Hello friendship! How’s it going? It’s been two months now since I last posted here: turns out there’s nothing to put you off writing for a while than writing every day. Who knew.
Things are generally chugging along nicely here in Seoul: still employed, sometimes we’re actually allowed to see people now, I take a ceramics class. All positive stuff. Though, annoyingly, my body has decided that now is just the absolute PERFECT time for a stinking cold, because, you know, I’ve been getting arrogant with all my open sinuses and deep breathing. So a weekend that was supposed to involve clay and hanging out with friends is so far one where a trip to the pharmacy winded me and I’ve been sat down ever since. I know I know, the fun never stops.
As one does when one is bunged up, with an internal temperature fluctuating more than a UK government stance on Covid (ooh, topical), I decided to watch a comforting movie. Given that lately I’ve been really getting into fashion/make up history videos on YouTube (Mina Le and Raissa Bretaña are my go-tos), and I also fancied something where someone else has an infernal bug like me, there was only one choice. Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the stage: The Devil Wears Prada.
If you grew up in the West in the 2000s, or ever had access to ITVs 2,3 and 4, there’s a good chance you are as familiar with this movie. This 2006 classic tells the archetypal fashion magazine story: dowdy writer Anne Hathaway (HA! Anne Hathaway- dowdy?!) manages to land a job at definitely-not-Vogue magazine Runway, assisting the ruthless, demanding, definitely-not-Anna-Wintour Meryl Streep. This movie was one I was so familiar with that it took quite a while to realise that I’d never watched it all the way through: I’d just pieced it together from seeing so many parts so often. I’ve long since fixed this heinous error, and today, I thought I would gift the zero people who asked for it, my commentary on said movie. If you’ve got a foul cold and/or nothing to do, maybe it will give you a little smile, like Miranda’s at the end of the film. Enjoy:
KT Tunstall with that one song she had that is literally the mid 2000s in music.
Every film should manditorily include a getting ready montage.
To KT Tunstall.
Now I'm no glamour puss but come on Andy at least brush your hair.
Oh WOW those booties!!
Love how they try to paint Andy, living in a nice-looking area in a flat with a boyfriend, as much more down and dirty than the other applicants, who have the same lifestyle, just with nicer hair.
Oh OK she's a normal, she gets the subway.
One of the best character entrances in history.
"GURD YOUR LOINS!"- epic.
Ugh, Meryl Streep. Everything.
Yeah there have already been about 3 fat phobicy moments. I know it's kind of taking the piss out of that but still.
"No no, that wasn't a question."- so calm, yet so savage.
As is...
"That's all."
"I am not skinny".....errrr, yeah you are Anne.
Andy's bf maybe hot, but literally his first line is insulting her fashion sense. Douche canoe.
Jump by Madonna- the soundtrack so far is all killer no filler.
People with specific fussy coffee orders- may I recommend tea? #british
Oh Emily, what beautiful green eyeshadow you have!
"Could you please spell Gabbana"
That look up and DOWN god Meryl was having fun.
"Some hideous skirt convention you have to go to?" This film is hit after hit.
OK the jokes about women who like fashion not eating anything are......mmm.
"That's what this multi-billion dollar industry is all about anyway isn't it: 'inner beauty'". Stanley Tucci, queen.
IT'S THE BLUE SWEATER SCENE EVERYBODY STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I love how huge supermodels are just bit parts in this movie.
Fashion: it's actually a thing that matters. Miranda Priestley- mic drop.
Emily Blunt's eye makeup is on point. Inspiration for us gingers.
Her hair was also gorgeous in that last scene. Swept back. Lovely.
I really love how Anne Hathaway is supposed to be in any way not pretty. Her face is like a Victorian Pre-Raphaelite painting.
WHAT is that phone she has??
OMG Miranda has a silver Motorola Razr? Iconic.
WOW MIRANDA'S GOLD LAYERED NECKLACE AND HOOPS COMBO. WOWWW.
And her burgundy pumps. God I love clothes and sparkly things.
This film almost makes you forget how trash most 2000s fashion was. If only it were all from this film.
"You are not trying. You are whining." Me to about a third of my students.
Makeovermakeovermakeovermakeovermakeover
Let me play in the fashion cupboard let me playyyyyyy
Slow-mo walk in and hair flip to reveal the makeover's full extent- welcome to a film marketed to women in the 2000s.
Vogue by Madonna- but of course.
Love the green, leopard-print fur-lined coat there Andy.
Hate the stupid little hats though.
I really hate stupid little hats.
Andy gives all her friends expensive gifts, and THEN they act like dicks to her for giving a fuck about her job?
I know everyone talks about how much her friends suck, this is probably why.
James Holt wearing a deep purple jacket with a blue jumper, green shirt and purple tie? Bravo sir.
Andy why would you believe Miranda's shitty twins??
"Wish me luck"
"No. Shan't"
English people.
The first time we actually see a fashion shoot in this film and it is SO America's Next Top Model.
THE CONFERENCE ROOM SCENE WITH MY FAVOURITE LINE OF THE WHOLE DAMN MOVIE!!!!
"Florals. For Spring.
Groundbreaking."
That line is better than like, anything in a Bond film.
Emily having a savage cold- I can relaaaaaaaaate.
Hooowwww many times have people whispered "I love my job" repeatedly whilst staring steely-faced into their screen.
Nope, just me?
ANOTHER fat joke about Anne Hathaway. I know the whole point is to show the absurdity of the fashion world, but, believe me, it won't always be read like that by teenage femmes.
"One stomach full away from my goal weight". No no no, a no from me. No.
Meryl's earrrrrrrrrrrrrrings. Citrine and silver? Yes please!
Anne Hathaway made us all think that heavy, blunt bangs would work for us.
Why did you do that Anne?
Another one of those horrible puffy, brimmed hats! WHYYYYY?
Looked them up, apparently they are called 'newsboy' hats.
Hate. Hate. Double hate. Looooathe entirely.
If you own a newsboy hat, may I suggest throwing it away?
God, yet another gorgeous coat from Miranda there. Love the shape.
So one of Andy's friends is a photographer, and her boyfriend is a chef. Both of these are creatively based jobs, where it is known and commonplace that you have to put in a lot of hours and work in unreasonable conditions. If anything, these two people should have more sympathy and understanding for her situation.
Wow Nate. Calling her out for a lack of integrity, and in the same breath being annoyed that she DOESN'T mock the industry she works in anymore?
Fuck you chef boy.
Paris montage. Yis.
Wow the dresses in that fashion show were....er...very 2000s.
"By all means, move at a glacial pace, you know how that thrills me". - Me behind slow-walking people in public. All. The. Time.
OK, it is officially annoying that this film equates caring about fashion with directly not caring about "deeper" things. Style vs substance kinda deal. Wasn't the earlier point of this whole movie that style CAN BE substance?
Anyway. As you were.
Is there a legal quota of 'rustic charm' that every Parisian French restaurant must have?
The gloves. The skirt. The tiny gold bag. The blinged out necklace. Andy you have truly glown up. Quiet Microsoft, that is totally a real word.
OK now I FINALLY understand the double-cross at the end.
Only took like, 15 years.
Throwing the phone into the fountain is cool and all but like, wasn't that her only phone?
This movie would be so, sooo much closer to perfect if she just ditched Nate. I mean, look how legit happy she was for him when HE flew to another city to get a dream job!
Prick.
Emily ending the movie with blue eyeshadow that's almost as lit as the green. Bravo.
The power of the Streep. Ending a movie with a smile.
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