Susan Hated Literature

Dir: David Frankel
Writ: Aline Brosh McKenna, based on the book by Lauren Weisberger

• Meryl Streep - Miranda Priestly
• Anne Hathaway - Andy Sachs
• Emily Blunt - Emily
• Stanley TucciNigel

I’d heard some fairly decent things about this film, and the trailer made it seem like good fun, but all in all I wasn’t impressed. Very average is perhaps the best description. Predictable and with a lot less snark than I would have wished for.

The main character, Andy Sachs, has such a predictable arc that it really isn’t an arc at all. And all the trailers pointing to Meryl Streep’s character as some huge bitch? Well she wouldn’t have been nice to work for, I’ll give you that, and I wouldn’t have stayed in the position, but nevertheless she wasn’t even half as evil as she could have been. I did like her use of the name Emily as a term for her assistant, introducing Andy as her “new Emily� but apart from that I really don’t see what all the raving was about.

Speaking of Emily though, I did enjoy Emily Blunt’s character, the original Emily. Although, now that I think about it, maybe she was never called Emily until she came to work at Runway magazine. But somehow I doubt that.

I’ve said all this but haven’t, as yet, mentioned a plot, so I suppose I had better address that. Okay, Andy wants to be a journalist. A proper investigative Lois Lane, but she can’t get a job, so as a last ditch effort she takes a on a PA job at a fashion magazine, because after this she’ll be able to land any role. But her naïve ways get her into trouble, and before long she is looking for ways to fit in at Runway. And these ways of fitting in? Well, losing weight from a “fat� size 6, and of course better clothes. And working all hours.

Some improvement.

But in the end, she learns that her old self is really better, and if she loves the world of journalism so much maybe she’d be better suited as a journalist.

So the whole thing is really a pointless journey round in a big circle of crap. That may be a little harsh, because while I watched it I was entertained by The Devil Wears Prada. But in the end it is very forgetable, and not worth a view.

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Tags: 5 Stars, Aline Brosh McKenna, Anne Hathaway, average, based on book, comedy, David Frankel, Emily Blunt, forgetable, Lauren Weisberger, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, The Devil Wears Prada, unfunny

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Dir: Michael Apted, Julian Farino, Allen Coulter, Alan Poul, Timothy Van Patten, Steve Shill, Jeremy Podeswa, Alan Taylor, Mikael Salomon.
Writ: Bruno Heller, John Milius, David Frankel, William J. MacDonald, Alexandra Cunningham, Adrian Hodges.

• Kevin McKidd - Lucius Vorenus
• Ray Stevenson - Titus Pullo
• Polly Walker - Attia of the Julii
• Ciarán Hinds - Julius Caesar
• James Purefoy - Mark Anthony

it has been four hundred years since the founding of the Republic, and in that time Rome has grown into a mighty power. But military might, and subjugated lands don’t mean everything is happy at home. While Gaius Julius Caesar has been off subduing Gaul, the senators back home have been growing more discontented. And while at first his co-ruler of Rome, Pompey, isn’t willing to oppose him, slowly he comes around until conflict is inevitable.

But Rome is much more than a history lesson, though all attempts have been made to ensure that this show is as historically accurate as possible, because the writers and creators have made the central story revolve around two ordinary men, soldiers Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus.

The show itself is fantastic. It looks fantastic, set design, costumes, weapons. All look authentic. And the actors are even better, each and everyone seems so suited to their characters, I’ve reviewed most of the episodes already, so I won’t repeat myself.

The DVD has a number of special features. One flashes up historical facts as you watch the episode, giving you wonderful information, such as the name of some sexual positions. There are also a number of commentaries. These were interesting, but not spectacular, and in certain cases it would have probably been a lot better had they had two people do the commentary, rather than having just the one person.

There is also a bonus disc of documentaries, and again, they are all entertaining and informative. But nothing I’d really be bothered to watch twice. Still, the actual episodes themselves are great, and even without any extras at all, it would still be worth buying.

Tags: 10 Stars, Adrian Hodges, Alan Poul, Alan Taylor, Alexandra Cunningham, Allen Coulter, blood, Bruno Heller, Chicken and Lamb, Ciarán Hinds, David Frankel, historical fiction, James Purefoy, Jeremy Podeswa, John Milius, Julian Farino, Julius Caesar, Kevin McKidd, Lucius Vorenus, Michael Apted, Mikael Salomon, Polly Walker, Ray Stevenson, Roman Empire, Rome, Rome season 1, Steve Shill, Timothy Van Patten, Titus Pullo, violence, William J. MacDonald

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