Hello critters!
I’m here today to talk about a classic movie, a masterpiece of 2000s pop culture, the gift that keeps on giving: The Devil Wears Prada.
This piece of cinematic artistry is iconic in many many ways, from the one-liners that are so easily used in everyday life to the fashion choices that remain impeccable to this day by way of Meryl Streep’s unparalleled acting skills.
Buuuut... as much as I think this movie is practically perfect in every way, I gotta admit that there are a few points that I need to raise. Some to bitch about the characters' behaviour, some to bitch about the unfair perception of the characters' behaviour, some to simply marvel at how great this movie is.
Number 1: Andy baby, you better work bitch.
Andy darling, you are young, you are adorable, you are naive as f*ck. I hate to break it to you baby girl but if you want to make it in the world of media, you gotta work your ass off like you mean it. You can’t expect proper grown-ups who have had to claw their way through the shark-infested waters of the fashion industry to give you a gold star simply for showing up to work and going through a list of tasks that you’re paid to do. Doing the bare minimum isn’t going to cut it. If you want to leave a mark and get the appropriate reward, you have no choice but to go the extra mile. You also gotta show some damn respect to the people who a) are your boss, b) didn’t get to where they are with minimum effort. Everyone you meet at Runway is devoted to their career out of passion, everyone is trying their best to be brilliant at their job because anything less than stellar isn’t acceptable. Get off your high horse, you’re not the only smart person in town. You’re surrounded by intelligent, talented, hardworking, competent assets who know a hell lot more than you. So take a deep breath and be humble. Observe, perform and learn from the cream of the cream. And most of all, don’t waste a perfectly good steak in the sink because you’re angry at your boss for testing you after you screwed up.
If you have the tiniest bit of ambition and dedication to your craft, you’re going to seriously grind and leave the whining out the door. You can still complain, everybody does, but at least have a valid reason for it. “Miranda was mean to me” is not one of them. Miranda was right to push you, you needed to grow up. And you did. So send her some flowers and a thank you note. (Perhaps not literally, but you needed her to mature and you should always be grateful for that opportunity to learn about yourself, your actual work ethic and what drives you.)
Number 2: Meryl Streep is a goddess.
Miranda Priestly is a boss-ass bitch who is highly competent at her job. Meryl Streep is a boss-ass bitch who is highly competent at her job. There was no one else to play the most influential woman in fashion and the most revered professional in editorial. Aside from the flawless looks and the perfect hair that make the character complete, Meryl adds that flair, that commanding presence, that undeniable charisma that cement Miranda Priestly as the saint patron of Runway. She never raises her voice yet everyone is terrified of getting on her bad side. Her whole attitude is about getting shit done without so much as lifting her pinky. However, like Rome wasn’t built in a day, the pedestal she stands upon now and from which Miranda towers over her loyal subjects took years of hard work and cold-blooded decision making. And it shows in every move Meryl makes. The way she beholds a piece of clothing, the way she scans a person with an unforgiving up-and-down look, the way she conveys all the sadness in the world in her naked eyes at the thought of her precious girls being mistreated and impacted by the press, it’s art at its finest. Even when she’s pretending to be an impassive lady who has to maintain her composure at all times to be taken seriously, Meryl F*cking Streep shows so much of her character’s inner thoughts through her eyes alone. And you don’t perceive it as Meryl acting, you see it as the character being. No wonder she was nominated for another Academy Award for her performance as the dragon lady who is simply a human being who values her privacy above all else.
As Andy says to Christian in Paris, if Miranda were a man, nobody would even think of criticizing her for being ruthless and having expensive taste. If she were a man, she’d be the man. *cue the Taylor Swift feminist anthem*
Number 3: Stanley Tucci is criminally underrated.
Stanley Tucci is one of the greatest actors of his generation but doesn’t get nearly enough recognition. His Nigel is perfection. He is gay but that’s not the primary trait of his personality. He’s a talented art director who has an eye for detail and impeccable taste. He is respected and appreciated for his work first and foremost. Tucci gives him life in a way that highlights his soft-spoken brilliance and makes his burst of excitement at finally, or so we thought, taking a step forward in his career utterly endearing. Nigel is this perfect combination of passion and patience, that is only enhanced by Tucci’s incredible acting work. The tone of voice, the inflexions, the eyebrow work, the hand gestures and other mannerisms. It’s just… *chef’s kiss*
Number 4: Emily doesn’t get enough credit.
Emily Charlton is focused on making it in an industry that she worships. Frankly, she loves clothes so much it’s adorable. From what we can see in the movie, she loves clothes not just because they make you “pretty”, but because they allow you to express any aspect of your personality that you wish to present to the world. Clothes give you the confidence to be who you are. I’m sure she’d be a fantastic stylist for Runway, or any other fashion magazine or brand that she would want to work with, once Miranda recommends her obviously. She’s shown to be some kind of antagonist to Andy because she’s supposedly everything that our protagonist thinks she stands against (shallow, dumb, obsessed with fashion, no proper aspiration in life), but really, Emily is the portrait of a generation who has talent and ambition and understands the struggles of trying to work your way up to a position that makes you want to get out of bed every morning. Emily’s brain is always buzzing and she’s developed a kick-ass system to stay organized and ahead of the curve. Her memory muscle could win the Olympics. She’s driven, assertive, observant. She knows when to fade in the shadow and when to step up. She’s got her own sense of style (fashion-forward and edgy). Emily is for all the ladies out there who are bustling to make it in their field of choice, all the ladies who are building their career out of learning from the best, all the ladies who sometimes have a hard time finding the time to wind down, all the ladies who have their eye on the prize. Emily may be on edge and stressed 90% of the time, but she’s got gumption and she’s going places, one step at a time.
Number 5: Nate is a scared little cry-baby.
Andy spends the movie growing into a more polished version of herself, a version who dresses better and knows what battles she wants to fight. Nate spends the movie whining that he’s not getting enough attention because he realizes that his girlfriend is evolving and that scares him. He knows she’s too good for him and soon she’s gonna have the means to make her wildest dreams a reality, so what does he do? He brings her down and makes her feel like she’s lost touch with herself (when really she’s just learning how to navigate adulthood and the workplace), he doesn’t take her seriously and withdraws his support when she needs it most.
So dude, do you want to be in a relationship with a real-life person who needs room to grow and loves you no matter what? (Spoiler alert! That’s not mutually exclusive.) Or do you want to be in a relationship with a wide-eyed girl whom you can hold back because that's what makes you comfortable? Big baby much? You want a better station for yourself but not for her because you’re scared she’s going to leave you for someone who pushes her forward? Grow the f*ck up.
Sidenote: I’m not gonna say that you should be wary of bringing college relationships into the real world because that would be a hell of an overstatement, but you definitely should make sure to share a partnership with your most fervent champion, not an ass who’s gonna blame you for all the problems in the relationship because you’ve changed (for the better). Know your worth girl.
Number 6: Thank you crew, it's visually stunning.
I am living for the montage sequences. *cue the best intro song ever*
First, we meet Andy. We get all the basic information we need about her in an effective visual format. She’s a young woman who lives in New York with her boyfriend. She’s a journalist who is trying to get a job. In contrast with the other women we see in the intro, we can tell that she’s not a traditional Runway girl. She doesn’t care about her looks, she’s not interested in wearing clothes that match or makeup, she’s not a Material Girl. She eats whatever she feels like, she doesn’t live in a luxurious condo, she takes the subway because it’s cheap. To me that’s not a way of saying “one way is better than the other”, it’s simply to give us context as to who Andy is, and also who she’s not (yet). The editing between the different glamazones getting ready is so smooth it almost looks like one seamless movement. Perfect intro.
The editing gets even more seamless in the “New Andy” montage when she starts wearing whatever Nigel must have put together for her the previous day and sent her home with, after the infamous Chanel boots makeover. And this editing is everything! It is a cinematic masterpiece!
When Emily gets into the car accident, the shot of the Hermes scarves flying into the air is such a great representation of her Paris hopes and dreams getting thrown out the window.
(I could go on and on about the cinematography and the editing and the directing, because it's all so masterfully and fabulously done, but we don't have all day, do we?)
Then of course, the main event, la pièce de résistance, the clothes. The work accomplished by Patricia Field and the costume design department is nothing short of spectacular. It was trendy then and it remains good today. Perhaps a bit dated in terms of cutting-edge choices, but it doesn’t look horrendous like some other 2000s styles seen in movies that are definite “what the hell were we thinking” moments. Miranda’s outfits especially seem to be timeless. I’m sure they were as fashionable as could be then, but to this day still, they stand the test of ever changing trends. They're just as elegant, powerful, aesthetically delightful as they were... 14 years ago. (What even?) I think it is undeniable proof that good style never goes out of fashion.
Number 7: A soundtrack for the ages.
I am living for the soundtrack. “Suddenly I See”, boom instant hit. Madonna, forever iconic. U2’s “City of Blinding Lights” almost seems like it was meant to convey Andy’s amazement as she beholds Paris for the first time. Theodore Shapiro’s score perfectly complements the rhythm and urgency of the scenes, especially when Andy is running around New York in heels (!!!) looking for that damn Harry Potter book.
It is pretty much the most perfectly fitting soundtrack for this movie. It goes so hand in hand with it, one cannot go without the other. Ever.
In my humble opinion, The Devil Wears Prada is a fantastic example of a stand-alone movie that continues to stand the test of time. It has one of the most genius monologues ever written for a motion picture (cerulean blue anyone?), iconic looks that we are still trying to cosplay as today, an utterly brilliant cast who still gushes about each other. It is definitely and forever will be a must-watch.
Jimmy Choos and bagels 🥯
Nicky 🦊
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