Gird Your Loins. The Devil Wears Prada is 10!
Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 12:00PM Gird your loins.
We really had meant to do The Devil Wears Prada anniversary up big but the month got away from us. Today, 10 years ago, The Devil Wears Prada opened in theaters as counterprogramming and blew up, becoming one of 2006's biggest hits and endearing La Streep to a whole new generation of fans. Sadly she didn't win her third Oscar then (it would have solved so many problems later on. Plus, more importantly, she deserved it!). Because time slipped away from us, and tales of our incompetence do not interest her, we present this classic from the old site on this special occasion.
My flight has been cancelled... "
10. How incredulous and put-out she sounds without even raising her voice. The way she says "school" when referencing her kids recital which she's desperate to attend is giggle worthy, too. So childish. Translation 'How could such a thing happen to the center of the universe... me?'
There you are Emily. How many times do I have to scream your name?"
09. 'Actually my name is Andrea.' Oh shut it Hathaway. She doesn't care. She will call you what she likes and you'll come running...
Streep's double-sided reaction to this interruption is A+ perfect. She's almost delighted that someone is talking back to her -- the novelty! -- stifling an awkard smile/laugh. But then immediately reasserts control with a list of demands...
The silent hanging punchline is pure genius. "And Emily..."
I agree. No business tonight. Enjoy"
08. I couldn't include only her bitchiest quips! Thrown by the appearance of her rival Jacqueline, Streep gives us just a peak at Miranda's vulnerability in the gala sequence. Her boss doesn't want to discuss her cryptic reference to a note. She acquiesces by pouring the charm on a little too thickly, a little too needily. Everyone has a boss... even bosses from hell.
And you can do anything... right?"
07. She wants the Harry Potter unpublished manuscript for her twin daughters. Normally Miranda's bitchy lobs are masked as power displays or excusable from a certain kind of 'Do your job' angle. But this time she's pissed. This one is a direct and purposefully impossible challenge. It's a gauntlet thrown down. For once she doesn't pretend otherwise.
The truth is there is no one who can do what I do."
06. This line is uttered in the middle of her final monologue in which she is both rationalizing her own actions and chastising Andie on her holier-than-thou perch. The line is true enough of the character. But it's also not directed at the woman she's speaking too but to herself. It's a pep talk for a narrow escape from the competitors nipping at her heels.
And yes, the line is also true enough of the actress.
You have no sense of style or fashion... No, no. That wasn't a question."
05. This isn't the first laugh Streep wrings from the lengthy opening act interview scene which introduces all four principals but it's her first "joke" in the movie as Andie's (Anne Hathaway) interview wraps up. I still remember the peals of laughter in the theater.
Why is no one reh-dee?"
AND
By all means move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me."
04. So quotable. These two lines are fraternal twins though they are separated by the bulk of the movie. They both spin their comedy from Miranda's exasperated and exasperating impatience. The second impatient quip is uttered when she is at her weakest, determined to work and succeed even in the face of another divorce. The breathy weariness that she employs when annoyed is suddenly not an affectation but the reality.
This...stuff?"
3. (aka the "Cerulean" monologue)
This whole speech, in which Priestley schools her clueless new assistant, is gold. We've written about it before. What's truly remarkable about the scene, which I'd name as the best in the film, is that it's madly multitasking. It brings all four principles together and underlines their place in the narrative while showing us not just workplace politics but actual work (a rare site in movies!). It's a showboating monologue that doesn't interrupt the flow of the storytelling but is the story.
We already know that Miranda Priestely is an über bitch and a major success, but suddenly we're forced into reconsidering our own ideas about the value of what she does and why she's so good at it; it's not just Andie's education but ours. Miranda is working during the whole speech -- "I think we need a jacket here" -- and teaching us the business. The speech, beautifully written and exceptionally delivered, is actually full of hostility and condescencion but somehow we emerge from the other end of it not hating being dressed down but enjoying our own comeuppance. Plus it's "sort of comical" to borrow from the fashionista headmistress herself.
That's all."
02. It's not that it's her signature catchphrase. It's that each and every time those two syllables slip from her mouth, they carry different weight and meaning. And yet, it's never so simple an actor's trick as varying the punctuation mark. "That's all" is always quiet and simple like a period. It's never an exclamation point, question mark, or even ellipses. So how does she do it? We don't know. It's a magic trick from a seasoned confident showman. Professional magicians don't give away their best secrets.
So often they turn out to be dissapointing and... stupid."
AND
I said to myself 'Go ahead. Take a chance. Hire the smart fat girl.'"
01. These twin lines in which she brutally crushes both Emily (stupid) and Andie (fat) are SO mean. But the brillance of Meryl's delivery is that though the text is actually about Miranda admitting fault the delivery is anything but that. She's coddling herself throughout, gently coaxing herself to 'take a chance' and forgiving herself by blaming both assistants. The self regard is as tall as the office building and as transparent as the glass behind her. It's funny, too.
Listen, it's true that any number of actresses would have been great fun in this role. But Meryl Streep isn't just playing the caricature but a character. She's finds abundant shade and multiple gradations of color. Other actresses would have been blue; Meryl Streep is turquoise, lapis and cerulean.
Reader Comments (25)
I love your love for this performance and agree with mostly everything,just one scene I think she overplayed,i won't mention it,That last look in the car then another exasperated "Drive" line reading,great great piece.
How would the Oscar landscape have played out if Meryl on in 2006as apposedto Mirren who actually gets worse on repeated viewings,it's on UK Tv all the time..
Meryl's Miranda Priestly is F-L-A-W-L-E-S-S.
And the hotel room scene might be her best ever. Maybe even more intense then the choice scene in Sophie's choice. And it was only written on Meryl's demand, just like the court room scene in Kramer vs. Kramer.
I just bow down to her.
Thank god she didn't turn down this iconic role!
I need to watch this again. Thanks for the reminder.
This might be on like once per week on Bravo or FX channels and I will watch it every single time.
One of the most rewatchable films of the '00s, and Meryl is a HUGE reason why. It's interesting that after this performance, which shot her back into the limelight, she delivered a string of warmly comic performances that couldn't have been more different from Miranda Priestley.
As a companion piece:
"Oh, shut up, it's not that long!"
As much praise as Streep deserves for fleshing out this character, I don't think Aline Brosh McKenna will ever get the credit she deserves for that SCREENPLAY. You read Miranda's best lines and remember them, not just because of Streep's delivery but because there was so much richness and subtlety on the page.
Sigh, I wish she won for this as well. I would have preferred any of the other nominees over Mirren, not that she was bad. I'll never understand how she steamrolled that year, I guess people just wanted her to have an Oscar. Great set of nominees.
I think the Cerulean monologue should be #1. I still say both lines from your #4 choice on a regular basis.
How is it that when critics, film buffs, bloggers, etc. are asked to make up a list of best films of the decade or this century they all swarm in with Big Drama picks but never go for comedy ???
The Devil Wears Prada and Mean Girls are two of the best written and best acted comedies of that decade.
And I love Meryl's performance - so nuanced and fun to watch.
Just think back in the 80's people actually thought that Streep couldn't do comedy.
Her most fun performance after Postcards from the Edges.
LOVE her and this performance so much.
"Everyone wants to be us." Indeed Meryl.
My favourite line is:
"Did you fall down and smack your little head on the pavement?"
(I think that's correct)
I sometimes say it to my students and they love it. As well as "That's All"
Love this movie- I can not stop re-watching it
The film that proved that Meryl Streep is indeed...... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and also make Anne Hathaway more than just a Princess and gave Americans a proper introduction to Emily Blunt.
"Is there some reason that my coffee isn't here? Has she DIED or something?"
La Streep. #ThatsAll
I also love this movie. Another classic in Meryl's formidable canon from this era, like Angels in America. It's hard to imagine we did not know Emily Blunt before this film, and now she is a major player. The Prada movie is hugely entertaining and pure pleasure to watch. It nails what is great, fun, terrifying and frivolous all at once about high fashion.
Love it. It would have been so easy to cast - oh I dunno, Jennifer Lopez, and have her shriek every line, but Streep is so, so perfect in the role. I wish she'd won the Oscar, too, from one of the best best actress line-ups ever (although I think at the time I was volleying between Streep and Cruz, Cruz at least ended up winning for a great performance until The Iron Lady).
I still quote "by all means, move at a glacial pace. you know how that thrills me."
LadyEdith: I LOVE me some Blood and Ice Cream. The World's End is probably going to end up somewhere in my top 10 films of the 2010s.
Give Meryl this Oscar, Viola the one in 2011, and Mirren the one in 2001 and everyone is happy.
Except Jennifer Connelly.
But is she ever REALLY happy?
Classic film, classic performance. This movie created a whole new generation of Streep fans.
Volvagia - well done you, I might go with Shaun of the Dead myself, but I love the entire 'Cornetto Trilogy'.
Comedies so beloved, but not respected enough to make top 10/100 lists.
Silly lists.
One of my favourite Streep performances, though I prefer both Cruz and Dench from 2006's nominees and the un-nominated Gyllenhaal (WHAT A YEAR).
I rewatch the film constantly, even though I kind of despise Lauren Weisberger and her worldview - that Hathaway still doesn't completely offend me is testament to how good she is in her role. To quote Kate Betts - "Andrea ... is just as much a snob as the snobs she is thrown in with"
I also adore that Blunt got a BAFTA nomination for this.
Thanks for this, Nathaniel although one of my favourites is missing from the list. It's the "Go!" from her last scene.
Love this film. It's so much better than the book. It's also my 60 year old father's favourite MS film although he would never admit it. He always watches it when it happens to be on tv... I loved how she brought the character back (in a way) while accepting the Golden Globe for the film.
I wonder if maybe the reason the screenplay doesn't get more credit is because it's only the workplace stuff that works. All the scenes with Andie's friends and boyfriend are terrible. Who are these terrible people who don't understand that Andie has a demanding job like, oh, a billion other people in their 20's (and 30's, and 40's...)? It's pushing so hard for conflict and doesn't really work at all. Whenever I re-watch this movie I skip the parts that don't have to do with the magazine.
DJDeeJay: exactly. I remember just hating Andie's hypocritical, holier-than-thou friends: "With friends like these," I thought, "Who needs mothers?" Altho the movie is very enjoyable and Streep's performance is an instant classic, as a whole TDWP still only earns a B-to-B+ from me, due to the pat feel of its Lessons Must Be Learned script. Streep and her talented costars (particularly Blunt) clearly elevated the material.
"Other actresses would have been blue; Meryl Streep is turquoise, lapis and cerulean." LOVE