A Love Letter to Meryl Streep for Her Portrayal of Miranda Priestly in 'The Devil Wears Prada II'
Dear Ms. Streep,
This is simply a missive to say how much this moviegoer loved your performance in ‘The Devil Wears Prada II.’
Despite the barbs of the worst president in American history—dismissively branding you a "has-been" and a "mediocre actress"—your work here is a resounding reminder that, at 76, you remain at the height of your powers. The film, launched last week in New York and now showing here in Rio de Janeiro, proves that retirement is the last thing on your horizon.
I use the word ‘artist’ deliberately. In your portrayal of the imperious yet fascinating Miranda Priestly— inspired by Vogue magazine Anna Wintour—you transcend mere acting.
You evoke a type I’ve known well over the years: the formidable, rough,usually impolite editor and top journalist. Tough, disciplined, often brusque to the point of intimidation, yet—once the armor cracks—revealing a humanity that occasionally outshines their relentless pursuit of perfection.
Just when I had begun lamenting the decline of American cinema in comparison to its international counterparts, this film restored a measure of faith. Penned by Aline McKenna and based on the 2003 bestseller by Lauren Weisberger, and directed with confidence by David Frankel (son a great NYTimes editor Max Frankel), the production is refreshingly top notch. Shot on a relatively low budget in New York (Manhattan and Astoria) rather than Hollywood, it embraces storytelling over hi-tech spectacle.
The cast is equally compelling: Anne Hathaway returns as journalist Andy Sachs, alongside Britain's Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci as Priestly's indispensable right-hand man. Together, they revive the kind of intelligent, character-driven filmmaking many of us grew up with—before the era of streaming and hi-tech without intelligent content.
As a sequel to the original The Devil Wears Prada, the film also reflects the seismic shifts of the past two decades: the decline of print journalism, the rise of smartphones, and a culture increasingly shaped by speed over substance. The old image of the reporter chasing a breaking story has given way to a generation sit at homes in front of their laptops, often distanced from the pulse of real life.
Having attended Rio Fashion Week here in Rio, I glimpsed firsthand the insular, often artificial world the film so deftly captures. It made your performance resonate even more.
And so, I end with a hope: that this role earns you-- a "has been and mediocre" actress (according to Rump) -- a fourth Academy Award. It would be richly deserved—for a performance that is not only unforgettable, but a testament to the enduring power of cinema.
With admiration,
Harold Emert
