The Devil Wears Prada (www.the-usher.com)

"She's coming"

After graduating from college Andy Sachs (Hathaway), heads to New York to start her career as a journalist but instead of starring at a newspaper she starts a job as the assistant for the editor and chief of the biggest fashion magazine in the world, Runway. With a reputation of been extremely demanding and impossible to work for but been her assistant for a year will open any door in the world of publishing. All Andy has to do is everything that Miranda Priestly asks her to do and that could be anything, even the impossible.

The fashion industry has always been cutthroat but can the combination of comedy and a boss from hell show you how ruthless it can really be?

Based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger, 'The Devil Wears Prada' introduces us to someone who is going to become the archetypal portrait of a boss in the new millennium and this time is it is a woman. Miranda Priestly is strong, calculated and relentless in her pursuit of perfection when it came to producing the biggest selling fashion magazine in the world. It was her and her alone that would decide what we would want to wear. She could champion or end a fashion line or style just with a look at collection on a walkway. This unprecedented power made her hard, emotionless and unforgiving and a devil to work for.

A combination of a spoilt superstar and a calculating businessperson, Miranda was as extravagant as she was relentless. While she is deciding the future of fashion she also makes many unreasonable demands of her clients and her staff. Everything from free gifts to flights home during a hurricane, fashions wants and waits for no one, allowing Miranda to say and do whatever she wants. This has made American Runway the fashion bible for the industry. Portraying a character as strong was going to be a tall order for any actress but Miranda's always-stylish shoes are easily filled by the marvellous Meryl Streep.

In a career that is littered with astonishing performances, this is definitely a highlight. It is a reality that strong female roles are few and far between when an actress passes forty but there are some exceptions to the rule. Meryl Streep career has got better and better since she passed fifty, as studio realise that it isn't just the young and nimble that draw in an audience. Miranda Priestly is a classic character and one that will become a standout in cinematic history.

The victims of all of Miranda's demands, whims and relentless work ethic are her personal secretaries. Emily Blunt plays her first secretary Emily, the one who now thinks she is moving into Miranda's inner circle and the fashion world is about to open up to her. This is a breakthrough role for the British actress and one that will open the doors wide open to Hollywood. Her new second secretary is played by an actress who is living up to her potential with every role she plays, the extremely talented Anne Hathaway. With the pressure of been labelled the next Audrey Hepburn for the new millennium, Anne Hathaway plays the nice girl who comes under the influence of the industry big wig and is in trouble of becoming all the things that she despises, turning her into the new Miranda. Andy Sachs wants to be a journalist and spending one year as Miranda's secretary will one any door in New York but can she last that long. This is another role that sees Anne Hathaway grow as an actress and proves again that she is one of the most talented young actresses working in Hollywood today.

The rest of the supporting cast is also good. 'Entourage' star Adrian Grenier is good as Andy's boyfriend Nate, who doesn't want her to change. Simon Baker is suitably suave as freelance journalist Christian Thompson. Tracie Thoms and Rich Sommer add some fun as Lilly and Doug. The brilliant Stanley Tucci steals the show however as Miranda's right hand man and Andy's confidant Nigel. He has all the best one-liners and provides most of the laughs.

'The Devil Wears Prada' might be a movie about fashion but it is much more than that. It is a film about the pressure of career over personal life and one that will strike a cord with everyone who watches it. This might well be labelled as a chick-flick because of the fashion plotline but there is a lot to enjoy here. With exceptional performances, snappy dialogue and a story that is both funny and moving. While some aspects might be a little bit Hollywood, this is a movie that will have you looking at what you wear.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 2.35:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary by director David Frankel, producer Wendy Finerman, costume designer Patricia Field, screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, editor Mark Livolsi and director of photography Florian Ballhaus
This chatty and informative commentary from the people behind the film reveals many a secret from behind the scenes of 'The Devil Wears Prada'. The group talk about adapting the book and getting the mix of drama, comedy and fashion exactly right. The technical aspects and the look of the movie are also discussed with Runway and the fashion shows. The performances of Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep are also talked about. This is a good group commentary that fans of the movie will enjoy.

The Trip to the Big Screen (11.32 mins)
Director David Frankel, producer Wendy Freeman and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna talks about how the book headed to the silver screen. The changes from the book to screenplay are also discussed and how everyone became involved.

NYC and Fashion (6.08 mins)
Director David Frankel, producer Wendy Freeman, costume designer Patricia Field and stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt talk about the fashion and the Big Apple in 'The Devil Wears Prada'. Here we hear about the clothes, the shoes and shooting in New York.

Fashion Visionary Patricia Field (8.45 mins)
The renowned fashion and costume designer talks about her career, her shop and her involvement in the film.

Getting Valentino (2.51 mins)
Director David Frankel and producer Wendy Freeman talk about getting famous fashion designer Valentino Garavani involved in the movie.

Boss from Hell (2.28 mins)
Director David Frankel, Anne Hathaway and Stanley Tucci are joined by members of the public to talk about there own experiences of bosses from hell.

Deleted Scenes (17.31 mins)
Entitled 'Rushing with Miranda to James Holt preview', 'Sleepless night after delivering the book', 'Dressing for the benefit with Nigel', 'Spotting Nigel outside the benefit', 'Miranda's entrance at the benefit', 'When do we eat?', 'Leaving work while Nate sleeps' and 'Andy sees her hotel suite in Paris', these deleted are accompanied by optional commentary by director David Frankel and editor Mark Livolsi.

Gag Reel (4.54 mins)
Watch shots of Anne Hathaway falling down, a lot and Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt making mistakes and having fun on set.

Trailers
Previews of 'Little Miss Sunshine', 'The Queen', 'Eragon' and 'Night at the Museum'

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for 'The Devil Wears Prada' is very good. Fans will love the commentary track and the short featurettes, as well as the deleted scenes. It is just a shame that the cast didn't contribute a commentary cast as well.

DVD

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2006