The Devil Wears Prada, 2006

The Devil wears Prada, 2006
Director: David Frankel
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Adrian Grenier




Stage: Home TV selection, late Sunday night



The Devil in short: In New York, the simple and naive just-graduated in journalism Andrea Sachs is hired to work as the second assistant of the powerful and sophisticated Miranda Priestly, the ruthless and merciless executive of the Runway fashion magazine. Andrea dreams to become a journalist and faces the opportunity as a temporary professional challenge. The first assistant Emily advises Andrea about the behavior and preferences of their cruel boss, and the stylist Nigel helps Andrea to dress more adequately for the environment. Andrea changes her attitude and behavior, affecting her private life and the relationship with her boyfriend Nate, her family and friends. In the end, Andrea learns that life is made of choices



Preps: Notorious piece that was introduced some time ago. Still, never found a chance to see it completely.  Am curious. And I am eager to see something not too heavy for my mind.



Reality: It is a positive surprise. Never have I seen Meryl in a similar role before. And she fits into it like a glove. Such a strict, stubborn boss you would never want to have or work for - it can take your breath away. However, in need people are willing to work even if you need to work under these kind of conditions.
The second, the naive part (Hathaway) runs into an industry. I am quite sure this is a milestone for most people that just graduated from college. I also thought I would stumble upon a brilliant job after the college right away. Soon you realize life isn't just a box of chocolates and those sayings should be maybe reserved for Forrests Gumps of this planet. Not for "regular" species. Like me. Well, in journalism, which I also wanted to explore as a possibility what to do in life, there's a severe battle. Not only to get a position, but to sustain it. The level of employee turnover is amazing. And in Devil wears Prada we see a perfect example what a fashion magazine workload is all about, how should you behave, what should you wear, which language to speak, how fast must you nod your head and that it is all about image, not the real content.
In real life, even such "bitches", as the one, that Meryl is impersonating, can have a soul. In this particular example we can observe how we sometimes are let into the inside of Miranda. And we can imagine how tuff is it to preserve an image like this. And on the other side, how hard it is for Andrea to first acknowledge where she is and then adapt. The fast adaptation to the new environment is simply amazing. I love to see her wear those dresses, high heels and act like she's one of them. The real issue is, does she become one of them? In this scenario not, however, in real life I imagine you get used to being around rich people with fancy clothes, champagne in their hands, very quickly. And it's the downfall for your ego, your soul in many cases, should you decide to go backwards.

Andrea decides this isn't the life she wants to pursue. Good for her. It is also her lucky break, because the gates in her previous life haven't closed yet. But in reality I imagine that for most of us our doors close, once we decide to change things so dramatically as depicted in this movie.

Good music and scenes, dialogues and costumography are main attributes of this movie. Streep and Hathaway are brilliant and I will love to see this one again once it's played again on our screens.




My personal rating: 6,5 (one of the better "villain" roles for Maryl Streep, a good show off or insight into the fashion magazine world)


The Devil on IMDB

Marley and me, 2008

Marley and me, 2008
Director: David Frankel
Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson




Marley in short: After their wedding, newspaper writers John and Jennifer Grogan move to Florida. In an attempt to stall Jennifer's "biological clock", John gives her a puppy. While the puppy Marley grows into a 100 pound dog, he loses none of his puppy energy or rambunctiousness. Meanwhile, Marley gains no self-discipline. Marley's antics give John rich material for his newspaper column. As the Grogans mature and have children of their own, Marley continues to test everyone's patience by acting like the world's most impulsive dog.


Stage: home theatre

Preps: Also, a known movie in the local cinema. Since I am an animal lover I love watching movies that somehow include an animal or the relationship a human can have with the pet, if he/she allows it.


Reality: Regarding the trailer, I need to make the first comment. There are good dogs and there are bad dogs - one of the worst taglines ever, to bring a crowd in the cinema in order to teach them dog habits or responsibility that a dog brings. If Marley is percepted as bad dog right in front, then the movie audience will lack those that adore animals with a nicer perception.

Apart from that, the movie has a distinctive advantage towards others in this genre - the humorous scenes with Marley are hillarious. Let's leave behind the idea that taking a pet instead of a child is simply immature, or that your life needs to have an agenda you follow and tick the tasks you have already accomplished.

Marley makes you adore the idea of having a dog as a pet and Anniston with Owen makes a perfect unsuitable couple to have it. A dog taking the lead master role in the family - this idea is simply brilliant and remarkably shown. Therefore, for the funny scenes in the movie when the dog is growing up, a big plus.

A big minus for everything else. Although it's cute, the dog cannot hide the bad cast and the weak scenario, also the scenery doesn't impress, neither photography, the music is unnoticeable, etc. In some sense, apart from the funny dog scenes and running on the beach nothing really important to miss if you miss this piece.



My personal rating: 3,5 (some great scenes with the dog and the way a pet can slaughter any type of bossing around by the owner. They made me burst with laughter).

Marley's page on IMDB

Marley's home page