The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Adrian Grenier, and Tom Brady’s ex-wife
Grade: A+

The Devil Wears Prada in a nutshell:

Andy: “Sorry, it’s a busy day, and my personal life is hanging on by a thread.”

Nigel: “Well, join the club. That’s what happens when you start doing well at work, darling. Let me know when your whole life goes up in smoke. That means it’s time for a promotion”.

Summary

Recent college graduate Andrea “Andy” Sachs (Hathaway) wants to be a big-time journalist, but she will have to work her way up the ladder to get where she wants to be.

Showing how “regular” she is compared to other model-looking women in New York City, Andy puts on some business casual clothes, kisses her chef boyfriend Nate Cooper (Grenier) goodbye, grabs a bagel from a bakery, and heads out for a job interview at Elias Clarke Publications and specifically the famous Runway magazine. Upon getting in, she states how she has an appointment with Emily Charlton (Blunt). Emily walks in just as Andy talks with the front desk and immediately insults Human Resources for their apparent sense of humor, implying Andy’s appearance is not up to par. Emily has Andy follow her and gives her some basic details. Emily was Miranda Priestly’s (Streep) second assistant. However, Miranda’s first assistant got promoted, making Emily the first assistant now. Andy jokes that she’s trying to replace herself, and she is, though things are going to be difficult because Miranda fired the last two girls after a few weeks. Emily stresses how they need to find someone who can survive at Runway. Andy understands, but she doesn’t know who Miranda is. Emily is almost offended and tells Andy how Miranda is the editor-in-chief of Runway and a certified legend. If you work a year for Miranda, you can get a job at any magazine you want. People would kill for an opportunity like this, and Andy says she would love to be considered. Emily chuckles, stops her, and points out how Runway is a fashion magazine. Because of this, an interest in fashion is crucial, implying Andy is unfashionable even if Andy doesn’t get it. Suddenly, Emily gets a text and finds out Miranda is on her way to the building and panics. She makes a call to spread the message, and the entire office follows suit on panic mode. Miranda’s art director Nigel (Tucci) enters the office and is agitated hearing this because Miranda isn’t supposed to be there until 9AM, but her driver texted Emily to let her know Miranda’s facialist ruptured a disk.

Nigel stands next to Andy, holds a book between them and motions to Emily to ask who she is. Agitated, Emily says she can’t even talk about it right now.

Nigel opens the door to the main part of the office and warns everyone Miranda is coming. Upon turning back towards Andy and Emily, he asks if someone just ate an onion bagel, looking repulsed as he said it. Andy doesn’t say anything but tries to smell her breath while everyone is running around in a panic. Next, Andy watches as Emily pours up sparkling water to have ready on Miranda’s desk and some of the women switch from comfortable shoes back to heels, they throw out food, redo their makeup, and everything in-between. There is no room for error when in the vicinity of Miranda and everyone knows it. As Miranda gets into the building, people actively walk out of her way. One woman even gets out of the elevator Miranda goes into, apologizes to her, and goes into a different elevator entirely. Just as Miranda enters the office, Emily is able to run over and meet her at the door. Immediately, Miranda goes on about how it shouldn’t be difficult to confirm appointments. Emily apologizes because she did confirm it, but Miranda cuts her off by commenting, “Details of your incompetence do not interest me”. Getting back to work stuff, she relays to Emily to tell Simone she won’t approve the girl she sent for the Brazilian layout. She asked for clean, athletic, and smiley, but Simone sent her dirty, tired, and paunchy. She also tells Emily to RSVP for the Michael Kors party, to get the driver to drop her up at 9:30PM, and to pick her up at 9:45PM sharp. On top of this, Miranda says “No” to Natalie at Glorious Foods for the 40th time because she wants “tortes filled with rhubarb compote not dacquoise” and to call her ex-husband to remind him the parent-teacher conference is at Dalton. She then wants Emily to call her current husband and have him meet her for dinner at the place she went to with Massimo. Continuing, she saw all the pictures Richard sent for the feature on the female paratroopers and she considers them all deeply unattractive. She questions if it’s impossible to find a slender female paratrooper, so Emily naturally agrees with her that it shouldn’t be impossible.

Getting into her office, she adds that she wants to see everything Nigel pulled for Gwyneth’s second cover try, wondering if she’s lost any weight yet. She then asks who Andy is. Emily quickly responds “Nobody” before correcting herself and saying HR sent her up about the new assistant job. She was pre-interviewing her for Miranda, but she says Andy is hopeless and totally wrong. Miranda cuts her off and says she will have to do the interview because the last two assistants Emily sent her were completely inadequate. She tells Emily to send Andy in (“That’s all”). Emily lets Andy know Miranda wants to see her but takes Andy’s briefcase away for her own benefit. Immediately upon entering the office, Miranda asks who she is. Putting her resume on the table and introducing herself, Andy details how she recently graduated from Northwestern University and how she thinks she could do a good job as her assistant. Miranda doesn’t respond, so Andy continues about how she came to New York to be a journalist and sent letters out everywhere. She finally got a call from Elias Clarke and met with Sherry at HR, boiling it down to the fact that it’s either this or Auto Universe. Miranda correctly guesses Andy doesn’t read Runway and didn’t know who Miranda is beforehand, which Andy confirms. Miranda adds that she has no style or sense of fashion. Andy comments how this may depend on who you talk to, but Miranda responds calmly, “No, no. That wasn’t a question”. Trying to bypass this, Andy says she was editor-in-chief at The Daily Northwestern and won a national competition for college journalists with her series on the janitor’s union, though Miranda has already lost interest. She shoos her away while stating, “That’s all”. Andy walks towards the door but decides to turn around to make a final speech. She admits she doesn’t fit in at Runway. She’s not skinny, glamorous, and doesn’t know much about fashion, but she knows she’s smart, she learns fast, and will work very hard.

Unfortunately, she’s interrupted by Nigel who comes in with the materials Miranda was requesting earlier. Her attention is diverted to it, so Andy leaves. Nigel asks who the “sad, little person” is, questioning if they are doing a before-and-after piece he doesn’t know about it. Andy gets to the lobby to leave, but an annoyed Emily stops her and motions her to come back. She got the job!

That night, at the restaurant Nate works in after hours, Andy and Nate hang out with their friends, and they talk about Andy’s new job. Nate jokes that it must have been a phone interview if she got a job at a fashion magazine. Doug (Rich Sommer) comments that Miranda has a history of being unpredictable and knows millions of women would kill for the job. Andy isn’t one of them. Her supportive friend Lily (Tracie Thoms) says she has to start somewhere, pointing out the restaurant Nate works in. Nate counters with how Lily isn’t working. Doug jokes that he’s doing his dream job of being a corporate research analyst and they laugh. They all toast to jobs that pay the rent. On the walk home, Andy brings up how the women at work dress to Nate and says she doesn’t have a thing to wear. Nate doesn’t see why she would need a ball gown to answer phones and get coffee, but she jokes that she might. The next morning, Andy is woken up by a phone call from Emily who just arrived at the office. She says Miranda decided to kill the autumn jacket story for September and is putting up the Sedona shoot from October. She stresses that Andy needs to get to the office immediately to pick up Miranda’s coffee order (“One, no foam, skimmed latte with an extra shot and three coffees with room for milk”). Soon after, Andy gets the coffee and Emily calls her to hurry her up. Later, Miranda and everyone is at work and Miranda asks where her coffee is and dryly asks if Andy died or something. Emily panics and is about to call again just as Andy walks in. Angrily grabbing the coffee from her, Emily lets her know how difficult this job is and how wrong Andy is for it. In addition, Emily’s head is on the chopping block if Andy screws up. She tells Andy to hang up her jacket instead of flinging it anywhere and rushes the coffee into Miranda’s office. Next, Emily comes back over and gives her the basic details of the job. Her and Andy answer the phones and the phone must be answered every single time it rings. Miranda hates calls rolling to voicemail.

If Emily is not there, she stresses to Andy to think as if she is chained to the desk. One time an assistant left her desk because she sliced her hand with a letter opener, and Miranda missed Lagerfeld just before he boarded a 17-hour flight to Australia. Now, the assistant works at TV Guide. Just then, the phone rings, so Andy watches how Emily does it. Immediately, Emily says Miranda isn’t available, asks who it is, and says she will tell Miranda they called. Upon hanging up, Emily says her and Andy have different jobs. Andy is to get coffee and run errands. Emily is in charge of Miranda’s schedule, her appointments, her expenses, and most importantly, she gets to go with her to Paris for Fashion Week in the fall. She gets to go to all the parties and meet the designers and pretty much everything Andy could care less about. Nevertheless, Emily goes to the Art Department to give them “The Book”, a mockup of everything in the current issue. They deliver it to Miranda’s apartment every night, and she returns it to them in the morning with her notes. Emily says the second assistant is supposed to do this, but Miranda is very private and doesn’t want strangers in her house. Until Miranda says otherwise, Emily still has to be the one who has to wait around for the Book. Once Emily exits momentarily, Andy has to answer a phone call. It’s from Dolce and Gabbana, but Andy is unaware of the brand and asks how they spell “Gabbana”, leading to their representatives hanging up. Nigel appears with heels for Andy to wear, guessing her 8-and-a-half shoe size. Andy doesn’t think she needs them because Miranda knows what she looks like and hired her herself. She tries to give them back, but Nigel doesn’t budge, so she keeps them. Miranda calls for Emily, so Nigel quietly tells Andy that Miranda is referring to her. Andy runs into the room, and Miranda questions how many times she has to call her name. Andy responds by correcting her. Miranda awkwardly smiles and just goes on by saying she needs 10-15 skirts from Calvin Klein. When Andy asks what kind of skirts she needs, Miranda tells her to bore someone else with her questions.

She then tells Andy to make sure they have Pier 59 at 8AM tomorrow, to remind Jocelyn she needs to see the satchels Marc is doing for the pony, and to tell Simone she will take Jackie if Maggie isn’t available. As Andy is trying to digest all the information, Miranda asks if Demarchelier confirmed.

Andy can’t even pronounce it, so Miranda tells her to get him on the phone. When Andy turns to leave, Miranda calls her “Emily” again, stares down her flat shoes, and disgustingly comments, “That’s all”. Andy rushes out of her office and switches to the heels Nigel gave her, and Miranda immediately asks if she has Demarchelier on the phone. Andy tries to get to the phone, but Emily shows up just in time to take over. She gets the call and sends it over to Miranda’s phone. Trying to remember the details, Andy tries to explain to Emily how Miranda asked her about Pier 59, how there was something about Simone, Frankie, and someone else, she needs skirts from Calvin Klein, and there was something about a pony. Agitated, Emily asks if Miranda said which skirts or what kind. Andy admits she didn’t, but she tried to ask. Emily is adamant that she can’t ask Miranda anything. Moving on, Emily says she will deal with all of this, but Andy is to go to Calvin Klein (“Oh, I’m sorry. Do you have some prior commitment? Some hideous skirt convention you have to go to?”). So, Andy rushes over there. As soon as she gets out of the taxi, Miranda calls her to see if she’s there. Andy tries to say she’s almost there and Miranda hangs up abruptly. Emily calls right after. While Andy is out, Miranda wants her to go to Hermes to pick up 25 scarves they ordered for her, along with picking up her daughter Cassidy’s homework from Dalton because she forgot it there. Additionally, Miranda will want more coffee when she gets out of her meeting with Meisel. Later, Andy gets back to the office with everything and Emily yells at her for how long it took because she has to go to the bathroom. She couldn’t leave because someone had to be manning the desk. Miranda enters and Andy greets her. However, Miranda ignores Andy and drops her coat and purse on her desk, prompting Emily to direct Andy to grab the coat to put away. Moving on, Emily tells Andy to be prepared for the run-through at 12:30PM because the phone will be ringing off the hook. The run-through is when the editors bring in options for the shoot, and Miranda chooses which one. She actually chooses every single thing in every single issue.

She’s surprised Andy doesn’t know this already. As Serena (Gisele Bündchen) walks in, Emily tells Andy that she is going to lunch with Serena. Serena makes a snide comment to Emily about Andy because she thought Emily was kidding about her. Nevertheless, Emily gets a 20-minute lunch while Andy gets 15. When Emily gets back, Andy can go. At lunch, Andy goes down in the building to get some food and runs into Nigel who points out how corn chowder is an interesting choice. He adds how cellulite is one of the main ingredients in corn chowder, so Andy questions if the girls there eat anything while she grabs a piece of bread. Nigel responds, “Not since two became the new four, and zero became the new two”. Andy is a 6, so he says this is the new 14. As both wait in line to pay, Andy spills some of her chowder on her pullover and Nigel makes fun of what she’s wearing. She knows he thinks her clothes are hideous, but she’s not going to be in fashion forever. So, she doesn’t see the point in changing herself just because she has a job. Nigel sarcastically agrees with her and how this multi-billion-dollar industry is really about inner beauty. Nigel is interrupted by a phone call. Miranda pushed the run-through up a half hour, so Nigel tells Andy they have to go immediately and throws out her food for her. Miranda is always 15 minutes early, which means Andy is already late. They rush into the elevator and Nigel greets Chairman of Elias Clarke in Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman), telling him the September issue is their best ever. Ravitz heard Miranda killed the autumn jackets and pulled up the Sedona shoot, and he wants to know how much it’s costing him. Nigel admits it’s around $300,000. Ravitz is surprisingly fine with it and jokes with Nigel how they must have been lousy jackets. Nigel introduces Andy to Ravitz, and Ravitz greets her and reiterates what everyone else has said in that a million girls would kill for her job. After Ravitz exits, Nigel tells Andy that he’s a tiny man with a huge ego.

In her office, Miranda is having a model try on different outfits and doesn’t seem to like any of what she’s looking through on the rack. Nigel walks in with Andy, and he tells her to stand, watch, and listen. While Miranda is criticizing every aspect of the run-through, she shows Nigel a dress and asks his opinion on it. She thinks it might be too much like the Lacroix from July, but he doesn’t think it would be with the right accessories. Annoyed, she asks where the belts are for the dress and questions why no one is ready. The one designer brings up two similar belts and isn’t sure which would work because they are “so different”, prompting Andy to audibly chuckle. Everyone in the room stops and stares Andy. Miranda asks if something is funny, so Andy just points out how the belts look the same to her and she’s still learning about all “this stuff”. Miranda balks at Andy referring to her life’s work as “This stuff” and realizes Andy thinks this has nothing to do with her. Miranda then dresses down Andy like no one has before:

“You go to your closet, and you select, I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater for instance because you’re trying to tell the world you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back, but what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue. It’s not turquoise. It’s not lapis. It’s actually cerulean. And you’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns and then I think it was Yves Saint Lauren, wasn’t it? Who showed cerulean military jackets (I think we need a jacket here). Then, cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of 8 different designers, and then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs, and it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when in fact, you’re wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room… from a pile of “stuff”. “

At night, Andy lets out her feelings about Miranda and the workplace environment to Nate as he makes dinner for the two of them at their apartment. Andy says the “clackers” worship Miranda. These are the women whose stilettos make such noise when walking in the marble lobby. Andy can’t believe the amount of time and money these people spend on such insignificant details and works herself up to the point where she’s not even hungry. Nevertheless, she only has to stick it out for a year. Then, she can do what she came to New York to do. However, she can’t let Miranda get to her and that won’t be easy.

Time moves at a face pace at Runway, and Andy works diligently in trying to navigate through it. One day, she greets Miranda and an uncaring Miranda drops her stuff on Andy’s desk while telling her to get Isaac on the phone, another day Miranda asks where her egg breakfast is upon walking in, which leads to Andy running through the streets to get it. On a separate occasion, Miranda immediately demands for Andy to pick up the polaroids from the lingerie shoot, another day has her ask Andy to get the brakes checked on her car, and on a different day, she asks where the piece of paper is that she had in her hand the previous morning. In yet another different day, she brings up how the twins need boogie or surf boards for spring break. When Andy buys it, Emily calls to tell her the twins need flip flops too. On another occasion, Miranda wants Andy to pick up her shoes from Blahnik and walk her giant dog, Patricia. In another instance, Miranda wants this little table she likes at the store on Madison. Later, she asks to get a reservation for the nondescript place that got a good review. Basically, it’s an everyday thing having Miranda slam her coat and purse on Andy’s desk and demanding something to start off the morning. One night, she wants Demarchelier on the phone, and Andy is prepared and manages to do so. She’s starting to get a hang of it. She tries to make small talk with Emily about how at least it’s Friday and they won’t have to be on call this weekend since Miranda will be in Miami. She mentions how her dad is coming in from Ohio and they might go to dinner and see Chicago. She asks Emily if she’s doing anything fun this weekend, but Emily just comments “Yes” and leaves, as she has no interest in interacting with Andy. That night, Andy is with her dad Richard (David Marshall Grant) at a restaurant Nate recommended. Apparently, Nate applied there but didn’t get the job due to lack of experience. Richard gives Andy some money on behalf of Andy’s mom to make sure she has enough for rent, which she appreciates.

Even so, Andy’s parents are worried about her. Richard notes how they get emails from her office at 2AM, her pay is terrible, and she doesn’t get to write anything. Andy jokes that she got to write the emails, but Richard just doesn’t understand why someone who got accepted to Stanford Law and turned it down to be a journalist isn’t even doing what she set out to do. Andy replies that he has to trust her, pointing out how being Miranda’s assistant will open a lot of doors. With Emily going to Paris with Miranda in a few months, she’s going to meet editors and writers from every important magazine. In a year, that could be Andy. She insists to her dad that this is her break, her chance. They are interrupted by Andy getting a phone call from Miranda. Apparently, her flight has been cancelled on account of some “absurd weather problem”. She needs to get home tonight because the twins have a recital tomorrow morning at school. With this, Andy gets on the phone and calls several contacts to see if she can get Miranda on a flight from Miami to New York tonight. Andy rushes out of the restaurant with Richard while she’s on the phone calling anyone and everyone to make this happen. She name-drops Miranda on one call and starts gaining some ground, but Miranda calls in the middle of it and passes the weather off as a drizzle while it storms behind her. She tells Andy to call Donatella to see if she can get her jet. Before hanging up, Miranda tells Andy this is her job, demanding she get her home. Richard sarcastically asks if Miranda wants the National Guard to airlift her, but Andy considers it while they head in to watch Chicago. The next morning at work, Miranda details how great the recital was to Andy, but she’s pissed because she wasn’t there. Andy tries to apologize, but Miranda bypasses this to bring up why she hired Andy. Usually, she always hires the same girl. They tend to be stylish, slender of course, and they worship the magazine. Unfortunately, they tend to be disappointing and stupid.

With Andy, Miranda notes her impressive resume and her speech about her work ethic, so she thought Andy would be different. She decided to take a chance and hire the “smart fat girl”. She had hope. Sadly, Andy disappointed her more than any of the other girls. Andy begins to tear up and says she did everything she could think of, but Miranda replies abruptly, “That’s all”. Ignoring Emily asking where she’s going, Andy goes straight to the art department to talk to Nigel for guidance. She says Miranda hates her, but Nigel doesn’t consider it his problem. Andy goes on about how she doesn’t know what else she can do because Miranda doesn’t acknowledge anything if she does something right. When she does something wrong however, Miranda is vicious. Nigel just tells her to quit, as he can get another girl to take her job in 5 minutes, “One who really wants it”. Andy doesn’t think this is fair. She doesn’t want to quit. She just wants a little credit for killing herself trying. Nigel tells her to get serious. He doesn’t think she’s actually trying. If anything, she’s whining (“Wake up 6, she’s just doing her job”). He goes on about how Andy is working at the place who published some of the greatest artists of the century such as Halston, Lagerfeld, and de la Renta. What they created was greater than art because you live your life in it. This isn’t just a magazine. He talks about how it was a shining beacon of hope for a young boy growing up in Rhode Island with six brothers, referring to himself as he recalls pretending to go to soccer practice when he was going to sewing class and reading Runway under the covers at night with a flashlight. Andy has no idea the legends who have walked through these halls. What’s worse is that she doesn’t care. This is a place people would die to work, and she doesn’t care. He points out the irony in her questioning why Miranda doesn’t kiss her on the forehead and give her a gold star on her homework at the end of the day. He tells Andy to wake up. Realizing he’s right, she acknowledges that she’s been screwing it up so far. However, she doesn’t want to. She just wishes she could work with someone to fix things.

With this, she realizes her answer is in Nigel. He doesn’t want to help at first, but he relents.

He takes Andy where a lot of the clothes are at, though he’s adamant he has nothing that will fit a size 6. Pivoting, he shows her to the sample sizes for 2 and 4. He gives her a whole wardrobe on the spot and realizes she’s in desperate need of Chanel, taking her to the Beauty Department (“and God knows how long that’s going to take”). Back in the office, Emily talks with Serena about Andy and how she doesn’t understand why Miranda hired her. Serena doesn’t get it either, recalling when the two were in the Beauty Department and Andy held up the Shu Uemura eyelash curler and asked what it was. Just then, a new and improved Andy walks in with a completely updated look that leaves the two women in shock. Andy knows she looks good too. She takes a quick call for Miranda. Once she hangs up, she confirms to the shocked Emily that she’s wearing the Chanel boots. Serena compliments Andy to Emily’s annoyance. That night, Andy surprises Nate after he gets out of work, and he nearly walks past without recognizing her. He likes it to say the least. As time moves on, Andy keeps up her presentation with the clothes and makeup and she is able to channel the energy into her work, getting more and more used to the job. Miranda even starts to take notice and even tries to hide a smile while she’s on the phone spotting Andy’s attire one particular day. Sometime after, Andy shows up late to a dinner with Nate, Doug, and Lily on account of a crisis in the Accessories Department. She had to find a python headband, and Doug agrees that the python is hot right now, leading to Lily giving Doug a strange look. Moving on, Andy bought them all presents. She gives Nate a Bang and Olufsen phone, which Charlie Rose sent to Miranda for her birthday. Andy looked it up online and it’s $1,100. She pulls out some other products for them like Mason Pearson hairbrushes, Clinique, and a Marc Jacobs purse for Lily that’s sold out everywhere. Miranda didn’t want it, so Andy got to regift all of it.

Lily is ecstatic but insists she doesn’t want it because the bag is $1,900. Nate doesn’t understand the big deal about women and purses, but Doug replies that fashion isn’t about utility. He goes on about how an accessory is merely a piece of iconography used to express individual identity. Lily adds that it’s pretty too. Andy chimes in to say that there is more to Runway than just fancy purses, bringing up an essay by Jay McInerney, a piece by Joan Didion, and even an interview with Christiane Amanpour. Nate jokingly replies that someone has been drinking the Kool-Aid. Just then, Miranda calls Andy’s phone, but Nate takes it from her as a joke. Lily and Doug play keep away with it while it rings until Andy snatches it away to answer the call. Miranda needs her, so Andy goes to leave before calling her friends assholes for messing with her. Knowing how serious her job is, it’s hard to disagree with her there. After this, Andy heads to a private party to find James Holt (Daniel Sunjata), as she’s picking up on Miranda’s behalf. He jokes that she must be the new “Emily” before complimenting her bag. He asks who made it, and Andy knows it’s him. He jokingly replies “Duh” and gives her what Miranda wants, a sketch of Miranda’s dress for the benefit, along with the centerpiece of his spring collection. Before she leaves, he invites her over to the bar, assuming she’s in desperate need of hard liquor working for Miranda. Andy can’t help but nod and follows him. Holt gets her some punch and leaves her alone, prompting Christian Thompson (Simon Baker) to swoop in for conversation. Once she introduces himself, she realizes he’s the Christian Thompson. He writes for every magazine she loves. She actually reviewed his collection of essays for her college newspaper. Flirting, Christian asks if she brought up his good looks or killer charm and she politely replies “No”. He asks what she does, and Andy states how she wants to work for The New Yorker or Vanity Fair since she considers herself a writer too. Christian is down to read her work and wants her to send it over.

She can’t believe it but does say she’s currently working as Miranda’s assistant. Christian says that it’s too bad because she will never survive Miranda. Andy is put off by the comment. Christian adds that Andy seems nice and smart, but doubles down in that she can’t do such a job. Andy leaves soon after. At work the next day, Miranda tells Andy to call Holt’s office because she wants to move the preview up to today at 12:30PM, to tell everyone else, and to be ready to leave in a half hour. Andy goes to the art department to tell Nigel who is surprised because they aren’t expected until Tuesday. He asks if she said why, so Andy responds sarcastically about how Miranda went into a fully detailed explanation as to why she did it and then they gabbed about American Idol. Nigel sees her point. Nevertheless, Andy doesn’t know what a preview is, so Nigel explains that Miranda insists on seeing the designer’s collections before they show them. There, she tells them what she thinks. There is a scale. One nod is good, and two nods is very good. There’s only been one smile on record, and that was Tom Ford in 2001. If she doesn’t like something, she shakes her head. Of course, there’s also the pursing of the lips. This means catastrophe. At the preview, Nigel and Andy see Miranda react to the dress Holt designed specifically for Miranda with a pursing of the lips. Once they all leave, Miranda comments how appalled she was, and Nigel says he will talk to Holt. Andy can’t believe Holt has to change his entire collection simply because Miranda pursed her lips, but Nigel hits her with a reality check. Miranda’s opinion is the only one that matters. Miranda gets to her car and tells Andy to call her husband and confirm dinner at Pastis. She will also need a change of clothes. Thinking ahead, Andy says she already messengered her outfit over to the shoot. Noticing her initiative, she refers to Andy as “Andrea” for the first time instead of “Emily” and gives her the task of delivering the Book to her home tonight. She tells her to talk to Emily to get the key. Hiding back a grin, Andy goes with it.

At the office, Emily gives her the key and tells her to guard it with her life. Andy accepts it and notes how she must be doing something right if she has been given the privilege of delivering the Book. She also mentions how Miranda used her actual name this time, though Emily doesn’t care.

Regardless, things are looking up for Andy’s professional life. However, personal strains are inevitable in a job like this, and it makes her question what she truly wants in life.

My Thoughts:

As far as recent college graduates go and twenty somethings who are eagerly pursuing their big break in whatever industry they want to succeed in, The Devil Wears Prada is required viewing. Thin in some ways but indescribably important in others, this peek into the fashion industry has and will continue to inspire generations of people as they come to a newfound understanding of what it takes to succeed in any competitive work environment. Frustrating, distressing, motivating and above all else, eye-opening, The Devil Wears Prada is not a standard “chick flick”. It’s a highly entertaining comedy-drama that has a purpose instilled in its core that anyone and everyone can relate to.

Most if not all post grads are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and want to take on the world. Coming out of university or even as one enters their 20s in general, they all think or in some cases know they are ready for the next chapter. All they need is an opportunity to get started. How they handle the opportunity once they get it is where the men are separated from the boys, or in this case the women are separated from the girls. As motivated or as ambitious as they may be, the real world is a whole different ball game that almost all of us underestimate. We think we know what it takes in theory, but we don’t really know until we face it live and in living color. Of course, some break once the heat is on. They don’t realize how much harder it actually is than what a professor or an article may relay. Corporations, high-level businesses in the big city, and whatever else in-between are built with a structure intended on weeding out the weak and finding the strongest possible worker to add to the team. Who is willing to survive by any means necessary? Who is willing to go the extra mile and then two more after that? With our protagonist, Andy is faced with this very real-life scenario. She knows what she wants to do for her career, but opportunities are not being handed out like that, especially in New York City. It’s all about the grind and taking the crumb as soon as it falls off the table. This leads her to Runway. Though she’s not necessarily interested in fashion and even balks at the beauty standards and culture they have created behind the scenes and to the public, it’s a relatable case of taking what you can get and going for broke in the interview process because this is the big break. Just like how Andy and her friends toast to, none of this is what they set out to do or be, but they are doing this in the meantime to pay the rent. It’s a process to get to the true goal. For viewers, Andy is every single one of us. Similar to her, most of us aren’t interested in fashion, which is why some may think this movie isn’t for them, but this story is about much more than that. Andy is a character that allows the viewer to see themselves in her shoes right from the outset.

Dressing comfortably but respectfully, trying to say and do whatever is right to make it sound like you would be a great fit for the job you’re interviewing for, even though the reality is that you just need the job because it will lead to something greater in the future, and the hunger to get her career started and having a nothing-to-lose attitude due to the fact that she’s already been turned down from countless other jobs despite her credentials is a position we all have found ourselves in at one point or another.

It doesn’t take long for Andy to take in the workplace environment of Runway, but she wants to maintain her identity in the face of the matriarch that is Miranda Priestly. With her small speech towards the end of the interview, Andy acknowledges her obvious physical traits that might not align with Runway standards, but she is confident she’s a hard enough worker and intelligent enough to be a real asset. Even though it goes against who she usually hires like the many women who are obsessed with the fashion industry, their appearance, and understand the weight of working at such a prestige job in their business, Miranda decides to take a chance with Andy. Even though this job lasts less than a year for Andy, getting hired to Emily’s shock is the moment her life changed. It’s not lost on her either, as Andy is quick to explain to her father at dinner how this is the opportunity she was waiting for, the chance of a lifetime. Actually, it’s surprising she even has to say it. They have so many characters in the film who try to reiterate how Miranda is dogging Andy for very little pay, but they act as if Andy doesn’t already know that. On top of this, they act like they haven’t had to struggle before. Who said this was going to be easy or a basic 9-to-5? If anything, it’s fairly common that life gets worse before it gets better in regard to one’s professional life. You have to start at the bottom to rise to the top. It’s just how it goes. Andy’s father mentions how worried he is of Andy, noting how she’s sending things from her work email at 2AM and she’s not doing anything journalistic as if he’s observing something she doesn’t already know. Moments like these are the only knocks on The Devil Wears Prada because though you have to have some of these supporting characters to further explain the protagonist’s plight and why her journey is as tough as it is, some of it was clichéd to a fault because how could these characters not see it from Andy’s point of view? The father’s audacity to point out how she’s not doing what she set out to do was asinine in that regard.

You don’t think she would have taken a job opportunity as a writer if it was available? Yeah, no shit she’s not doing what she wanted to do! Nothing is handed out in this world. You would think a well-adjusted father would know that of all people.

Even worse is Andy’s friend group. It’s fun to mess with your friends over certain job aspects, as they all know Andy well and why this job is out of the ordinary for her. However, as the film progresses, they obnoxiously overstep their boundaries as friends. Despite how hectic her schedule is, Andy still goes out of her way to try and make each hangout and even showers them with expensive gifts she got from work to show her appreciation for them. Not only do they jokingly insult her while they accept the gifts, but they also decide to mess with her further by grabbing Andy’s phone from her when she gets a work call. They are all very aware of who Miranda is and what she has made Andy go through at work. Knowing this, they also know Andy is on call at all times and could be fired at the drop of the hat. All of them playing keep-away with her phone, so it’s not answered immediately, and then they look at her like she can’t take a joke, and she’s “changed”, is incredibly arrogant. They look at each other like they are in the right for the entire movie and the narrative kind of skews in favor of their argument rather than Andy’s, a key factor from The Devil Wears Prada that is unforgivable. If someone who watches this film actually takes Andy’s friends’ side as the end-all be-all answer, you’re flat out wrong or haven’t accomplished much in life to understand otherwise. Her friends may care for her, but they have to grow up too, just like Andy did. It’s not conforming and accepting a seat on the dark side. In reality, it’s a serious lack of understanding, thinking you know who you are and know it all about the world. Andy thought her previous resume, her will and motivation, and general personality traits were good enough to succeed. She admitted she didn’t care about fashion and was only doing this job to get to the next level. However, it is lost on her that she got a job millions of girls would kill for, a line reiterated throughout the film. Andy says she knows why the job is big deal, but she doesn’t truly get it, which is why her conversation with Nigel is the eye-opener Andy and the viewer needs.

It’s crazy to think that Nigel takes Miranda’s side by telling Andy she isn’t trying hard enough, especially with how Miranda back-stabs him later. How could he possibly say this? What she is tasked with doing would drive anyone insane! When Andy does something right or tries very hard, she gets no credit from Miranda, but she will hear every ounce of it when she fails. This is impossible, or is it? Taking no pity, Nigel brings up the attitude she walked in with, what everyone noticed about her, and why it has failed her thus far. Not respecting the opportunity resulted in Andy not going that extra mile because the incentive wasn’t there. Since she has no dedication to the job or passion for it, is she really doing all she can do? It’s in that moment that the tough love is revealed as sound advice to Andy and to all. She’s not going above and beyond like most girls would for this job. To succeed at the level Andy wants and Miranda demands, with Miranda holding herself to such a standard being why Runway is as successful as it is and the entire office following suit as a result, she needs to control every aspect that she can control. Again, it’s not conforming or giving in to the evils of the industry. It’s being a team player who wants to be looked at as a dependable asset, hungry to get to that next level and meaning it. The harsh way Nigel puts it shuts Andy up because she realizes she was wrong. If she truly wants this and wants to get further, she has to work harder than anyone else. Because of this, The Devil Wears Prada is to career-driven people what Rocky or Hoosiers is to athletes. It’s the inspirational example many hard-at-work people need but in a completely different skin than a sports movie, making it even more relatable as a result.

In Andy’s defense, I still don’t know what she could have done to solve that funny flight mishap where Miranda was downplaying the hurricane outside and demanding an overnight flight back to New York, but the point still stands.

It’s not just about the clothes and makeup. It’s about coming to play and meeting the extremely high standards that a prestige job demands out of its workers and clientele. Once it clicks in Andy’s head after this conversation with Nigel, the phoenix rises out of the ashes and turns the tide. With a newfound, headstrong attitude and a go-for-broke mindset, she faces unique and challenging tasks every day moving forward but takes it head-on to prove she is capable. With each thing she pulls off to Miranda’s satisfaction, she gets stronger, fearless even. As stressful as a job like this is, people don’t realize how crucial these trials and tribulations can be for someone in their 20s as they progress in life. Andy making this change in her mindset was the best thing she ever could have done, and it will prove to benefit her for the rest of her life no matter where she lands afterwards. At this stage of the movie, we realize that Emily’s statements about how one can work anywhere after working a year under Miranda isn’t even about the reputation at Runway. Really, it’s because there might not be anything as emotionally, mentally, or physically taxing than working as Miranda’s assistant. Most would fold when asked to get the unpublished manuscript for the new Harry Potter book, simply because Miranda’s kids want to know what happens next. Andy knows it, and to a degree, it looks as if Miranda knows it too just based off her look. However, she’s furious over not being able to fly out of Miami overnight and looks at Andy to blame. Without saying it, she seemingly gives Andy this task because it’s close to impossible. She wants a reason to fire her, and even doubles down by saying she should not even bother showing back up to work if she can’t get the manuscript by 3PM. Andy exhausts her options and tries every conceivable avenue to get the manuscript, even going as far to call the highly touted writer Christian Thompson, who she’s had one interaction with. Still, this is her remembering Nigel’s words. This is her trying her absolute hardest to make this happen. Then, once it seems like all hope is lost and she calls Nate to tell him that she’s going to quit, Andy’s hard work pays off, and Christian gets the manuscript for her, proving that she did in fact try hard enough.

It’s not impossible. It’s extremely difficult yes, but it’s not impossible. In the second most pivotal moment of the film, she has a chance to go through with quitting because of how outrageously stressful it is to keep up, but it would also throw away all the ground she’s gained over the last few months. It would make all that hard work mean nothing if she does decide to quit anyway. On the other hand, she can pull off the impossible and show Miranda that she is going the extra mile and then some to prove that Miranda taking a chance on her was indeed worth it. You can feel all of these questions in her head on that phone call with Christian when she’s deciding whether she should grab it from him or not. Still, despite the viewer seeing everything Andy has been through up until this pint, there is not a single soul who would yell at their screen for her to quit for the sake of her relationship or mental health. No, she has worked too hard to give up, and she’s progressing at a rapid rate. She can’t stop now, which is why she gets the manuscript, makes two copies, and gives them to Miranda’s twin daughters on their train, knowing Miranda was going to throw a curveball at her about the copies and such. Watching Miranda eat shit at this moment and slightly smirking while trying to hold back was everything, especially with Andy’s cocky smile staring back at Miranda because Andy knows she won this round. This interaction alone was worth the price of admission. Who could have thought office politics could be this deliciously entertaining, as well as stressful? Well, that’s just it. Andy’s arc and the film in general is the epitome of pressure making diamonds. Once Andy comprehends the true value of the job, she becomes that diamond. Her friends may not get it, and it’s possible some viewers won’t get it. As there are a lot of people who don’t work in nearly as stressful a job as what Andy faces here. So, why not follow Nigel’s advice? If you don’t like it, quit. So many do, and so many never get such an opportunity again. This job is that big of a deal. It wasn’t going to be easy. The sooner Andy gets this through her head, the sooner she realizes that she’s the problem and has to work even harder.

It’s not a switch everyone has in their brains, or they may not realize they have it until they come face to face with such a problem. Hopefully, The Devil Wears Prada will serve as the learning experience millions of young people need. It’s a cinematic gift that keeps on giving.

“This is Miranda Priestly we’re talking about. There is no Plan B. There’s only Plan A.”

It goes without saying that Meryl Streep sets the table as one of the greatest actresses not only of her generation but of all time. She’s been nominated for 21 Academy Awards over her lifetime, winning three. Considering her resume, it’s hard to choose what Streep’s best performance has been. However, her role as Runway‘s devil incarnate, but also misunderstood editor-in-chief in Miranda Priestly is arguably her most iconic. There’s the “evil boss” archetype, and then there’s Miranda Priestly, one of the best cinematic villains of the 2000s. Never raising her voice to argue with her employees, she speaks sternly and calmly and can demean anyone and everyone with a mere side comment or just a stare. It’s a masterclass of the less-is-more approach, with Miranda being ridiculously entertaining from a movie fan’s perspective but diabolical within the narrative at hand. Streep makes every line and seemingly insignificant glance matter (“Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking”). She commands the screen. Her presence is so powerful that just her appearance can send an entire office into chaos, as she demands excellence. Anything less, and you do not deserve to work at Runway. From their tone-setting introduction of her character, which is as great of a character introduction you will ever see in a film, to even moments where she’s at her most vulnerable, Streep is magnificent. Even for audiences who don’t care about the fashion world, Streep’s Miranda is so outstanding in creating this culture that we are engrossed with the story as soon as their air changes in the room upon her entrance. She can just look at what Andy is wearing and stalls a bit without saying anything directly, and this is enough for Andy to realize Nigel was right, changing her shoes immediately upon getting back to her desk. That’s the power of the character and how believable it is with Streep’s performance. Being able to reach the levels of intimidation that Streep does as Miranda without screaming at the top of her lungs at Andy or looking like Darth Maul is a rare feat, but Street pulls it off at an Academy Award-level.

She steals every scene she’s in and acts as the matriarch of the film just as Miranda does with Runway. Though there are some issues with other aspects of the screenplay, none of it involves the Miranda Priestly character, as her dialogue is simply untouchable. It’s seen right away in the interview when she degrades Andy’s lack of a fashion sense. The innocent Andy tries to argue this being subjective, but Miranda hits her with the shotgun blast to the chest line of, “No, no… that wasn’t a question”. It’s PERFECT. Even though she is as insane as she is, you can’t help but smile and acknowledge how good Miranda is at what she does. Her dismissing “That’s all” catchphrase or slight look of disgust to Andy or people who aren’t ready when she’s trying to work is just wildly entertaining. Streep kills every scene she’s in. What’s even crazier is that Miranda is so uncompromising and impossible, you start to get this respectable Stockholm Syndrome that Andy gets. You start to respect her even at worst because of the pace she maintains, and how the wheels turn in your head along with Andy’s does get a little scary. You find yourself swept up in the stress to the point where you began to root for them as a team, possibly rooting her to take a seat next to the devil’s throne. It’s demented, and Miranda knows where Andy’s head is at, along with the attention of the hooked viewer at home, leading to that famous limo scene where Andy has to make a choice. At the end of all of this, the viewer will find themselves respecting different industries while also finding out quite a bit about themselves in the process. Who would have thought a movie about fashion would have this effect? Well, look no further than the iconic “Cerulean speech” to see what we’re saying. For the record, it’s fantastic in terms of writing, Streep’s performing of it, how it explains her life’s work, and why the industry means much more to the outside world than they realize.

Nevertheless, it’s still absolute horseshit. If this is truly the way fashion moguls think, they give themselves way too much credit. For example, in a sadder montage scene, there’s a moment where the now “fashionista” Andy is wearing some ’70s-inspired getup with a big chain and an outlandish hat and she objectively looks like a fucking idiot. To push that point even further, she walks by a million other people on the street all dressed normally. If that doesn’t shoot Miranda’s argument in the foot, I don’t know what does. Nevertheless, Streep is out-of-this-world phenomenal and makes an irredeemable character likable without having to change her personality in the slightest. It’s just when more is understood or revealed rather, you begin to see why she rules in the manner that she does and why Miranda has been successful like no one before her. She’s a mentor for someone willing to take on the challenge. The question is if Andy really wants it and if she will take that leap when the time comes. It’s a cool allegory of being tempted by the devil and how you can only succeed if you make the sacrifices Miranda did, with Andy beginning to see who she could become if she continues on her current path, one she didn’t even realize she was on. Andy dipping her toes into it when Miranda gives her the “choice” by adding if she doesn’t go to Paris, “I’ll assume you’re not serious about your future at Runway or any other publication” and accepting Miranda’s test to prove she’s serious is just enough for Andy to get a sliver of what’s possible without fully selling her soul. On a side note, Miranda wanting to see the ruthlessness brought out in Andy by forcing her to tell Emily the bad news was hilariously evil. It’s like she’s greeting Andy as if to say, “Welcome to Hell. Come have a seat by the fire”.

To be fair, for all of Miranda’s worst qualities, she is hysterical (“By all means, move at a glacial place. You know how that thrills me”). Maybe, she isn’t so bad. Maybe, Andy has a point in that no one would say anything if she were a man. Maybe, they would just see how great she was at her job if she weren’t a woman. Look at Bob Knight. He got away with A LOT for a long time. It’s not until he stopped seeing the same success was when people stepped in.

Don’t be Nate. For the love of all that is holy, do not be the Nate Cooper of your relationship. One of the lasting legacies of The Devil Wears Prada is the supporting character boyfriend of Andy, though “supporting” isn’t the right word to describe this selfish, immature sack of shit. First of all, let’s take the established facts into account. From the outset, Andy makes it clear how she only intends on doing this job for a year. It’s strictly temporary and though it will be hard, the benefits are tremendous, life-changing even. Keeping in mind how crucial it was for Andy to make personal changes to herself to improve her job status and standing with her co-workers, the lack of support she gets from Nate is absurd. At first, he doesn’t have a problem with her new look and they’re all over each other, but when her job gets unsurprisingly more intensive, as getting better at your job only gives you more responsibilities as we all know, he can’t handle not seeing her as often. Nate is mad that her whole life is about her work while he tries to act like he’s working just as hard to make his career happen but isn’t losing himself in it. However, is he really trying that hard? It doesn’t look like it and his lack of understanding of Andy, despite him being there every step of the way to hear every detail of her job, you would think a strong enough boyfriend would see it from her side since he’s getting the information firsthand. Sadly, he sulks and looks at her dedication to her job and working as hard as she is as selfish. Are you fucking serious? He can’t suck it up for less than a year so his girlfriend can get her dream job? Is it that hard to sacrifice time and accept that this is all for a reason, knowing what it could do for the rest of his girlfriend’s life? A relationship conflict is inevitable for someone in this position, but the angle in which Nate takes it in makes him look like a certified bitch. His passive aggressiveness in the second act makes you want to yell at the screen.

Just seeing Nate ignore Andy after she missed his birthday party, even though she still skipped out on a potential job opportunity for something she actually loves just because she didn’t want to miss out on seeing him, and he was still all pissy about it makes the audience want to slap him. How Andy doesn’t lash out at this motherfucker in this moment with a comment like, “Dude, grow up!” is insane. The patience she has is only something someone could get from working for Miranda Priestly. Then, after Lily’s art gallery showing, the two get into an argument outside about how whether Andy had a choice or not about going to Paris. For the record, she didn’t. Miranda can say whatever, but if she didn’t agree to go, her progress would been all for nought. Don’t lie to yourself and say otherwise. Also, fuck Emily too. Even if she did desperately want to go to Paris, she was almost as awful as Nate. I have no idea why this character is so popular with fans, other than the fact that she has some objectively great lines (“Wish me luck” – “No, shan’t”). All Andy does is kill Emily with kindness, giving her the benefit of the doubt after seeing how stressful the job is and how hard she works. Still, that doesn’t give Emily the excuse to be a bitch the entire movie and not even thank Andy in their final phone call together when Andy sends over all the clothes from Paris as a gift. I’m glad she got hit by a car. Nevertheless, Nate goes on about how Andy acts as if the job was forced on her and she doesn’t make her own decisions, but how could he say this if he really understands Andy to the level the movie wants us to believe he does? He knows these opportunities aren’t given every day, and he’s well aware of the benefits that will come from Andy succeeding at it. How could he say such a thing like she had a choice? No, no one was putting a gun to her head in a literal sense, but the opportunity was practically a metaphorical one! You want the opportunity, here it is. If you don’t take it, you will regret it. If he doesn’t see this rather obvious detail, he really is one stupid son of a bitch.

Finally, Andy responds by bringing up how she knows Nate is mad she works late all the time and she missed his birthday party, and he has the audacity to reply like she’s wrong, “What am I, 4?”. Well, you sure as fuck acted like it! Cutting him off, she starts bringing the heat, and there isn’t a single thing she says that is wrong, and this is coming from a male’s perspective by the way. She lets it out about how Nate has annoyingly made it clear about how he hates Runway, Miranda, and how fashion is stupid, and he has every step of the way. Nate argues how he makes port-wine reductions all day, so he understands doing a job you aren’t passionate about. Even so, he follows it up by saying that he wouldn’t care if she was a stripper, as long as she did it with a little integrity, implying she’s lost this integrity in her current job. Are you serious? What a lying sack of shit! This guy already can’t handle Andy working a grown-up job in the biggest city in the country, but we’re supposed to believe he’s secure enough that he would be okay if she was a stripper and its integrity that’s the issue? NO ONE believes you, dude. It’s also just misdirected anger. From a viewer’s perspective, her integrity doesn’t come off as compromised like how he makes it sound. When Nate goes off about how Andy used to make fun of the Runway girls but has now turned into one of them, it shows how he simply has a basic misunderstanding of working at a high level, making sense as to why he hasn’t progressed professionally in his own right. Even if you don’t like a job or the culture of the work environment, you are bound to become attached to the job to some degree if you’re a hard worker who wants to succeed and/or get ahead. It just comes with the territory. For Nate to throw out this bitchy response about how they don’t have anything in common anymore is flat-out ridiculous. Andy is still the same person. Did she change things a little? Yeah, but she had to. Sometimes, you have to make some lifestyle changes or alterations to certain habits to get ahead. She did it, and the proof is in the pudding.

Sadly, she doesn’t have as much time as she did when she wasn’t working, but that’s life. If a friend group doesn’t understand that, drop them. It’s a simple as that. Trying to change the minds of people who should be supporting you in your career endeavors isn’t worth the added time when there is only so much given in a day. With Andy, her friends are subconsciously envious of her being strong enough to succeed in such a job. She’s the one to buckle down and grow up first, and they can’t accept it because things are changing around them. Don’t be this friend group and don’t be this boyfriend. Everyone’s path to success in their respective fields are different. Some are more difficult than others. It takes a certain level of maturity to understand this, and Nate, Lilly, and to a lesser extent Doug (he’s fairly supportive all things considered) clearly don’t have it. Though it’s not the message they’re trying to convey at all with this film, this element to the screenplay is a great example of who your true friends are and how some close to you hate to see it when you become more successful than them, resulting in them trying to put you down every chance they get. Because of this, the ending was just plain wrong (SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS). Though both Andy and Nate were right to talk things out, Nate not conceding any responsibility and Andy having to practically beg on her knees like a sad puppy for something to be rekindled was completely the wrong message. If there was ever a conclusion that had the protagonist move on from her boyfriend and friend group to carve out a new career path, this would have been it. This isn’t us advocating for Christian either. Despite how great his hair is, there is something sinister about him and the lack of regard he has for the awfulness surrounding his peers. In his defense however, Andy did owe him for the Harry Potter save.

Regardless of this, the world-building of this screenplay is something every screenwriter should take a look at if they are having trouble with their own writing. The fact that Andy navigating through Miranda’s house to deliver “The Book” feels like she’s Obi-Wan Kenobi infiltrating the Death Star is a testament to how well it’s done. When she accidentally walks into an argument Miranda is having with her husband and Miranda gives her the death stare, the second-hand anxiousness felt for Andy is palpable. The next day, when Miranda calls for her with the ghostly delivery of, “Andrea”, you’re shitting bricks. On the flip side, the monumental moment where Miranda throws her coat and purse onto Emily’s desk instead of Andy after she begins proving herself feels as if she pulled Excalibur out of the stone. It’s incredible how well they make every small detail mean so much in the eyes of the characters and as a result, the audience.

With this being said, that finale (sans the Nate stuff) was perfection. Sometimes, just a glance can say a thousand words. What a way to end such a fantastic arc. My question is, why make a sequel?

If you want the good life, sacrifices have to be made. Are you willing to do what it takes? Even with certain faults, The Devil Wears Prada is a timeless film, helping the motivated figure out what they want in life or the unmotivated to be reassured. Inspiring, revealing, funny, heartfelt, and even powerful to some degree, the well-acted and amusing look at the fashion industry and work politics in general continues to endure a lasting legacy all these years later. If anyone is striving for more and wants to see what it takes to reach the next level professionally, the incredibly entertaining, fast-paced environment of The Devil Wears Prada is sure to stay with you for a long time. Led by the always likable Anne Hathaway, a wicked Meryl Streep in one of her best roles to date, and show-stealing supporting roles by Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, this spirited comedy-drama can be applied to real life in a thousand different ways. This isn’t a recommendation for you to watch the movie. This is Cinema Loco saying it’s a requirement.

Fun Fact: Michelle Pfeiffer, Glenn Close, and Catherine Zeta-Jones were all considered for the role of Miranda Priestly. For Andy, Rachel McAdams, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, and Kirsten Dunst were all considered. Kate Hudson was offered the role but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts with You, Me and Dupree. In addition, Graham Norton auditioned for the role of Nigel.