I haven't read the book, but did hear that the movie is based 'very loosely' on the book.

Pat

I want to see the movie although I didn't much care for the book. I am undoubtedly the only person in the universe whose sympathies lay with the Devil, a.k.a. the boss. Apparently Steep made her more sympathetic than in the book. I found the protagonist to be childish and narrow minded. It was one of those situations, like we have sometimes with people in our lives, where the teller of the story makes it perfectly clear what the situation is to everyone but the teller herself. Anna Wintour is being a sport about it. Apparently she made all the right noises about it being a funny film when she saw it at a pre-opening bash. Don't get me wrong. I still long for the days of Vreeland, but the book actually made me sympathise with her.

Several friends recommended the book so I tried-about 25 pages in I threw it across the room-the boss was obnoxious, the assistant was spineless-I hated them all. However, I would go watch Streep wash windows, so may have to do a "lunch and a movie" with the girls! We all felt the same way about In Her Shoes -hated the book, thought the movie was good girl-fluff!

I really liked the movie. Streep was great tho I knew worse than this character when I worked in NY. The book is supposed to be quite different from the movie but I don't want to give anything away. The supporting actors are excellent.

The movie works on two levels: just a good story but also raising some very important issues for women--and for men. Decisions we all have to make in life.

And is the Streep character based on Anna Wintour or Diana Vreeland? Guess I shouldn't be surprised. Duh.

Based on Wintour. The author of the book was her administrative assistant.

Thanks, Chris. Just spend an illuminating twenty minutes reading all about Wintour on Google.

Not sure whether this is a recommendation or a warning, but, my PARENTS (in their 70s) just called to tell me they saw the movie (matinee, of course) and liked it-my dad went along with my mom, but he thought it was funny-I love my mom but Vogue she's not-and she didn't read the book-she did say the fashions were pretty, and Meryl Streep was fabulous. "The little girl who played the assistant was cute too."

That "little girl" who played the assistant almost stole the movie. I thought she had a meatier part than Meryl Streep, in fact, and she made the most of it. Her name is Emily Blunt. She is a Brit who has appeared on a lot of Masterpiece Theatre productions. Wouldn't be surprised if she wins Best Supporting Actress.

I had no interest in the book, but I have to go see the movie if only because of Streep.

>I'd watch her wash windows.

Ayup!

Did not read the book, but saw the movie yesterday. Thought it stank. The Hathaway actress "posed" for every scene and I thought Streep was lifeless. I understand she was playing a snotty type, but the movie did nothing for me except for seeing the fashions and the scenes of NYC and Paris. Not worth the matinee price. I am very picky about movies. Expected more...JMHO.

I think my mother meant Hathaway-at least she's the one in the commercials-the one from the Princess Diaries movies.

Just got back from the movie, absolutely loved it! Thought Streep was wonderful (tho I did keep expecting to see her wear a Dalmation coat) and Hathaway - those big innocent eyes were just right.

>I found the protagonist to be childish and narrow minded

I dunno, I thought she played the part well - here is a 20 something year old girl, fresh from school, wanting to make it big in NYC. Its her dream, and shes going to try anything she can - tho she realizes at what cost. I remember being that age, and wanting to please, wanting to succeed and being terrified of failure. I her progression in the movie to a fashion gal, and then back more to herself was very realistic. I also loved the end between Andi and Nat - not perfect, but not bad either, filled with possibilities.

>Steep made her more sympathetic than in the book.
Sympathetic? No. Perhaps human. That beneath it all, she did actually have a human side - but its been so tied up with the decisions she made, that she rarely allowed herself to show it. It certainly made her a more complex character. She certainly wasn't a cardboard character like the boss in that Meg Ryan movie (not 9-5, oh someone will remember)

And who is the doll who played the blond newspaper guy? He ends up being a jerk, but oh my....

What really made it for me was my DH's reaction. He had to be conned to see it (I am seeing Pirates tomorrow - loved the first one but am unsure about the second). But within a few moments he was hooked. This movie wasn't just about the fashion world. It could have been about any profession. It was about the choices we make in our life and how they trap us into a life we really don't want. But having the fashion world made it fun. I am so not a fashion statement (jeans, t-shirts and sneakers are my MO) but enjoyed seeing the clothes. And I enjoyed seeing NYC, as always

Now I am curious about the book. I might jsut have to read it.

Cindy, I was refering to the book in my comments above. Haven't managed to see the movie yet.

Ah, sorry chris. Just reread your post, and duh.....Now I do need to read the book. I'll be curious what you think of the movie.

Have not read the novel, but just saw the film and loved it. Streep just gets better and better, and all the casting was excellent, IMO. OMG, I used to work for a similar autocrat in Boston. It was my first job just after college in a large publishing house. Anyone who has ever worked under a tyrant will love this story.

I had a principal for 5 years that could have been Miranda's match (except she was about 3 feet shorter, 100 pounds heavier) What was really bad was that you never knew where you stood at any moment. She could be having an excellent day, when she deals with questions calmly and is able to treat her employees like adults, then the next moment all hell breaks loose. Most of us were given to asking the secretary how she was before we asked for anything. The one positive was that she knew how to get things done, and was very supportive of our program. But oh, you could feel the tension of the school melt when we showed up that Aug with a new principal.

I read the book last summer and LOVED it! At the time I had just graduated college and gotten my first "real job" as an assistant in NY city, so I was completely able to relate. The only thing I did not like about the book was the ending- but it WAS realistic, not a typical happily ever after story-book ending... so in a way it was good.

I just saw the movie with my mom last night (who also read the book) and although we both enjoyed the movie, we were a little dissapointed. I expected it to be a different, but there are so many things they could've done better.

First of all I CANNOT STAND Anne Hathaway!!! She's weird looking first of all, she was WAY too nerdy for this role, and she completely over-acts. I think she's painful to watch. The role of Andrea should've been played by someone more natural, funny/sarcastic, and she shoulve been kinda unmotivated at first- crashing on her friend's couch b/c she has no apartment, eating a lot, drinking, smoking, sleeping til noon- still in college mentality...the way she's portrayed in the book. I think Kate Hudson would've been a good choice. She's a little too mature for the role, but if this movie came out 4 or 5 years ago, she would be it. Anne Hathaway was just HORRIBLE. She was too flimsy and jittery and not funny AT ALL. Ugh she's such a bad actress.

Meryl Streep however is a brilliant actress. Anything she does is great! However, the role was definitely written too nice. The character of Miranda in the book didnt have conversations with Andrea, she simply just ordered her around. She was meaner and showed no emotion. Whoever said they made her too human was right... I know however for the movie they want to show more of a relationship between her and Andrea, but the writers could've made her just a tad meaner.

And my final complaint is the lack of build up with her outside-work relationships. Lily in the book gradually became an alcoholic, hooking up with shady guys in bars b/c she was neglected by her over-working friend. In the movie she had 4 lines and no personality. Also they made the boyfriend so DULL in the movie. Plus I wasn't feeling their relationship AT ALL. They looked unnatural together.

Other than all that, it was a cute movie. I just think they could've made it SO much better.

"That's all"

I just finished reading the book yesterday actually and watched the movie today. I thought the book was great, but the movie was terrible!!!
1) completely agree with the fact that anne hathaway was a bad bad bad andrea
2)the names didn't even match up with the book- who the hell is nate?! the boyfriend in the book is called ALEX and he is NOT a chef!!! this part just confused me!
3) lily has no character what so ever! and isn't like the lily in the book at all- she was the one who told andrea to go for christian in the book and in the movie she gets all over-protective !
4) miranda was way too weak as a character compared to the book
5) emily- english accent?! what?!
6) "nate" --- aka. ALEX and andrea do not live together- and yet they do in the movie..
7) there's no clubs- no drinking (by lily) no apartment that they share- not even the first apartment she shared with the two indian girls!

there's so many things i could point out but there are just waaaaaaaaay TOO many! i'm so dissapointed i can't even explain.

loved the book, hated the movie.

Taken individually, they were both good. Compared to each other, the book wins. As with some Harry Potter movies, reading the book first helps to fill in the gaps in the movie. I thought Emily was wonderfully cast, as was the rest of the supporting cast. Meryl Streep was not cold enough but that smooth soft voice and those steel eyes were great. And the writer guy? Yummy. But the boyfriend? Ah, I'll take him.

I saw the movie with a bona-fide fashionista. She was ooh-ing and ahh-ing her way through the movie and taking notes as to what she wanted to buy. Me? My idea of designer duds is a new pair of Eddie Bauer jeans to go with my flip-flops in the summer or my loafers in the winter.

That's all.
PAM

I saw the movie a couple of days ago and thoroughly enjoyed it..the clothes,the performers,the music..all of it. One day while working at the library I had some free time so picked up the book and started reading. After about 25 pages,I put it back,didn't think it was well written or interesting.

Got the book for my plane trip to Europe next week. Hope it holds my interest! Haven't seen the movie, but I love Meryl Streep.

I like Meryl Streep but my interest in fashion is so low that it is off the bottom end of the chart. Out of curiosity, I did google Prada. Found out it was a designer instead of a type of boot.

I enjoyed the movie, did not read the book. I thought Merly Streep was perfect. I liked the Emily character - one of my favorites. I thought Anne Hathaway was quite pretty, and did a reasonable job, but I had trouble identifying with her very much. One character I don't hear much about was Nigel, played very well IMO by Stanley Tucci. As for the boyfriend, he was very easy on the eyes, but I thought a bit sulky and shallow.

One thing that annoyed me was the mea culpa scene where Anne Hathaway confesses to her boyfriend that she had sold out to the world of fashion, betrayed her ideals, and she was sorry. I found it trite and inaccurate. The only morally ambiguous act she had committed was in going to Paris, which she was ordered to do by her boss, and which she had the honesty to tell Emily (though originally she had intended to wimp out on the phone). Not making it to her boyfriend's party? Well, she had to work late. She was required to by her boss. I really thought that whole honest-journalism-save-the-world-nobility thing was overdone. If she wants to do that, then do that. But if she's working at a fashion magazine, then she is obligated to do that job with the best of her ability.

I'm ranting. I did think Meryl Streep's character pulled a nasty trick on Nigel.

I read the book but haven't seen the movie yet. I didn't care for Andrea. I hope they picked a good actress to play Emily. Would anyone want to work with Andy? gripe, gripe, gripe! And get off the phone! :)

What?? Alex isn't a teacher in the movie?