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Starring:
Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Adrian Grenier, Tracie Thoms, Simon Baker, Emily Blunt, ... Genre: Comedy / Drama
In Theaters: Jun 30th 2006
Review By:
Andrea Tuccillo
School:
St. John's University Class of 2007
Favorite Quote:"If you always do what interests you at least one person is pleased." - Katharine Hepburn
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Emily Blunt creates an original out of a cliché with her portrayal of Miranda’s first assistant, Emily. She delivers some of the best lines and scalding insults in her deadpan British accent (describing her insane diet is particularly hilarious). Blunt is an up-and-coming actress to watch.
Anne Hathaway is also a star in the making. After ditching her Disney tiara for more grown-up roles like the sassy cowgirl turned hardened businesswoman in Brokeback Mountain, Hathaway hits her stride in The Devil Wears Prada. She’s luminous as Andrea. Her looks are gorgeous in a down-to-earth way and she makes Andrea’s varying emotions throughout the movie completely relatable.
Besides the top-notch actors, the other star of this film has got to be the fashion! And costume designer Patricia Field (Sex and the City) does not disappoint. Runway’s closet is a treasure trove of Chanel, Fendi, Cavalli, Calvin Klein, Valentino, and, obviously, Prada. Miranda adorns herself with enough luscious furs to drive PETA mad and Andy looks positively chic in her Galliano gowns, Chanel beaded necklaces and amazing winter coats (the shamrock green vintage number with the leopard cuffs was my personal favorite look).
The more polished Andy’s clothes become, the more tattered her life becomes. She misses her sweet boyfriend’s birthday (Entourage’s adorable Adrian Grenier) and finds herself making decisions that the “old Andrea” never would have made--including stealing an opportunity from a colleague and flirting with a smarmy, smooth-talking publisher (Simon Baker).
Miranda Priestly begins as a scary, imposing figure but ends up becoming a cautionary tale for Andrea of what happens when priorities slip out of order and a career ends up becoming your life. Streep infuses Miranda with a humanness underlying her chilly demeanor. We’re able to imagine why she is the way she is, and feel pity for her knowing that it is too late for her to change. But, at least there's hope for Andy!
Any reader of the best-selling novel by Lauren Weisberger upon which this movie is based will realize the glaring differences and changes made to this adaptation. Understandably, more complicated details were omitted for the sake of clarity and a more filmable storyline. But some of the book’s sass and spark were lost in the process. The main plot-line was entirely reworked, thus the effect is completely different. Readers of the book may be slightly disappointed because, as with most movie adaptations, the book is better. Not to mention the ending feels a bit too neat and tidy.
Nonetheless, The Devil Wears Prada is a viciously fun glimpse at the exclusive, intriguing fashion industry. Just as Andy gets seduced by the lure of fabulous clothes, The Devil Wears Prada seduces with its sleek fashion montages and enjoyably original characters.
The movie may have devil in the title, but it proves to be a fashion-lover’s heaven.
Movie Grade: A-
Synopsis:
Based on the best-selling novel, The Devil Wears Prada stars two-time Academy Award® winner Meryl Streep as high-powered fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly. Anne Hathaway also stars, as Miranda's ...
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