The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

The Devil Wears Prada, is a movie adaptation of a novel written by Lauren Weisberg's released in 2006. Stars Anne Hathaway in the role of Andrea Sachs, a college graduate who goes to New York City to get a job and luckily lands a job as a co-assistant to infamous editor-in-chief of fashion magazine Runway, Miranda Priestly played by Meryl Streep. Also, Emily Blunt plays a role of the bossy and bitchy co-assistant Emily Charlton to Andrea and Stanley Tucci plays the role of Art Director of the magazine and right hand of Miranda, Nigel. 

The movie has proved to be a success, as could be seen form the fact that it became a box-office hit after its release in North American theatres. The sales grossed over $300 million dollars, of which most came from international sales. The film was shoot both in New York and Paris with a budget of $35 million between October and December of 2005.  So, the plot of the movie starts as the freshly graduate from college, Andrea or Andy lands a job in the fashion magazine, even though she had no interest in the fashion industry before landing her job.  However, from the first day of her work, Andrea realises that it is not what she imagined it to be. Her boss, Miranda known for unrealistic demands evreryday and strict persona, lets her know that everything that goes there is her way or only hers. However, as days pass her relationships with her college friends and her boyfriend also suffers, leaving Andrea devastated. And if you know how the story goes along and the pleasant twist that the movie presents along the plot, then go head and watch the movie, I am sure you won't be dissapointed.

The costumes that the cast of the movie was of high importance, as the film was set in the fashion industry and there were even rumors at the time of release that the story of the movie was based on U.S. Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who is a big name in the industry and known for her chic and mysterious persona. The movie is also considered as one of the most expensively costumed movies in the history of movie industry.  The stylist who worked for the movie said to believe that at least $1 million worth of clothing items were used to costume the characters of the movie.

 I guess I would recommend this movie to anyone interested in seeing a little glimpse of how people are in the fashion industry and what goes behind the scenes, the movie as critics say the movie does a good job in their depiction of the industry.

Here's the trailer, enjoy:

The Great Gatsby

The epic drama begins its story back in 1922 when a World War I veteran named Nick Carraway rents a small house on Long Island. Soon he realize that his new neighbor is a filthy rich man named Jay Gatsby who holds luxurious parties every weekend. Everyone never meets Gatsby in person, his identity remains unknown and mysterious until one day Nick receives an invitation letter to Gatsby's party personally from him while nobody else has ever get it.

At the party, Gatsby reveals himself to Nick, requesting a nearly impossible favour to arrange a meeting with Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin who was Gatsby's lover in the past before the World War. The meeting is where all the scandal starts since Daisy is currently married to his wealthy powerful husband, Tom.

The scandal doesn't stop there. It involves the affair of Tom and his mistress, Myrtle Winston and the jealousy of Myrtle's husband. Overall, the movie portrays what 20^th century honest culture in term of relationship. Daisy, an extravagant lady who chooses money over love; Gatsby, a poor boy who’s blinded by a popular dream girl lust and love then struggle to enrich himself financially just to equate her level; Tom, the philandering millionaire who will get the girl at the end. Though Daisy might be the antagonist part of the story, it somehow reminds me that Disney stories are simply not reality. It somehow tickles me that happily ever after is not how the society simply works as money and power plays a bigger role.

I love how Baz Luhrmann put a big role of luxury in the movie. Glimmering dress and diamonds perfectly blend the story of betrayal. It also surprises me that the costume is managed by Luhrmann’s own wife, collaborating with Miu Miu and Prada to create such a wearable artwork. What a great team work!

The movie leaves quite an impression to me. It gives a deep thought that women should not believe that she’s underrated. In contrary to that era, Daisy is a woman who is raised just to be beautiful and rich and conservatively having no choice over anything. One of her remarkable quote is “I hope she'll be a fool--that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool..”

Watch the trailer