Displaying items by tag: Meryl Streep

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2

US, 2026, 190 minutes, Colour.

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Kenneth Branagh, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Tibor Feldman, B.J.Novak, Patrick Brammel.

Directed by David Frankel.

We all enjoyed the original film 20 years ago. What could happen in 20 years? What are they all like now? Has Meryl Streep’s Miranda mellowed in any way? And what about Andy and Emily, just beginning their careers in those days? Have they had success? And, the ever faithful Nigel. Is he still working for Runway?

As we launch into this enjoyable sequel, overcoming the two decade gap, the entity is mainly, yes. And it is still very much the same, Meryl Streep obviously enjoying this dominating and controlling personality, very much evident as she encounters Andy and Emily again, disdain, feigning not to know them and wonders have they ever met! But, the times are certainly changing. There are threats to Miranda’s dominance. (However, she now has a husband and, unseen in the film, twins – and the advantage of having Kenneth Branagh playing her husband.)

But, the success story is Anne Hathaway’s Andy, an award-winning journalist, and, during an award ceremony just before her acceptance speech, a text to tell her and her fellow-journalists that they are fired.

In fact, this is a strong theme of this sequel, the changes from 2006 to 2026 in terms of print media, magazines, online publication, social media, the struggle to find followers, the threats to traditional publications, challenges for the future. In this way, the film is rather pessimistic about journalism, outlook and future.

But, back to Alex, she is employed again by Runway, a feature writer, still put down by Miranda, encountering Emily once more, Emily Blunt, setting up some conflicts along with challenges to business models, corporation executives, and, with quite some flourishes towards the end at a fashion show in Italy, the management of the world of fashion.

There is also a scene in the Dominican Priory in Milan with Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper on the wall, as a location for a social event. (And a touch of inventiveness for the romance, Andy finding an Australian boyfriend, Patrick Brammel.)

Same writer, same director as before, and they bring the relish they had two decades ago to this sequel, not so surprising, of course, but old audiences welcoming the opportunity to see and engage with these characters again. And delighting a new audience.

1. The popularity of the original film? 20 years? Continuity of the stars, age, 20 years later? Memories of the original characters?
2. New York, the world fashion, publishing, business and corporations? International sequences, Milan, fashion, the catwalks, the visit to the Dominican priory and da Vinci’s Last Supper? The musical score?
3. 20 years and changes in publications, social media, the role of journalists, reorganisations, sackings, online communications, articles, target audiences and success not? Attempts at revitalising journalism?
4. The focus on Andy, with Miranda 20 years earlier, with Nigel, with Emily? As a success, a roving journalist, the initial awards ceremony, her win, the text of their all being sacked, her vigorous speech, Irv and his son and seeing it, the offer of the job, and the later revelation that Nigel urged him on? Her life, her good friends, sharing, the enthusiasm, going to Runway, the initial encounter with Miranda and Nigel, their not knowing, going to the meeting?
5. Andy, after 20 years, success, relationships? The visit to the apartment, the encounter with Peter, Australian, friendly, her initial faux pas, meeting him again, dating conversations, his Australian direct personality? Her leaving for Milan, leaving him stranded?
6. Miranda, over the years, her manner, remembering Andy and Emily, the touch of disdain, her success? The surprise to find she was married, her husband, pleasant, musician, past drinking, supportive? That she had twins and did not spend time with them? The dependence on Nigel, taking him for granted? The upset, the meeting with Irv and his son, the plan for her to be head of editing, the attitude towards Andy?
7. Andy, hard work, writing the articles, the apology for the precarious situation about fashion and child workers? At the board meeting, raising it, Miranda off-hand? Relationship with the staff, with Miranda’s imperious assistant, with Charlie, with her new assistant, friendly?
8. Irv, the celebration, birthday, everybody gathered, Miranda and hopes for the announcement, his collapse and death? His son taking over, casual, in his father’s shadow, his board meeting, advice, the 2020s and the different approach?
9. Sasha, her success, wealth, seclusion, Miranda wanting an interview, Andy and her many attempts, final success, session pleasant, the interview, the article and success? And her past relationship with Benji? The later plan, her investment, coming to the rescue?
10. Emily, after 20 years, her manner, failed marriage, children, her manner, her work, retail? Meeting Miranda again and disdain? Meeting Andy again? Her relationship with Benji, his character, manner, imposing, wealth, promises to Emily? The meeting with Benji, the deals, Emily and negotiating with Andy, not telling the t//ruth, the buying of Runway, her being editor, wanting to be on the cover…?
11. Milan, the fashion show, the range of models, elaborate? The dinner, the visit to the Dominican priory, the Last Supper and Miranda’s comment about the leader? Her giving her speech, Andy advising Nigel to do it? Nigel, in the background, his fashion sense, friendship with Miranda, the difficulties, persevering over the years? Writing speeches – and his giving the speech and place of Miranda?
12. Andy, her ideas, collaboration with Miranda, the phone calls, all day, the plan, the final revelation, Benji and the sale, the break with Emily, Sasha and the rescue?
13. The happy ending, everybody nicer, happier? Miranda, her relationship with her husband, the discussions, his support? Her mellowing, changing – but at the end her manner and style? Andy, older and wiser, enterprising, her future?

HOPPERS

US, 2026, 104 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Eduardo Franco, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Meryl Streep.

Directed by Daniel Chong.

Hoppers is a Pixar entertainment. Audience expectations are usually high with the announcement from Pixar, memories of such films as Toy Story, Brave, Inside Out… And Hoppers open to strong box office, audience enjoyment and critical praise.

As with many Pixar films, there are serious themes. The tone is set with the introduction of Mabel at school, upset at student pranks leaving a turtle on its back, her stealing all the animals to free them but caught, sent home, her mother leaving her with her kindly grandmother who sits with her on a rock by a lake, contemplating, smiling, gradually hearing the myriad sounds of animals, birds, insects. So, we begin with a conservation frame of mind.

Then, Mabel is 18, supposed to be studying at college, but stridently campaigning for animals and, especially, against the Mayor, Jerry, who is planning to destroy the animal habitat that she loves and build a Beltway. So, we are invited to have an anti-business-development frame of mind.

But, Hoppers is much more complex than this confrontation. The nice Dr Sam at college is developing all kinds of technology – and, Mabel is able to transfer her mind and voice to a mechanical recreation of a Beaver. (Well, we are in an age of AI development!).

We spend a lot of time with this mechanical Mabel with the animals, especially beaver King George, a leader, and gradually meeting a whole range of animals, who have been banished, driven away by Jerry’s sound waves in the trees, but with Mabel, eliminating the repellent sound, they are able to come back. We are on side.

And, of course, we are against Jerry, absolutely smug, blowing up the habitat, clashing with Mabel. But, the animals fight back against Jerry. Even a large shark leaps out of the water onto his car to get rid of him!

The voice talent in the film is quite extensive. Piper Curda voices Mabel, Bobby Moynihan King George. But, in the supporting voices, we have Jon Hamm as Jerry, Kathy Najimi as Dr Sam, Dave Franco as the Insect King and, of all voices, Meryl Streep as the Insect Queen.

And, will it be a happy ending! Of course, but not before having to sort out Mabel’s deception of the animals, reconciliation, the hounding of Jerry and his conversion, and the message, important for audiences but, especially, younger audiences with social concern, progress is made not by confrontation but by dialogue and collaboration. Progress can win – but nature must also win.

1. The tradition of Pixar entertainment? Comic themes, serious themes?
2. The title, expectations, animals in nature, beavers, technological experiments?
3. The style of animation, the characters, delineation, backgrounds? Special effects? Editing and pace? The musical score, the final song?
4. The introduction to Mabel, at school, sympathy for the turtle, the reaction of the children, against her, her stealing the animals, caught, her mother, sending her to her grandmother, the kindly grandmother, sitting on the rock, the silence and contemplating, hearing all the animal sounds?
5. The initial issue of nature, attention to nature, preservation?
6. Mabel grown-up, campaigner, Jerry, Mayor, the building of the Beltway, destroying the animal habitat? Mabel and protests, strident, eager, going door to door, no help, the kindly old man, but his finally giving her the grocery list?
7. Dr Sam, her role at college, Mabel’s studies, suffering from campaigning? The discussions with Dr Sam? Her experiments?
8. Mabel, her intervening, using the experiments, her brain, creating the Beaver, her chatter, encountering George, king, the bonding, their working together, the saving of the animals, the countering of the Beltway?
9. The range of animals, their personalities, the voice talent, Insect Queen, Titus, the members of the council? And Diane, the shark?
10. The strategies, Jerry, the confrontations, his having the sounds in the trees to scatter the animals? Mabel taking them down, Reconstruction? The attempts against Jerry, the shark? Jerry and his personality, determination, his workers? The initial blowing up of the barrier? The later attack, the fire, the destruction, moving towards the city?
11. The animal politics, the death of the Insect Queen, the butterfly, Titus, his taking over?
12. Mabel, the truth, the disillusionment, working with Dr Sam, the experiments with Jerry, confrontation, the animals, communication, the face? The blend of the serious and the comic episodes?
13. The buildup confrontations, Titus, Jerry and his change of heart, Dr Sam and her work, the strategies, using the technology, communication with the animals?
14. The final resolution, the fire, extinguishing, Jerry and his change of heart, moving the Beltway, the restoration of the habitat? And Mabel and her final communication with George, the phone and facial recognition and voice?
15. The blend of the serious concern for nature, progress and the need for dialogue rather than confrontation?