|
The Main Characters
--Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is a writer just out on a new career when she gets the chance of a lifetime, to be the assistant to Miranda Priestly.
--Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is the editor (or ruler) of Runway magazine, the foremost magazine in fashion. She is a genius in her field but does not accept any sort of failure.
The Setting
New York City
The Film (1:49:15)
Andy is a fresh graduate looking for her big break as a journalist. She gets what everyone tells her is a sure dream job and guarantee to get any writing gig she wants, a job as the assistant to Miranda Priestly. Miranda is the editor of a fashion magazine and she rules with an iron fist. She can be ruthless, insulting, and quite a terror to work for. The film follows a young, idealistc Andy slowly being changed into a fashionable woman who is becoming almost as ruthless as Miranda, even alienating her friends, making her realize that life is full of choices, and none can be made lightly.
Movie Review
I have a dirty confession to make, I actually saw this in the movie theaters when it came out in the summer of 2006. I saw it with my wife and I don’t really know why we saw it, probably just to see a movie. I enjoyed it when I first saw it and I think it is a funny little movie with a nice message but it isn’t something that will really stand out in a crowd. Other than the great performance by Meryl Streep its just an average movie. I don’t know how faithful the adaptation is, but if you have a passing interest in how things work in the fashion world, this is a good movie to watch. Like a said, an average film. **.
DVD Features
A) Extras
1) Commentary
Director David Frankel, Producer Wendy Finerman, Costume Designer Patricia Field, Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, Editor Mark Livolsi and Director of Photography Florian Ballhaus recorded this commentary. David talks about a clacker unit which shot at Elias Clark because of the sound their high heels made on the marble floor. They talk a lot about the clothes that the different actresses are wearing. They say the biggest departure from the book is when Andy goes to France. I guess in the book it was more of a happy accident. I haven’t read the book so I can’t tell you for sure. This was a decent enough commentary, the group had fun and there was no shortage of talking about clothes and designers featured in the film.
2) Featurettes
---A) A Trip to the Big Screen (12:02)
This is really a making of for the film, as they discuss what is in the book, what isn’t in it. This is mostly narrated by the crew who worked on the film. Standard fare, most of it is just clips from the movie.
---B) NYC and Fashion (6:25)
Ahh the fashion industry. I used to work on Fashion Ave. so some of the places in the film I recognized. Some of the cast says that the fashion is the main character and everyone else is just adjuncts. The director says he wouldn’t want to shoot anywhere but NYC.
---C) Fashion Visionary Patricia Field (8:45)
Patricia Field was the costume designer and she got all the clothes and all and she really knows everything about fashion. Nothing terribly interesting.
---D) Getting Valentino (2:53)
This is about getting Valentino (a fashion guy) in the movie.
---E) Boss From Hell (2:36)
This is different stories of bosses from hell and the movies version of the events. This looks like something that would’ve been on Starz or something.
3) Deleted Scenes (21:35)
All these scenes feature commentary with director David Frankel and editor Mark Livolsi. Most of what was cut (by Mark) was used either for pacing reasons or time reasons. David mentions that Mark cut most of this before he showed David the version so David hasn’t seen some of this. It’s annoying that the commentary is sort of linear, so if you listen to it seperately it may start in the middle of a thought or idea.
---A) Andy’s Interview with Elias-Clark Human Resources (2:14
)
Andy shows up to an interview but arrives at the wrong building! She eventually gets to the right building and rides the elevator up with some snooty people then gets a job as Miranda’s assistant.
---B) Emily Prepping for Miranda’s Arrival at Runway (0:50)
This is pretty self-explanatory, Emily has Andy sit at a desk, out of the way.
---C) Andy’s First Day (5:31)
Andy’s first day on the job starts with a phone call. Andy then gets ready and leaves. Andy then runs into Nigel on the way in and he comments on her poor outfit. Emily gives Andy a tough time but Andy finds out she doesn’t take public transportation and instead takes a livery cab.
---D) Andy Welcomes her Dad to NY (1:04)
This one is self-explanatory.
---E) Andy Runs into Nate after Meeting Christian (1:10)
Another self-explanatory one. Nate is going to hang out with some friends and makes fun of Andy when one of his friends calls.
---F) Rushing with Miranda to the James Holt Preview (1:52)
Miranda gets out of traffic and rushes to the preview and she lets Andy on the elevator! Andy tries to talk to her but stops. A storm of her models follows.
---G) Andy Waiting for “The Book” (1:10)
Andy waits to receive the book that she will deliver to Miranda’s house. She sits in Miranda’s chair and then makes fun of her.
---H) Sleepless Night After Delivering The Book (2:02)
Andy fails at delivering the book then has a sleepless night, nothing to great here.
---I) Desperate to get the Potter Manuscript in Starbucks
Miranda gives Andy the ultimatum for the book. Andy is in a Starbucks and calls people for the book. She gets depressed then starts handing out the Starbucks she just got on the street. Interesting note that Meryl’s daughter is the Starbucks barista in her first film role, that was cut. Popular homeless guy, Radio Man, is there, too.
---J) Dressing for the Benefit With Nigel (0:35)
Nigel and Andy prepare for the benefit with Nigel telling her how to dress.
---K) Spotting Nigel Outside The Benefit (0:29)
Andy arrives and finds Nigel, who likes her dress.
---L) Miranda’s Entrance at The Benefit (0:55)
Miranda makes her entrance which brings Emily to tears.
---M) When Do We Eat? (1:39)
Miranda’s husband shows up and wonders when they eat at this benefit, then makes fun of one of Miranda’s associates and Andy makes the save to Miranda’s delight.
---N) Leaving for Work While Nate Sleeps (0:35)
After Andy misses Nate’s birthday, she leaves in the morning while he still sleeps the next day and doesn’t say bye to him.
---O) Andy Sees Her Hotel Suite in Paris (0:56)
Andy sees her suite and sees her room, which is amazing.
4) Gag Reel (5:09)
This is a gag reel. You see people fall, mess up lines and all other “funny” things.
5) Trailers and TV Spots
---A) The Devil Wears Prada Theatrical Trailer (2:56)
This is one long trailer. It really just plays three minutes straight of the scene where Andy goes on her interview. That trailer sucked.
---B) The Illusionist (2:29)
This is the cousin of Prestige in that it is a magic movie that came out around the same times. I don’t think it got as rave reviews as the former.
---C) In Her Shoes TV Spot (0:33)
Commercial for a really good movie.
---D) The Family Stone TV Spot (0:34)
A commercial for a not so good movie.
---E) The Devil Wears Prada Soundtrack Promo (0:19)
The soundtrack that set the world on fire. Well, not really.
B) Audio/Video
I usually opt for Fullscreen but this was on sale for $4 and so widescreen it was, in glorious 1.33:1 ratio. The audio is presented in 5.1 Dolby Surround. It’s a nice transfer but its just a standard chick-flick dramedy.
C) Packaging / Liner Notes
This comes with a slipcase and the only liner notes are ads for other Twentieth Century Fox movies.
D) Easter Eggs
None that I could find.
Overall Review
1:33 of previews start the disc (Just My Luck, My Super Ex-Girlfriend and John Tucker Must Die). This was another of my famous Black Friday 2007 purchases (along with Click, Ghostbuster 1 & 2 set and DaVinci Code) and to shell out only 4 singles for a decent movie you can’t go wrong. Other than that, if you are paying more than say $12 for this, I would say stay away. The movie is fine, I mentioned it in the review above, and the extras don’t introduce anything groundbreaking, things that I don’t feel are essential viewing to the movie that expands upon it at all. The deleted scenes were deleted for a reason, the commentary was average, the featurettes weren’t terribly interesting and in the end you have a good array of extras which coupled with a decent movie makes this collection just above average, and honestly that is higher than I thought it would be when I bought it.
Overall Rating
6.5
10.0 Perfect
9.0-9.5 Near Perfect, Highly Recommended
8.0-8.5 Really good disc, Recommended
7.0-7.5 Good DVD, Mildly recommended
6.0-6.5 Above Average DVD. Mildest of mild recommendations
5.0-5.5 Decent all around disc, but catch it on TV
4.0-4.5 Great Movie but horrible DVD
3.0-3.5 Horrible movie but great DVD
2.0-2.5 There’s at least some merit to this DVD, but not much.
1.0-1.5 Horrible DVD, don’t even bother
0.0-0.5 Worst DVD ever
|
