The Devil Wears Prada

For today's movie I chose another chick flick. I'm not sure why I keep choosing chick flicks, as they are by no means my favorite. I guess I'm (in the words of Simon, Paula and Randy) "playing it safe." I know how you gals love your chick flicks. Don't get me wrong, I like a good chick flick, too, but for me, they're like vanilla ice cream. You finish it and say, "That was good, it hit the spot." But finish a good, gut-wrenching drama, and it's like a chocolate sundae with everything on it. You're satisfied to the core, so much so that several hours later, you're still thinking about it. But, last night I watched

The Devil Wears Prada.

I hadn't seen it since the theaters, and thoroughly enjoyed watching it again. It stars Anne Hathaway as a newly graduated aspiring journalist trying to make her big break into the world of publishing, and Meryl Streep, the cold but powerful editor of Runway Magazine, who hires her as her new assistant. I could go on about the plot, but why, when it's the least memorable and interesting part of the movie? Instead, I'll talk about what makes the movie so fun.

• Meryl Streep plays Miranda Priestly like she was born for it. She could very well have over-played the part by being loud and dramatic in order to achieve the power and respect Miranda demanded, but instead under-played it, speaking barely above a whisper the entire movie. It's this minimalist take on it that makes her frightening. Her actions are so subtle, her dialogue so scarce, that one slight turn of the head or one simple word is effective enough to make the viewer feel the fear that Miranda Priestly conveys.
• If anyone could steal the show from Meryl, it's Emily Blunt, who most of you know as Michael's significant other. (He was at every awards show with her.) Emily plays Miranda's 1st assistant named Emily whose job it is to train Anne Hathaway. Emily, in all her British-accented, designer labeled glory, is clawing her way to the top of the fashion world ladder. You can't help but love her as she spouts disdainful orders and insults at Anne, with no visible conscience or compassion. She is perfect as a desperate wannabe fashionista who will do anything to break into the designer world, even if it means eating nothing but a few cheese cubes.
• Obviously, the costumes alone were worth watching this movie for. (FYI-many designers allowed their clothes and accessories to be used in the film, making it the most expensively-costumed movie in history.) Although I by no means claim to be fashionable, I had a lot of fun seeing what is considered "in" and imagining what it would be like to have a closet full of that stuff. It was also fun to see (once again) Anne Hathaway get a mid-movie makeover. No one can play both homely and comely like she can.
• Getting a glimpse into life in the fashion world, the lengths people will go through, the toes they will step on to get there. It was fascinating to me to watch, as if it was a whole other world. They really do view the little people (like me) as the ground they walk on. And of course the fashion week in Paris, with all the cobblestone streets and little white lights on the trees and buildings was delightful.

So there is my take on The Devil Wears Prada.

What's yours?