The Devil Wears Prada

Tags

2000's, Adrian Grenier, Anne Hathaway, Comedy, David Frankel, Drama, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Simon Baker, Stanley Tucci, The Devil Wears Prada

Film Title

The Devil Wears Prada

Director

David Frankel

Starring

• Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly
• Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs
• Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton
• Stanley Tucci as Nigel
• Adrian Grenier as Nate
• Simon Baker as Christian Thompson

An amusing comedy drama about a young woman’s journey in the world of fashion under the boss from hell, The Devil Wears Prada gets laughs and some surprising dramatic weight. As formulaic as some of it is, it is still a very funny satire on the fashion industry, benefiting from a talented cast.

Andy Sachs is a fresh-faced college graduate who wants to be a journalist and is just out of university. An opportunity comes knocking in a strange way, after not having much luck in finding work. She is in turn recommended a job working at  Runway, a New York fashion magazine headed by the notorious and commanding editor in chief Miranda Priestly. She is to be the junior assistant to her, which is a job so many people would give their lives for. Although she has no interest in fashion or the whole scene that she views as shallow, she gets the job unexpectedly. Yet Andy is totally unprepared for what she’ll have to deal with while being assistant to the very high-powered Miranda. What she finds is that Miranda is no walk in the park, but an extremely demanding and at times vicious boss. Having to complete the various, seemingly impossible tasks that Miranda sets her proves to be a severe challenge to someone as wide-eyed as Andy. Andy doesn’t fit in with anyone particularly, not least the snippy senior assistant Emily. Yet with the help of art director Nigel( which includes a glamorous makeover) and adopting of a different attitude towards the industry, Andy starts to succeed and surprisingly get ahead at work. She believes that lasting a year working under the dominating Miranda will be good for references and open doors to her dream. Yet as Andy gets further sucked into the world that she initially disdained, she is forced to confront the fact that her integrity is slipping and that she is rapidly changing into something she never thought she would. Her love life with chef boyfriend Nate begins to sour and she begins to alienate herself from her closest friends, as a result of being at Miranda’s beck and call. But is survival working for Miranda worth sacrificing all for?

David Frankel has a stylish approach to the material, imbued with the right amount of humour and character. I wouldn’t say his direction in The Devil Wears Prada is anything awe-inspiring, but it gets the job done efficiently and with care. Interest does lag within a few scenes that go on for too long( and the main men in Andy’s life don’t particularly give much to the plot of the film). The catty one liners and frequently hilarious events make up for that however, getting your interest as we glimpse a behind the scenes look at a glamorous yet dog eat dog world. Seriously some of the dialogue is priceless in how it skewers the fashion industry and culture, while allowing the relatable but difficult journey for Andy that threatens to overtake her, to feature added depth to the largely funny flick. The look at how easily one can lose themselves in something and feel they have no choice but to oblige is rendered well; owing to the way the script gives measured nuance and surprising insight. Sometimes the film only scratches the surface of what wants to get to in the odd slip, but the satirical edge and stylish glitz are more than sufficient at keeping things in a way that feels fresh for us to enjoy. And like any movie dealing with clothing and image, The Devil Wears Prada is a super stylish and glossy film. From montages to bright colours, it has magazine ready finish from the get go. And while some will say it is just a chick flick, The Devil Wears Prada can equally be enjoyed by men. It’s an all round fun time to be had here in a high glamour world that’s as funny as it is stinging. I mean the while boss from hell plot is a definitely amusing one that I’m sure many people can recall similar situations in their own lives, with less outrageousness I’m sure but you know what I mean. A fashionable soundtrack briskly keeps the film on its course with some great songs to groove to.

Meryl Streep completely steals the show as the demanding and commanding Miranda. Possessing a glacial demeanor and a certain regal poise, she creates a character who may be a tyrannical, but is still quite unexpectedly human despite her frostiness. Miranda both inspires fear and awe within the film and the audience, with Meryl Streep steering her away from just being a wicked caricature. What we get instead of a one-dimensional part is one that is frequently ruthless yet not above revealing a hidden vulnerability, in a nuanced way that Streep effortlessly portrays. Miranda doesn’t need to raise her voice to make a point; a simple purse of the lips, look up and down or a cutting, deadpan remark is enough to reduce anyone to a pile of quivering nerves. A scary, fascinating, darkly funny and fabulous character is brought to life with measured shading and conviction by the always excellent Meryl Streep. Anne Hathaway delightfully portrays the inexperience and uncertainty of Andy, tempered with an intelligence and feeling of doubt over what she can achieve. Hathaway has an inborn sensitivity and vulnerability that I’ve noticed in many of her performances, that is used excellently to make Andy a conflicted yet relatable heroine the audience wants to help. I mean how can you not have sympathy for this girl, going through the motions and figuring out just what she wants to do? Her sheer awkwardness and coltish appearance is rendered nicely by Hathaway, who refuses to make the character a brainless girl.  Emily Blunt gets a whole of laughs in her role of minion to Miranda, whose neurotic and desperation to please provide hysterical desperation and scintillating, bitchy sassiness. Splendid and side-splitting support comes from Stanley Tucci as the confidante, who instructs Andy in how best to approach her job and how Miranda is not above rewarding loyalty, in her own roundabout way of course. Tucci though is the only guy in the film who is actually given something good to do. Adrian Grenier and Simon Baker are left stumbling and with little in the way of material to work with.

So for all the contrivances in the film and how it can seem predictable, The Devil Wears Prada boasts a high entertaining factor, finding humour and pathos from a cast headed by an imperious Meryl Streep and how the whole fashion world is a place of survival. A biting yet somehow sweet engaging and humorous film is what The Devil Wears Prada emerges is, which brings out big enjoyable laughs for the viewer.

Valentine’s Day

Tags

2010's, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Bradley Cooper, Bryce Robinson, Carter Jenkins, Emma Roberts, Eric Dane, Garry Marshall, George Lopez, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Julia Roberts, Kathy Bates, Patrick Dempsey, Queen Latifah, Romantic Comedy, Shirley MacLaine, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Topher Grace, Valentine's Day

Film Title

Valentine’s Day

Director

Garry Marshall

Starring

• Jessica Alba as Morley Clarkson
• Kathy Bates as Susan Moralez
• Jessica Biel as Kara Monahan
• Bradley Cooper as Holden Wilson
• Eric Dane as Sean Jackson
• Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Harrison Copeland
• Hector Elizondo as Edgar Paddington
• Jamie Foxx as Kelvin Moore
• Jennifer Garner as Julia Fitzpatrick
• Topher Grace as Jason Morris
• Anne Hathaway as Liz Curran
• Carter Jenkins as Alex
• Ashton Kutcher as Reed Bennett
• Queen Latifah as Paula Thomas
• Taylor Lautner as Willy Harrington
• George Lopez as Alphonso Rodriguez
• Shirley MacLaine as Estelle Paddington
• Emma Roberts as Grace Smart
• Julia Roberts as Capt. Kate Hazeltine
• Bryce Robinson as Edison
• Taylor Swift as Felicia

I was saddened yesterday to read of Garry Marshall’s death. He was a prolific director, producer and writer, who had a long and interesting career. One area he really succeeded in was directing romantic comedies and that is why I am going to review the all-star Valentine’s Day. I was planning to review this film anyway, but I will dedicate it to Garry Marshall now due to his passing. Anyway, back to the review.

Over the course of Valentine’s Day, the love lives of many residents is explored. Varying from newfound attraction to older couples, blinded love and pining, love seems to be everywhere in this set of interlocking stories. Good-hearted florist Reed Bennett proposes to his pretty girlfriend Morley, who accepts. The day seems to be going amazing for him, yet he soon sees that Morley is having doubts about marriage. His friends Alphonso and schoolteacher Julia stay quiet but aren’t surprised when Morley calls it off as they saw that the couple wasn’t ideally suited. Julia is having a relationship with the dashing Dr. Harrison Copeland, yet he is stringing her along because he is already married which Julia is unaware of. Reed discovers this and wants to help Julia, making him acknowledge that he has harboured feelings for his good friend for a while. Then we have Julia’s other friend publicist Kara, who despises the romantic day due to an unlucky history in love. Yet this could be changed by the equally cynical sports reporter Kelvin Moore, who has been coerced into doing a special on the importance of the day. Older couple Estelle and Edgar Paddington have been married for a long time, but something from the past is bothering Estelle as they contemplate renewing their vows. Kate Hazeltine, an army captain shares a flight with affable Holden and the two become friendly as she tells him that she is returning for one day to see someone special. And there are many more stories that are too many to document because this review would become extremely long-winded otherwise.

Garry Marshall brings his expertise to this sweet and fluffy film. This kind of movie was his bread and butter and his considerable love for the genre is very much apparent. I can’t really fault his direction here as it is well done, though other parts of the film aren’t as assured as Marshall’s direction. Each of these stories links to the next one in some strange way or another, some turning out not like you’d expect. Like with any movie containing an ensemble cast and multiple tales, certain stories are going to rise above others in terms of enjoyment. The best way to describe Valentine’s Day is as a big box of ribbon wrapped chocolates that is full to the brim with sweetness and delight, yet you remember some of the flavours more than others. The Taylor Swift/Taylor Lautner story could have been cut as it contributes nothing whatsoever to the story and the little boy trying to impress his sweetheart feels a bit too similar to one of the links in Love Actually. Then we have a nice story with Julia Roberts and Bradley Cooper talking on a flight back to Los Angeles that isn’t as clichéd as one would originally think. Anyone going into Valentine’s Day thinking it’s going to be something new will be mistaken because the formula of the film is familiar. Yet this isn’t to do the film down, it’s just how many romantic comedies have a story that is generic and been done before? It’s a genre that thrives on stories you’ve seen before and Valentine’s Day is no different in that respect. It’s a surprisingly sweet and funny experience actually and not as bad as many people have made the film out to be. I will admit I can be a sucker for romantic comedies sometimes so my opinion could be biased, but I enjoyed this film, even if the film is guilty of being over busy.

And following on about the film being busy, you have to say that the cast is one attractive bunch of stars. Be prepared readers, it may take some time talking about his massive cast. Ashton Kutcher is probably the person seen the most in Valentine’s Day and he has a real exuberance that shines through in an endearing way. A natural and sweet performance from Jennifer Garner is a nicely cast part, with plenty of humour and heart. Jessica Biel is particularly funny as a woman who holds a I hate Valentine’s Party, but secretly wants some romance in her life that has been elusive so far. Alongside Biel in the humour department there is an amusing Jamie Foxx. Old pros Shirley MacLaine and Hector Elizondo bring warmth and experience to their roles as an older couple having to deal with feelings they weren’t sure of. Anne Hathaway and Topher Grace have good chemistry as a new couple with a hitch, she moonlights as a phone sex operator to pay off bills. Leading to much confusion, the two stars have fun and spark off each other well as they navigate the challenges of love.

Julia Roberts, who is already adept at romantic comedy, is luminous along with Bradley Cooper, in an amiable and funny vignette. Eric Dane and George Lopez fare pretty well with the material they are given. Emma Roberts and Carter Jenkins make their tale funny and a little relatable as they play two students planning to have sex for the first time. Trouble is, it doesn’t go to plan leading to an amusing scene of Jenkins preparing to serenade his beloved wearing nothing but a guitar and being caught by her mother. Kathy Bates is unfortunately reduced to nothing but a cameo which is annoying considering how good Bates is as an actress. The same goes for Queen Latifah who is wasted and not given any opportunity to shine. On the negative side of casting we have Jessica Alba, who despite her beauty, is more than a little bland in her delivery. Young Bruce Robinson is endearing enough as the enamoured young boy wanting to impress a girl he has a crush on. The problem is the story is pretty much a non-starter that never comes to life. Patrick Dempsey plays a love rat with some smoothness that starts to vanish once he’s found out. Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner are pretty poor as a love struck young couple and their story feels like it could have been left on the cutting room floor.

It’s not the best romantic comedy but it’s far from the worst, and Valentine’s Day displays the flair and entertainment value that Garry Marshall had for this sort of thing that will be missed within the genre. Rest in Peace Garry Marshall, may your great spirit live on through your wonderful work.

 

Song One

Tags

2010's, Anne Hathaway, Ben Rosenfield, Drama, Johnny Flynn, Kate Barker-Froyland, Mary Steenburgen, Song One

Film Title

Song One

Director

Kate Barker-Froyland

Starring

• Anne Hathaway as Franny Ellis
• Johnny Flynn as James Forrester
• Mary Steenburgen as Karen
• Ben Rosenfield as Henry Ellis

A quiet but stirring little film about the need to reconnect and the healing power of music, Song One delivers emotional viewing with beautiful nuance and natural acting.

Franny Ellis, an anthropology student, has been estranged from her brother Henry for six months following a huge argument surrounding his decision to quit college and try to make his way as a musician. When Henry is rendered comatose in a car accident, Franny returns from working on a study in Morocco to Brooklyn in the hopes of patching things up.Feeling a sense of guilt over the way they parted and all the things she said to him, she begins to recount parts of his life through reading his journal. Retracing his steps and his deep musical passion, she meets James Forrester, a folk musician within the Brooklyn music scene that her brother was a big fan of. Through this meeting and later relationship, Franny begins to face reality and the past mistakes she has made. The growing relationship also benefits James, who has lost inspiration but finds it when Franny walks into his life. Tentatively beginning a burgeoning relationship, the two find that their internal and emotional wounds can be healed through music and understanding even when life throws its worst at them.

Kate Barker-Froyland writes and directs this moving film with personal and observational naturalism. She gives Song One a quietly touching quality that adds to the film’s fresh and sincere look at reactions to tragedy and the attempts to reverse what has already been done. None of the emotions really feel forced or put on; they come from deep within the heart and the results show on screen. What is very refreshing is the relationship that begins to grow between Franny and James. There is a definite undertone of romance in there, but Song One isn’t striving to make a swooning overture of grand love. Instead the core of their partnership is understanding one another and seeing that while they have their flaws and regrets, hope is always there no matter how great the suffering they endure. You can argue that not much happens in Song One, because of its measured pace and subtlety. In actual fact, quite a lot happens in it, it’s just told in a quiet and non histrionic way that gives it something special. The power of music and sound is beautifully observed throughout this movie. As an audience, we see Franny taping sounds from the outside world to play for her brother at his bed side as a way of communication. The choppy editing style in the beginning effectively underscores Franny’s emotional demons and her attempts to overcome them. And as it is a film about music, the suitably folk tinged score from the Brooklyn music scene is very moving to listen to.

Anne Hathaway stunningly portrays Franny with emotional subtlety and shaded nuance. Instead of an excessive display of over emotion, we get to see the gradual repair of her regretful soul through a smile her or a tear there from the talented Hathaway, using her remarkably expressive face to excellent use. Much like Hathaway’s delivery, Johnny Flynn gives his role of James a quiet reticence and undeniable charm. Flynn also showcases his moving musical skills during many important scenes and listening to him singing is indeed something very impressive. The two of them really have great chemistry that makes you believe their relationship. Mary Steenburgen brings an excellent dynamic to the role of Franny’s mother, while Ben Rosenfield, often seen in flashback, luminously illustrates passion and love.

I would wholeheartedly advise you to watch Song One as you won’t regret seeing this quiet little indie gem.

 

 

Les Misérables

Tags

2010's, Aaron Tveit, Amanda Seyfried, Anne Hathaway, Colm Wilkinson, Daniel Huttlestone, Eddie Redmayne, Helena Bonham Carter, Hugh Jackman, Isabelle Allen, Les Misérables, Musical, Russell Crowe, Sacha Baron Cohen, Samantha Barks, Tom Hooper

Film Title

Les Misérables

Director

Tom Hooper

Starring

• Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean
• Russell Crowe as Javert
• Anne Hathaway as Fantine
• Amanda Seyfried as Cosette
• Eddie Redmayne as Marius
• Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier
• Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier
• Samantha Barks as Éponine
• Aaron Tveit as Enjolras
• Isabelle Allen as Young Cosette
• Daniel Huttlestone as Gavroche
• Colm Wilkinson as Bishop Myriel

Based on the well-known musical, which in turn was inspired by Victor Hugo’s epic novel, Les Misérables is a sprawling tale of love, sadness and revolution. Directed by Tom Hooper and boasting a stellar cast, it is a film that won’t disappoint lovers of the musical. It isn’t a film for everyone, but has many positives to talk about, mainly the songs and the strong performances of the cast in this epic story.

The film starts in 1815.  Jean Valjean is a convict who has been serving a 19 year sentence for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving relatives. Jean is granted parole by Javert, a captain who tells him to honor what the parole agreement says or he will be found out sooner or later. Unable to find employment, he takes refuge in a church ran by the kindly Bishop Myriel. In the night, Jean steals his silver but is late reprimanded. Instead of turning him in, the bishop saves Jean and urges him to do something good in his life. Jean Valjean taking this into consideration, decides to break his parole and begin his life again. Eight years later, under a new identity, he is the respected mayor of a French town who also owns a factory. Although seemingly happy with his new existence, he is still haunted by the memory of the obsessive Javert. His fear comes true when Javert arrives in town as the new chief of police. Another thread in Valjean’s story is the tale of a young grisette named Fantine. She is fired from her job in one of his factories after it emerges that she has an illegitimate child named Cosette, who she regularly sends money to as the girl is living with the swindling Thénardiers . Penniless and desperate, the tragic Fantine sells her hair, teeth and eventually her body in order to provide for her daughter. Valjean finds Fantine in the gutter, slowly succumbing to illness. On her deathbed, he promises her he will take care of Cosette. After paying the innkeepers in charge of Cosette, Jean is discovered by the determined Javert. Taking Cosette he narrowly flees from Javert. Nine years later, poverty is rising and rebellion is in the air in Paris.  A now grown up Cosette catches the eye of a young firebrand named Marius, who immediately falls for her. His close friend Éponine, secretly pines for Marius but it is all in vain as he falls for Cosette and revolution starts to grow around them. Heartbreak, emotion-filled songs and an epic sweep all abound as Les Misérables makes the transition from stage to screen with positive results.

The first thing to notice about Les Misérables is the fact that the actors sing live, rather than mime along to a pre-recorded track. In many cases this technique works as it captures the raw emotion of the character’s feelings. The use of close-ups in these songs will put off many, but for me it showed the passion of the actor singing the songs. Sweeping camera angles and an excellent colour scheme add to the visual impact, especially in the opening scene when Jean along with multiple prisoners is pulling a large boat and the violent waves add to their struggle. The visuals of the drab streets and dark corners helps back up the almost mournful landscape that the characters populate. The many splashes of colour in the later half of the film add to the rebellion as violence and anger erupts.

A big draw is the talented cast that Hooper has assembled to flesh out this tale. Hugh Jackman gives a towering performance as Jean Valjean, capturing the way he rises from destitution to honorable man, navigating his way through a cruel world. His vocals are very impressive to, adding to the overall powerful portrayal that anchors the movie. Russell Crowe, although not quite as vocally adept, manages to be quite convincing as the obsessed Javert, whilst showing an occasional soft side.  It isn’t one of Crowe’s best performances, but it isn’t one of his worst either. Anne Hathaway turns in an Oscar-winning performance as the tragic Fantine, and although she’s only on the screen for around 20 minutes, manages to make an indelible mark. Her triumph is her rendition of “I Dreamed a dream”, which is one of the most emotional and heartbreaking moments I’ve seen in a film for a long time. Captured in one continuous shot, Fantine, her hair cropped, her clothes torn and her spirit broken, sings of a longing for a better day whilst breaking the audience’s hearts along the way. Hathaway’s performance is one that lingers long in the memory because of its emotional impact. Amanda Seyfried is suitably wistful as Cosette, although I would have liked for her character’s arc to have been expanded a little. Eddie Redmayne certainly delivers as the passionate Marius who falls for her. Redmayne infuses “Empty chairs at empty tables”, a hymn for the fallen, with a sincerity and sadness that is quite remarkable. Providing comic relief are Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen as unscrupulous swindlers. Another person who certainly impresses is Samantha Barks as the lovelorn third wheel of Marius and Cosette’s love, Éponine. She imbues her with a sweetness and deep sadness that is luminous to witness. Her bruised performance of “On my own”, which she sings whilst in the rain, is a stunningly heartfelt moment. Other supporting members include Aaron Tveit as revolutionary Enjolras, a sweet Isabelle Allen as the young Cosette, Daniel Huttlestone as the funny and endearing Gavroche and Colm Wilkinson as the Bishop who helps Jean in his journey.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, Les Misérables  will not be a film for everyone as the live singing and use of close-up’s may cause a few to roll their eyes. But if you want a musical with a sweeping score, some excellent acting and historical setting, it may just be for you.