Movie Review - The Devil Wears Prada

 

The Devil always demands a soul as a sacrifice, a very common line we hear in the supernatural horror films. But, today it isn’t a horror movie, The Devil Wears Prada is a Comedy-Drama which revolves around the character of Andrea Sachs or Andy played by Anne Hathaway, an young aspirational journalist who starts working as the assistant of the New York’s most prominent magazine editors, Miranda Priestly played by Meryl Streep, a control freak who loves bossing people around with little to no regard for any sentiments, crushing everyone who stands in the way of her ego.

The movie is an exploration of ambition, identity and the high price of glamour, it’s a modern day parable about the perils of selling one’s soul for the pursuit of opulence, prestige and glamour and not caring about anything but the self. Andy, played by Anne Hathaway, on landing the job of being Miranda Priestley’s, the editor of Runway Magazines' second assistant - a job many girls will be ready to kill for - was confused at the beginning due to her lack of indulgence in the world of fashion. The character is smart and well-educated with a zeal to prove herself at all costs, a trait which helps her to guide herself through all the huddles and grab Miranda’s attention, but in the pursuit of a perfect career and a glamourous one at that, she falters at maintaining her personal life properly. Creating a rift in her relationships and making decisions that she otherwise wouldn’t have.

The movie also gives smart insights into the shallow and harmful world of high fashion. It will also hit home for anyone who has ever worked in a bad or unhealthy work environment. The way Andy says she will only stay for a year and then leave is amusing for during her time there, she changes for the worse. Just to prove herself, she forgets when she crossed the line of proving oneself worthy in the eyes of someone and pleasing them, it doesn't take long for toxic behavior to spread if you don't look at yourself and decide to be better. There is a great example of that in the movie. The way the character of Andy feels like there is no actual choice she can make to keep her life together and follow her morale's, because it’s either she does what her boss wants her to or she is going to lose her job. She repeatedly ended up choosing her job above all but not willfully as a result slowly but steadily she lost herself and her ideals,"You sold your soul to the devil when you put on your first pair of Jimmy Choos" as pointed out by Emily when Andrea has to go and tell her that she was chosen to go to Paris in her place.

At the end of the day, The Devil Wears Prada is a sobering reminder of what it costs to put style over real happiness. In order to get fame, people have to make sacrifices, and the hidden costs of living a public life are often not seen. At the end of the movie, there is a powerful reflection on the idea that material success can't make up for the loss of happiness and self-respect.

Finally, The Devil Wears Prada isn't just a fashion comedy; it's also a warning about what can happen when you give up your soul for a beautiful but shallow dream. The way it shows the allure of glamour and the hidden costs that come with it. The movie is still a powerful show of how seeking approval from others can cause a crisis within.