Whatever Wednesday - The Devil Wears Prada 2

Heck yeah - I took myself to the movies on Friday May 8th.  I did my homework first and watched the original  Devil Wears Prada.  I had actually seen it several times with  my father during his last year. He knew the plot, could follow along, and he enjoyed Meryl.  So it was also imperative, a bit of a salute to him (gone two years as of 5/9), that I see The Devil Wears Prada 2 immediately.  

Of course there's some apprehension. Will it be silly? Will it be lousy? What story line and how have they handled aging characters? 

No worries. We launch back into the world of fashion, journalism, and the hustle bustle of NYC with aplomb. The story handles the onslaught of mergers, artificial intelligence, aging, and the money/power combo. I'm not going into the minutiae, just trust me it all works. 

Our stars, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci,  plus a bonus appearance by Lucy Liu, are all fabulous. They look great, and are so good in their various roles - working together or scheming.  Special shout outs to Meryl and Stanley - it's a master class. Just a smirk, an eye role,  a pause. Their timing is impeccable. 

And another character itself is  New York City  - the  glam, the money side, the hustle bustle, and the  "little apartments" (HA!)  I love it and soak it in. 

So - big thumbs up from  me.  If you liked the original, you'll be very happy.

As Miranda (Meryl) says...."That's all."

"Go"

 

Movie Review Madness - Spotlight

Spotlight is fast paced and tells quite a tale based on true events. I’ve always liked a “hold the presses” movie and this is old fashioned news beat story telling. Back in 2001, the Boston Globe’s special news team – Spotlight- started researching information on priest abuse. The numbers grew and they realized they had more than a few priests involved – this was a whole system of lies. Interviews, knocking on doors, confirmation of names, and more research yielded an amazing sad expose of lives forever affected due to the trust given to the Catholic church.

Tight film making and great acting gives Spotlight a classy edge.  Michael Keaton is the editor raised in Boston and entrenched in the parish affected. Liev Schreiber is the new comer to the area who questions the fiber of the system. Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams are the boots on the ground researchers, digging ever deeper and getting the necessary interviews to confirm the pain and suffering of former altar boys. Stanley Tucci plays the lawyer who’s been fighting the church for a long time. The cast interaction heightens the drama and sense of urgency to the story.

Oscar buzz surrounds this film and it’s a worthy contender. If you want a well done, smart film experience, then train your eyes on Spotlight.