Sunday, January 13, 2008

The Devil Wears Prada




A romp into the world of fashion magazines, this was an entertaining movie, but one that leaves a slight feeling of discomfort. Discomfort at the vanity, self-importance and determination at any cost to make it to the top, that some people in the fashion industry maintain.

Meryl Streep plays the part of Miranda Priestly, editor of Runway magazine, to perfection – she is cold, distant, humorous in her own, superior way and determined to stay at the top of her game. Her character only displays an occasional glimmer of humanity before it is quickly suppressed – she is what ‘everyone’ aspires to and she makes a good show of it.

Miranda takes, as her 2nd Assistant, a hopeful young journalist Andrea/Andy (played by Anne Hathaway) who is frumpy and unfashionable but at least clever. After a testing time Miranda raises Andrea to be her invaluable assistant and protégé.

Andrea, who is quite comfortable in her skin at the beginning of the movie, realizes that if she is to make a success of her time at Runway magazine, she must conform. She does so, but almost loses her ‘soul’, her humanity, in the process.

Whilst not a life changing movie, it is nevertheless worthwhile viewing. Should you jest at the fashion world, this movie will give you a glimpse of what makes fashionistas tick.

No comments: