The Devil Wears Prada - Kick-off Thread - YouLookFab Forum

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The Devil Wears Prada - Kick-off Thread

Inge

(website)

Good morning, and welcome back to Book Club.

This time we are chatting about the movie version of The Devil Wears Prada, the film adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's bestselling novel.

I watched it again this week, and still feel the same about the actors' performances. Meryl Streep is brilliant as haughty and tyrannical editor-in-chief Miranda Priestley. Anne Hathaway does a great job portraying the bewilderment Andy feels when entering this strange (to her) fashion world, while learning to deal with the outlandish demands of her new boss, and the derision of her colleagues. And I also adored Stanley Tucci (Nigel) - remember his blue checked suit? - and Emily Blunt (Emily).

As is always the case when you have a chance to watch a movie again, I noticed new details and had a ball looking at all the outfits again. I also thought a bit more about the actual story. This time around I think I was more bothered by the cutthroat nature of the fashion industry, and the long hours and sacrifices that need to be made to get ahead.

But over to you first. Did you enjoy the movie? What are your favourite scenes? What did you think of Andy's outfit evolution? Any favourite ensembles? Any thoughts on the less than glamorous aspects of a job in the fashion industry?

For those of you who've read the book, I'm also curious to hear if the actors' portrayal of the characters matches with how you imagined them in your head. And were there any plot lines, scenes or details left out that you thought were important?

Book Club

17 replies

Latest reply was from Jewell

Meredith1953

Veteran

I loved the movie and am awed by Meryl Streep's ability to bring such complexity to her characters. Stanley Gucci is also wonderful. To me the scenes that made the most impact were when Miranda tells Andy her husband is leaving her and the scene where Nigel doesn't get the position he wants so desperately. I am so glad Meryl and Stanley played opposite each other again in Julie and Julia.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I loved the behind-the-scenes look at Miranda's home life, and I wondered a lot about how awful it must have been to be Miranda. Never to be able to show any vulnerability is a heavy load! I think the movie captured the feeling of being a young intern in Manhattan very well, although I am glad that my bosses were much, much kinder

HelenInCanada

Veteran

I enjoyed the movie very much (and have seen it several times)! I too loved the glimpse into Miranda's home life (how strange to step into your boss' house.) Fashions were fun to look at - ie Andie's "new me" looks, Emily Blunt's whole wardrobe, the scared-designer private showing, etc. Although Miranda's requests were often over-the-top (steak and Harry Potter deliveries!), I could relate to being slightly terrified of the boss, drowning in some very rudely-demanded orders, and being treated as a second-class citizen...LOL. Loved the Paris eye-candy too!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Oh gosh, I remember that steak scene! It reminded me keenly of playing fetch for a very demanding boss I had when we were stuck at an out-of-town trial for a month.

teeandcee

I loved this movie. I watched it right after watching the documentary on Anna Wintour and the making of the Vogue September issue (interesting doc if anyone is interested). Meryl was brilliant as usual. Prior seeing the movie I just couldn't picture Meryl dressed to the nines in a high fashion environment but she look....well...fabulous, dahlings.

Hands down my favorite scene is when Miranda tells Andy that everyone wants to be them (is that grammatically correct?) and Andy is bewildered because she doesn't.

My second favorite scene is when Andy waves at Miranda from across the street and Miranda is obviously touched but too prideful to wave back. Andy's compassion completely disorients Miranda.

LOVED all the fashion!

I wasn't surprised by the cut throat side of things. It's a business above all else. Plus I'd already seen the Vogue Sept documentary and worked as a medical transcriptionist for a year. Under the shiny veneer is a dirty underside to most every business.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I've watched this movie quite a few times and loved it. I would totally watch it again! And again

Inge, I whole hardheartedly agree with your thoughts. Nigel was indeed a style and comical highlight, and I felt so sorry for him when he was double crossed

Amy, my goodness!

Here are my fast thoughts about the movie:

- Liked Emily (Emily Blunt) best! Followed closely by Nigel and Miranda.

- I didn't like Anne Hathaway's Andie character all the much. I found her annoying. Aren't I awful

- It was a GREAT interpretation of the book

- It was an accurate peek into the cut throat world of the fashion industry. So much of it was not exaggerated.

When I first watched the movie I liked Andie's style transformation. But I liked her style less and less the more frequently I watched the movie. Is that weird? I loved Emily's wardrobe and Miranda's style, though. (Sans all the fur).

My favourite parts of the movie were Emily's totally crazy and over the top ideas about how to diet. She had me in stitches.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I love this movie and have watched it 3-4 times now. For me, it is Stanley Tucci's character that steals the show (of course, I love him in ANYTHING). My few points are:

- I adore Meryl Streep's hair in this movie. So stunning.
- My favourite scenes are with Nigel and Andie in the line at the cafeteria and he's explaining the sizes ("2 is the new 4"...) and with Andie visiting Emily in the hospital after the accident and Emily goes crazy eating the bun/carbs....so funny!
- Did you all notice the cameo appearance by Gisele Bunchen as Emily's lunch mate?

teeandcee

Angie, color me awful as I found Andy's character to be fairly annoying too despite my comments above, but I honestly thought it was due to my detesting Anne Hathaway and projecting that onto the Andy character.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

How many of us are writing our posts as 'one of the millions of people who would die for this job'?

My main book to film observation is that Andy's boyfriend is far too good looking!

Of course Meryl Streep brings humility to the the role of Miranda which is lacking in the book and I really could not imagine any other actress playing the part.

In my opinion the highlight of the film is Mirandas 'lumpy blue sweater' speech, so fab.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I'm with you! I didn't like Andie, either, and I found it hard to identify with her. I'm not sure what it was, exactly...

I enjoyed the movie's message regarding being true to yourself and balancing your work and home life. I loved when the boyfriend says that the person whose calls you always answer is the person you're really in a relationship with.

I did not enjoy the idea that Evil Fashion seemed to be "corrupting" Andie - the movie seemed to argue that Andie treated her boyfriend like dirt, became a big fat cheater, and ran over Emily because she stepped into the fashion world - but there are demanding, cutthroat bosses in any field. The fact that Andie changed industries was not enough for me to buy her rehabilitation into a nice person at the end. I don't feel that Andie took ownership of her actions, and that left me wanting.

christieanne

Veteran

I enjoy this movie and need to watch again this weekend (yes, own a copy) but I think I prefer the book. That is fairly typical for me but Andy in the book is much more sympathetic than the movie or maybe I can relate to her Type A personality too much lol.

I recently watched The September Issue again and found Anna Wintour a bit more human than the Streep interpretation (I know it isn't exactly Anna but it's obvious who the author is basing the story on).

rachylou

Veteran

This is the only movie I've ever liked Meryl Streep in. I love the way she calls Anne Hathaway "the fat girl". I also approve of her speech about how the industry is deciding what everyone will be wearing 10 years from now; that's how it works.

I suspect as Andy becomes more fashionable in the movie, she becomes less stylish. While walking the other day, I was thinking about this. When the clothes get put on, the focus shifts to the style of the wearer, not the style of the clothes. A person with style has flair and the clothes are pretty irrelevant.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooh! I haven't seen it yet and now I am eager to rent it! Thanks for these reviews!

Anonymous

I loved the movie and thought all the actors did an excellent job. I was disturbed (like rae) how Andie became a different, not so very nice person and then when she gave up the job she also gave up the fashion. She didn't become quite as frumpy as in the beginning but stil to me it came across as - Good, smart people don't spend too much time trying to look good, that would be frivolous.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I read the book first and then the movie. While I appreciated the more detail and character building of the book, this is one case where the visual of the movie really spoke to me - especially in the fashion.

I have to say the Paris scenes are my faves (Andie's outfits and Paris are fantastic). Meryl is perfection in this movie as is Stanley Tucci (is he ever not?). Emily Blunt is fantastic and gorgeous too. The descriptions of the dieting in the book are only glossed over in the movie.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I loathed the book and didn't mind the movie.

I thought the Andie in the book was self-centered, spoiled, and entitled and had no character arc at all. She starts out hating her boss, and ends up hating her boss. There was no growth or moment of enlightenment - the woman she thought was a horrendous, oblivious diva was that way from beginning to end; Andie never grew up or evolved, but bitched and moaned her way through the entire thing until she told the diva to stuff it and went back to being whiny and entitled at her parents' house.

Interestingly, the Andie in the book was, as I recall, a flop as an assistant, whereas the movie turned her into an indispensable marvel who was practically Saint Fashion. Probably this was to *create* an arc so when Andie said no to fashion, it wasn't because she sucked at it, or thought it was so beneath her, but because it "wasn't worth the price."

Having worked in entertainment, Andie's story of "abuse" isn't all that unusual. Interns put up with way worse than this, and they do it because they want to be there. The difference with Andie is that she *never* wanted to be there. In both book and movie she discovers the system is abusive. But news flash, Andie - when you work with these kinds of creative personalities, whether in software, finance, engineering, movies, fashion, wherever, it doesn't really get any better. Get used to it.

But I did love the performances and clothing in the movie. I love Anne Hathaway and thought she was just fine.

Jewell

Veteran

Book Club gave me a reason to dig this one out of the DVD drawer and watch it again. I've watched it many times and I really like it. Meryl Streep delivers an impeccable performance as Miranda Priestly. Recall the first scene in which we meet "the dragon lady"...all I can say is Wow! Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci all did a fantastic job in my opinion.

Favorite scenes:
The lunch line speech during which Nigel explains that two has become the new four, zero has become the new two, and six has become the new FOURTEEN is both funny and unfortunate. Being one who enjoys facial expressions I always have to rewind the movie to rewatch the looks on the girls' faces when "the new Andy" walks in post-makeover wearing the thigh-high Chanel boots. And who doesn't love the Vogue fashion montage- the music, the clothes, enough said!

Favorite quotes:
During questioning Miranda says to Andrea, "And you have no style or sense of fashion." As Andy begins to answer, Miranda interrupts, "No, no, that wasn't a question." Also when Emily tells Andy, "You sold your soul the day you put on that first pair of Jimmy Choos."

Like everyone else, I enjoyed the clothing immensely. I liked the contrast between Emily's experienced edgy style and Andrea's novice right-off-a-magazine-page style. I also enjoyed Miranda's expertly classic style and Nigel's expert arty manner of dressing.

I dislike how the film seemed to depict/imply two extremes with no middle ground. Women either take themselves so seriously that they have no interest in fashion and don't care how they look (Andy's hair at the beginning of the film was ridiculous) or they are so engrossed in fashion that they are callous and shallow. The film did inspire me to do some research on the Vogue editor who supposedly inspired the villian- interesting stuff indeed!