It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph.
-Edmund Burke
Through a combination of circumstances that was rather unusual, I ended up watching The Devil Wears Prada with my father at the Phoenix Cinema around midnight.
Prior to seeing the film, I never really understood the virulence with which some people and groups reject the superficiality and extravagance of capitalism. As a result of the film, I now feel more as though I understand the various revolutionaries of the twentieth century and before who sought to smash this wasteful and myopic parasite within society.
Thankfully, the film itself was probably a misrepresentation. In reality, those people with intelligence and resources must be concerned with the millions dying of AIDS, the dangers of nuclear war, increasing authoritarianism in Russia, climate change, and all the rest. Mustn’t they?
That’s really funny Milan, because I haven’t seen the movie but the book was absolute shit in every way possible; plot, quality of writing, message.
I don’t think it made any kind of statement at all about superficiality, consumerism, or capitalism. The chick switches from wearing Banana Republic and Gap to Dior and Chanel, big fucking deal.
Seriously, reading that book in September actually motivated me to work on my own writing because if that girl can get published at 25…there is no reason why I can’t. Could it be that the movie is actually better than the book?
Also, I just can’t picture you and your father saying “Oh, let’s go check out Devil Wears Prada”…calling upon your inner 13-year-olds? ;)
Kerrie,
The film didn’t make any direct point about superficiality or consumerism. It mirrored it’s subject matter in pointlessness and decadence.
Also, I just can’t picture you and your father saying “Oh, let’s go check out Devil Wears Prada”…calling upon your inner 13-year-olds? ;)
My father misread the schedule. We thought ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ was playing.
Thank God you are allowed to drink beer in the Phoenix cinema.
What a shame – Little Miss Sunshine would have been a much better use of your time. It is marvelous, full of dark humour and unexpected events.
Devil Wears Prada (movie) made me angry, in much the same way that the books Shopaholic, Brigit Jones, and Nanny Diaries made me angry. I haven’t read the Prada book, because of reviews like Kerrie’s – thank you.
I would be very interested to know what shiver of the universe shook you and your dad into watching this instead of abandoning the cinema plan. I did end up watching a matinee showing of this with a friend some weeks back (leaving me entirely untempted by the book). If I had any inkling you might be considering watching it, I would have done my utmost to persuade you to select another plan for the evening.
The story is appallingly ‘lite’ , the movie only really of interest to those trying to find some consensus choice for a group iwht a high proportion of female clothes-fiends. Anne Hathaway is an OK actress for the girlie-zone-only movies I generally avoid. Meryl Streep’s performance I actually liked, possibly because she was playing such a repulsive character.
The [virulent] enthusiasm with which people embraced extreme superficiality and extravagance makes watching this movie a revolting experience.
Of course by the end of it, having sampled the compromising world of fashion, the main character has learned vital lessons:
1. that employees should respond to bullying managers by going that extra mile; if you aren’t appreciated, you just haven’t tried hard enough.
2. that (if female) self-respect requires you to stay in four-inch heels on all occasions and dress well outside your means. (Oh – forgot, ‘lose weight no matter how slim you are.’)
3. if you’re attractive enough, near-total strangers cna be depended upon to voluntarily leak confidential material for even a slim chance of sleeping with you.
As a remedy, watch ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (if you have an opportunity). Although not the greatest movie, it is beautifully done (although the subtitles could be improved).
Just realized that what my inner marcher would like to see as an extra on the DVD release: an option which gives pop-up information on the clothes and accessories in each scene as the film plays, comprising the purchase price, profit margin and an estimate of what that could provide if spent on a (specified) worthy cause. Also cumulative figures for these and for the costs of making of the film itself along the bottom of the screen, with comparison of course.