THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Who among us has never had a cruel boss? Maybe not even a boss: a merciless teacher, or whatever. The protagonist of The Devil Wears Prada (USA, 2006) has certainly had: the name of her nemesis is Miranda Priestly.

Directed by David Frankel (from the equally delightful Marley & Me), this pleasant film tells the story of Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a journalist wannabe who’s just been hired by a fashion magazine. She’ll be the personal assistant of the editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).

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A wonderful job; the job a thousand girls would die for! The problem is... Andrea is not one of them. She’s not interested in fashion and her clothes are disastrous. Plus: Miranda is tough and rude. She doesn’t call you by your own name (she doesn’t care!), and every single fail is reason for criticism, offenses and complaints.

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But still: if she can work 1 year for Miranda, she’ll be hired by any newspaper or magazine in New York. So her journey begins. Next to Miranda’s other assistant Emily (Emily Blunt) and another editor at Runway (Stanley Tucci), Andrea starts the year that (she hopes) will give her career a big push.

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After a big wardrobe changing (“she would never last a year with ‘those’ clothes”, they say), everything seems fine. But it won’t be easy to conciliate her work with her personal life. We watch this lovable character struggling to attend her boss’s orders, while dealing with the tension it creates on her relationships.

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Adapted from the novel by Lauren Weisberger, a story that might seem silly becomes a sharp comedy, with a good screenplay, a great soundtrack and fine performances. At first, it might seem like a chick-flick about fashion, but although it’s a strong element in the story, the movie can be enjoyed by guys as well.

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Anne Hathaway is perfect: adorable and smart, she’s really one of the best actresses of her generation. She can do light comedies (like this and Get Smart), but she can also act in serious dramas, like Rachel Getting Married, a great movie for which she got her first Oscar nomination.

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Andrea’s evolution, from the simple girl with no sense of fashion whatsoever to the sexy attractive woman is believable (unlike those silly makeovers we see all the time in other movies). Anne is so pretty I’d give this movie a 4 just because of her. (I think I’m in love... S2)

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Meryl Streep is always fine. Her portrayal of Miranda (cold, but powerful and intelligent) is one of the best things about this film. Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt are pretty good too: with a firm primary and secondary cast, this movie can provide quality entertainment.

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The Devil Wears Prada was nominated for 2 Oscars: best actress (Streep, for the 100th time) and costume design. It didn't win either of them: Helen Mirren got the first, for her terrific acting in The Queen, and Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette took the second.

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Don’t worry: this is not a chick-flick. It’s not a movie about fashion and the clothes are simply an element in the story. It’s just a light comedy to pass the time. Enjoy the details and the art direction. Even if you’re not that into fashion. ;)

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My rating is a solid 4.

>> ZÉ B. [4/5]
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IMDB link: HERE