The Devil Wears Prada

I had just watched The Devil Wears Prada (yeah, I know it's an old movie but only now I got to watch it). I like it but I wish I had read the novel first because the novel usually tells story better then the adapted movie.

This movie is like Ugly Betty the TV series, it is about working in a fashion magazine. To start with, it was about a young girl, Andrea or Andy who had landed a job as a second personal assistant to a famous fashion magazine editor, Miranda Priestly. It was a job described as 'million girls would fight to get'. Andy, who was not obsessed with fashion and dressed herself in less glamorous state, found herself in an awkward environment where everybody else had their up-to-date clothes and high heels on. Apparently, it was a standard set up by Miranda unofficially.

She was advised by a fellow colleague, an art director to be exact, Nigel to change her image and follow suit the fashionable custom. Andy refused at first, saying that she would never change herself to be someone she is not. Fashion to her is not that important. Besides, she was thinking to become a serious journalist, so working in 'Runway' was part of the exposure she needed for working experience.

Anyway, after one incident in which Miranda and cruelly lectured her on her role as a personal assistant (she had failed to get a flight back to New York for Miranda the previous night, it wasn't really her fault as it was a stormy night and no aeroplane was allowed to be flying,but Miranda just being difficult and impossible!), Andy made a decision to change whatever it takes to make Miranda happy including changing her image. So with Nigel's help she changed into a fashionable, stylish girl. And she was also very committed in her work, and her relationship with her boss, Miranda improved.

Now that Andy had showed her capability and how smart she was in doing her job, Miranda had favored Andy over her first personal assistant, Emily. So one fashion show that to be held in Paris, and Emily was supposed to go, Miranda had changed her mind into taking Andy instead. Andy was reluctant, knowing how much Emily had been waiting the opportunity to go to Paris with Miranda. But Miranda didn't give her any choice, that Andy must go and Andy herself must break the news to Emily.

When Andy was about the break the news to Emily (they were talking on the handphone, Andy was in the office and Emily was running on the road, doing task for Miranda), Emily was hit by a car. Anyway, Emily was not badly injured, so Andy had to break the bad news about Paris to Emily in the hospital. Emily was obviously dissappointed with the news, so she chased Andy out from the room.

Meanwhile, there was a gap in Andy's relationship with her boyfriend and best friends eversince she worked in 'Runway'. Her boyfriend couldn't understand why Andy was so committed to Miranda that she was willing to sacrifice a lot. And without her boyfriend's knowledge, Andy met a guy who is a well-known figure in fashion world, Christian in which they became quite intimate after sometime. Before her trip to Paris, Andy somehow had quarrelled with her boyfriend and he had made her to choose; whether it's him or her job. Andy chose the latter.

In Paris, Nigel told Andy that he was going to be a creative director for this rising fashion designer, and the job was recommended by Miranda. Andy also met Christian at the fashion show and since Christian had openly flirting with her from beginning, and now she had broke up with her boyfriend, she went out with Christian and spent the night with him.

The next day when she woke up in Christian's hotel room, she accidently saw a portfolio of 'Runway' cover page. She asked Christian what was it about and Christian popped the news that Miranda's position as editor will be replaced by another person, Jacqueline (she is the editor of 'Runway' of French edition and Miranda's enemy) and Christian was going to work with the new editor. Andy was so shocked to hear the news, knowing very well how Miranda had put her whole life for 'Runway'. Besides, just the other night, Miranda had sadly confessed to Andy that her marriage was falling apart and soon there would be a divorce, so Andy felt it was her duty to tell Miranda of the news before Miranda knew about it officially.

However, throughout the day, Andy failed to tell Miranda of the news. When it came the official 'Runway' event, and Miranda had given a speech, she had announced that Jacqueline was leaving 'Runway' as she was going to be the creative director for the rising fashion designer (the one supposed to be Nigel's job). Andy, Nigel and Christian were shocked to hear the news.

In the car, Andy asked Miranda about the whole thing. Miranda had revealed that she knew about the replacement plan long before Andy did and that was why she was making her own arrangement into making Jacqueline the creative editor. Andy argued that Miranda shouldn't do it that way as Miranda had promised that the job should be Nigel's. Miranda said she had to things in order to survive and she saw Andy was no difference than she was. Andy was surprised, she couldn't agree with that. Miranda reminded her of Emily, how Andy had stabbed her in the back by accepting the offer to go to Paris. And when Andy tried to object Miranda said, yes, Andy did it to survive!

Then it occured to Andy how much she had changed and what she would become if she continued working in 'Runway'. So right after emerging from the car, Andy left her million-girls-would-fight-for job and returned to New York. She met her boyfriend and said how much she had realised that she had been wrong and she wanted to be herself again. The relationship reconciled. Then Andy went seeking for another job and at one interview, the interviewer had told her that when he called 'Runway' to get some testimonial from 'Runway'. Andy was speechless, at the moment she thought she would not get the job. But the interviewer said that he had received a testimonial from Miranda herself saying that he was a fool if he didn't hire Andy. So Andy got the job.

On her way home, Andy walked pass 'Runway' building and she called Emily. Emily who was obviously angry with Andy (for going to Paris and subsequently left her job, making Emily busier than ever, did not sound so friendly to receive her call. But Andy quickly said now she's no longer working in the fashion line, she just wanted to give her all the glamorous free dresses she received in Paris (one of the reason why Emily wanted to go to Paris so much). Emily softened down and agreed to accept the dresses. Then when Andy hang up she saw Miranda on her way to get into a car. When Miranda noticed Andy was there, Andy quickly raised her hand to acknowledge Miranda. Miranda as cold as she was always be, didn't even smile back and got into the car. But she was smiling then. Andy, knowing now what good deed Miranda had done for her, walked away and smiled.

End of story.

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Well, I know how it felt to have an evil boss. I guess who have been reading my blog from beginning, know better. Anyway, in Andy's case, she's a PA (personal assistant) so she got to do whatever it is that corcerning her boss. But I was ARE (assistant Resident Engineer) so my job scope should not involve anything personal including being a driver when my boss didn't feel like driving.

Oh, on this driving issue, I'm smiling right now when I remembered back what I've gone through. I guess I haven't told driver story things yet in my blog.

My ex-boss lived in Muar, I lived in Melaka and we worked in Yong Peng. So when he didn't feel like driving, he called me up early in the morning to fetch him at his house and he told me it didn't have to be so early. I remember on one occasion, he asked me to be at his house at 10 am, and I complied. When I arrived there, her elderly mother told me he went out for some business, and I was to wait. Know how long I waited? 2 hours!!! And that happened quite frequently, my ex-colleagues always asked how long did I waited everytime I had to be the driver....huhuhu

That one of those horrible things I've experienced. So I'm telling you guys, if you happen to have a devil boss, get away from him/her as soon as possible. Even if it a dream job! It's not good for your health, not good for your inner strength too. Working for someone evil would probably make you an evil too one day if you fail to manage yourself.