Lauren Weisberger, in my opinion much better than the book and that is truly rare.
Ok, the book was kinda.. crap. But the movie took what was good in it and gave it to Maryl Streep.
Without Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada would get maybe 2 star rating, (probably 1..) but because of Ms. Streep giving such a great performance it is reason alone to see it.
I especially liked the way that, as Miranda, she never raised her voice above normal speaking level. Streep has said she based this mannerism on Clint Eastwood, who as Dirty Harry talks very quietly but still intimidates. (so, do you feel lucky? punk!)
This made Miranda much more interesting than the stereotypical, screaming gorgon she could have become. And she is so deliciously devilish that you want her in every scene, but we'll settle for a supporting actress nomination come February in a movie that would have essentially been Pricess Diaries 3 without her.
The film is just too long, however, primarily because the director feels obliged to explain everything -- every plot point is rendered obviously and painfully clear, and nothing left open for interpretation. That said, we're spared the "perfect ending" and left with a heroine who can truly stand on her own two feet, and in any shoes she might desire.
 Why do people rave about this film? December 21, 2006
Bezerus Bezby (Leeds, UK)
36 out of 68 found this review helpful
Okay, I know what this film was trying to get at... shallow fashion world. Personal assistant's life taken over by the utterly pointless tasks she has to complete for hitler, sorry, Meryl Streep. Girl realises that she shouldn't give up her dreams of being an actual journalisr writing about current affairs and retaining her integrity. BUT, it wasn't really very good.
I found Anne Hathaway dull and it irritated me that we were supposed to think she wasn't as thin as the other lollypop heads working for the magazine, when she is clearly pretty emaciated herself.
Also, while the film was amusing in parts, it did not make me laugh out loud. I also felt that Meryl's role, while she played it well, is not worth an oscar, as it alsmost appeared too easy for her to play. Plus, what a cliche, evil boss woman secretly has a grudging respect for her employee and supports her eventual career change.
It is not a bad film, but if you believe the hype, you would expect to see a lot more. If the film was really trying to show how shallow the fashion industry is, then perhaps they could have hired an actress who actually is, shock horror, more then a size 4!!!!!!!!! By god that would have been worth seeing alone!
"You want this world, just like we all do" December 13, 2006
M. J Leonard (Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA United States)
34 out of 41 found this review helpful
It's all about the cunning, disciplined and the ruthless, at least one would think so while watching the Devil Wears Prada, a whimsically silly contemporary satire on the New York fashion world. The film has some delightfully funny and nasty moments and is mostly worth watching for Meryl in peak comic form of course, and also for the lovely Ann Hathaway.
Miranda Priestly (Streep) with her grey mane of metal-like hair is the no-nonsense editor in chief of Runway, THE most popular fashion magazine, and she's an absolute monster. Her staffs are literally terrified of her with her laser glare and flawlessly modulated cadences; she imbues fear whenever she enters the office.
Not so fearful is the cute and bowl-eyed Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) who turns up in the offices of Runway one morning, hoping to find a job. Andy's a bit of a ragtag lefty intellectual, enormously bright, she sees though all the pretentiousness. And while she sees Runaway as a frivolous fashion rag, others, including the world's top designers and the head of the publishing company Elias-Clark, know it to be a major cash cow, and therefore have a different view.
Miranda takes a liking to Andy and decides to giver her a chance, but Miranda turns out to be the boss from hell. Andy has serious journalistic ambitions and is merely using the job as a springboard to something else - she has absolutely no interest in fashion. But, even though everyone on the magazine treats her like a pariah and wants her to quit her impossible job, she decides to stick it out.
Along the way Andy is given tips on how to get around Miranda by the newly promoted first assistant, Emily (the scene-stealing Emily Blunt) who despairs at Miranda's lack of style and Runway's witty and sycophantic art director Nigel (Stanley Tucci).
As Andy begins to become comfortable with this world of snobbery and entitlement, her relationship with her scruffy boyfriend sous-chef boyfriend Nate (Adrian Grenier) is placed in the rocks. He's initially supportive of her new job, but when he sees his girlfriend is constantly at Miranda's beck and call; Nate begins to have second thoughts about the relationship.
My only criticism of this movie is that it could have been nastier and funnier; it's only when the film begins to take itself too seriously that it begins to fall a bit flat. The Devil Wears Prada works best when its being biting, but it's less successful when it turns from a satire of its insular world into a sort of quasi-morality tale where Andy must decide whether she's going to sell her values out and a morality tale, for the "bad" values of workaholic corporate America.
Andy is, after all, a good and kind girl, but does she have a place in the daggers in your back mentality that someone like Miranda not only ensures but also insists on? The movie has a lot going for it with its confidential look inside the world of fashion journalism, including a detour to the high fashion-world of Paris.
The performances by Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt, and Hathaway, and, of course, Streep are all good. But I sort of felt that Streep's characterization of Miranda is doesn't quite have the teeth it needs; she could have been nastier and perhaps less willing to take Andy on as a sort of quasi-confidante, where she uncharacteristically shows her weaker side. Mike Leonard December 06.
Excellent January 15, 2007
O. Doyle (Ireland)
23 out of 27 found this review helpful
I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews of this film because I thought it was excellent. I read the book quite a few years ago and it cracked me up and the film had me cringing and laughing just as hard.
Meryl Streep did a brilliant job as Miranda Priestly, the fashion editor of Runway, the most popular fashion magazine there is. Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) arrives at Runway looking for a job and finds herself applying for a job as assistant to Miranda Priestly. She somehow manages to get the job even though she's no clue about fashion and has never even heard of Miranda Priestly.
What follows is an insight into the realms of hell.....the fashion world. Miranda is infamous for her unrealistic requests....such as "find me that piece of paper I had yesterday", but a year with Miranda will propel Andy into any job she wants so Andy is determined to not give up without a fight. She's soon sacrificing her family, friends and life to make Miranda happy but it ain't all bad. As you'd expect Andy goes from zero to hero in the form of the uninitiated in fashion to a head-turner in her own right. Miranda goes from evil to being a little bit vulnerable. It's like chick lit in movie form.
The only thing I wasn't convinced about in this movie was Anne Hathaway. She did an ok job but she just wasn't believable as a zero or a hero. Meryl Streep stole the show as you'd expect. All in all it was a really good feel-good, girly movie and one I'd recommend to my girlfriends.
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