I just rewatched The Devil Wears Prada last night, after not having seen it for years. I love the way you explain it. Meryl Streep can do anything.
The love relationship between an older “mentor” and a younger woman: I’ve been on both sides of that one. It’s so important, and so under-represented, as you said.
and am struck by the contrast between how her friends describe her and her behavior outside of the friendship realm (dispicable overall, IMHO). So I found your analysis of the love relationship in the movie fascinating. xo
I was thrilled to see your photo of the horseshoe crabs on the beach, and laughed out loud at the comparison to commuters waiting for a train. My mother's people were from Sag Harbor, and as a child we made regular sojourns from N.J. to visit my grandparents and spend time walking along the bayside and oceanside sands of Long Island. My mother loved horseshoe crabs...I think because they were so ancient and weird looking. My brother and I brought many a seagull-picked shell home on the train back to N.J., where we would let them dry out and stage them in various formations. Even today, I thrill at the sight of one, which sadly for me has become quite rare. Thanks for stirring up this memory for me! Also, thanks for mentioning Merle Hoffman's book. I was not familiar with it...just ordered!
Narcissists who have power wield their spells over those who can be manipulated. It’s definitely a film about wanting to be loved and accepted by someone incapable of loving anything, including themselves. Meryl Streep did such a remarkable job capturing the essence of this disorder. I do not think this type of female character has often been depicted this way though. The audience also becomes spell bound by the narcissist and her molding of the Anne Hathaway character into a plaything who begins to become an extension of Streep. Fun analysis! Thank you.
I have only seen part of The Devil Wears Prada as a movie, but I gather it differs quite a bit from the book in terms of that central relationship. In the book, Miranda is simply abusive, and Andy never likes or admires her, or even really wants her approval--she's just aiming for the finish line that she has been told will lead to her dream job. She is beguiled by a few perks of that world, but mostly she's just white-knuckling her way through the year. I read it as a story of dealing with excessively powerful people from a powerless position, and the compromises and sacrifices you make, and the point where you decide the compromises and sacrifices just aren't worth it. It's a good study of just how much BS powerful people can get away with, and how our society really leans into that master-servant dynamic.
Oh, sure. I just thought the contrast between the two versions was fascinating, how a movie of a book becomes its own thing that can be so different. My apologies if this was too much of a tangent.
Here’s a proposition if you like: you watch the movie through, you read what I’ve written again and try to stay in the uncomfortable space of contemplating ambivalence that can’t be resolved and human behavior that is spared the simplifying labels “victim,” “hero,” or “villain.”
I just rewatched The Devil Wears Prada last night, after not having seen it for years. I love the way you explain it. Meryl Streep can do anything.
The love relationship between an older “mentor” and a younger woman: I’ve been on both sides of that one. It’s so important, and so under-represented, as you said.
I'm listening to Amy Odell's biography of Wintour (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Anna/Amy-Odell/9781982122645)
and am struck by the contrast between how her friends describe her and her behavior outside of the friendship realm (dispicable overall, IMHO). So I found your analysis of the love relationship in the movie fascinating. xo
I think it's a far weirder movie than it appears to be . . . although it may not know it. xxL
Will watch it again when I finish the book. Maybe. xo
I was thrilled to see your photo of the horseshoe crabs on the beach, and laughed out loud at the comparison to commuters waiting for a train. My mother's people were from Sag Harbor, and as a child we made regular sojourns from N.J. to visit my grandparents and spend time walking along the bayside and oceanside sands of Long Island. My mother loved horseshoe crabs...I think because they were so ancient and weird looking. My brother and I brought many a seagull-picked shell home on the train back to N.J., where we would let them dry out and stage them in various formations. Even today, I thrill at the sight of one, which sadly for me has become quite rare. Thanks for stirring up this memory for me! Also, thanks for mentioning Merle Hoffman's book. I was not familiar with it...just ordered!
This is a fantastic comment, and you can really write!
Narcissists who have power wield their spells over those who can be manipulated. It’s definitely a film about wanting to be loved and accepted by someone incapable of loving anything, including themselves. Meryl Streep did such a remarkable job capturing the essence of this disorder. I do not think this type of female character has often been depicted this way though. The audience also becomes spell bound by the narcissist and her molding of the Anne Hathaway character into a plaything who begins to become an extension of Streep. Fun analysis! Thank you.
Thanks for your comment and for reading and enjoying the posts. Much appreciated.
It is always a treat to read your thoughts on the world, including movies. Enjoyed your take on Nyad too!
Have you seen Last Night In SoHo? I would love to hear your thoughts on that one. It’s an imperfect film but fascinating nonetheless.
I’ll look for it. Thanks.
I have only seen part of The Devil Wears Prada as a movie, but I gather it differs quite a bit from the book in terms of that central relationship. In the book, Miranda is simply abusive, and Andy never likes or admires her, or even really wants her approval--she's just aiming for the finish line that she has been told will lead to her dream job. She is beguiled by a few perks of that world, but mostly she's just white-knuckling her way through the year. I read it as a story of dealing with excessively powerful people from a powerless position, and the compromises and sacrifices you make, and the point where you decide the compromises and sacrifices just aren't worth it. It's a good study of just how much BS powerful people can get away with, and how our society really leans into that master-servant dynamic.
I wrote about the movie, not the book. I wrote about subjects that interest me. They don’t need to interest you.
Oh, sure. I just thought the contrast between the two versions was fascinating, how a movie of a book becomes its own thing that can be so different. My apologies if this was too much of a tangent.
Here’s a proposition if you like: you watch the movie through, you read what I’ve written again and try to stay in the uncomfortable space of contemplating ambivalence that can’t be resolved and human behavior that is spared the simplifying labels “victim,” “hero,” or “villain.”