Meryl Streep Critiques Modern Movie Characters
Meryl Streep, one of the most celebrated actresses in Hollywood, has shared her thoughts on the current state of movie characters. In a recent interview, she expressed concern that modern films lack depth and complexity, particularly within the superhero genre.
During an appearance on Hits Radio to promote The Devil Wears Prada 2, the 76-year-old Oscar winner highlighted how movies have become overly simplified, with clear distinctions between heroes and villains. “I think we tend to Marvel-ize the movies now,” she said. “We got the villains and we got the good guys, and it’s so boring.”
Streep emphasized that what makes life interesting is the nuance between characters. “What’s really interesting about life is that some of the heroes are flawed and some of the villains are human and interesting and have their own strengths,” she explained. “So that’s what I like about this [movie]. It’s messier.”
The Devil Wears Prada 2: A Sequel with Depth
The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiered in theaters on Friday, marking a return to the world of Runway magazine. The film sees Anne Hathaway reprise her role as Andrea Sachs, who returns to work with editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly.
Miranda Priestly was inspired by real-life Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who is also 76 years old. In anticipation of the film’s release, Streep and Wintour collaborated on the May issue of Vogue. Wintour expressed her trust in Streep, saying she “trusted her implicitly” when it came to filming the sequel.
Streep reflected on returning to the role 20 years later, noting that “they’ve located something true about the [fashion] business now.” She also addressed whether her onscreen persona would use artificial intelligence (AI). “No, I don’t think so,” she said. “I have assistants for such tasks.”
AI and the Future of Work
Anne Hathaway shared a humorous anecdote about job applicants using AI tools like ChatGPT to write thank-you notes. “The first one arrived and I’m like, ‘That’s so nice and so professional.’ Then the second one arrived and I’m like, ‘Oh no.’ So I just want to warn you: If you think you’re getting away with something, you might be revealing yourself.”
Streep added, “There are so many Anne Hathaways that you’re going to apply to that you can’t write it yourself?” She jokingly warned, “That would be an absolute killer – nobody on that list gets that job. That’s just tragic, in my opinion. Don’t let the human get away girls. The future is female, so you better hold on.”
A Legacy Reimagined
The original The Devil Wears Prada was based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger, a former Vogue intern. She described her time at the publication as “crazy,” even though she only worked there for less than a year. Her experiences inspired the hit movie, which became a cultural phenomenon.
Film critic Brian Viner praised the sequel, calling it “smart and funny.” He noted that the film includes “plenty of satisfying one-liners indicating how the world has changed in 20 years.”
As the film continues to generate buzz, it remains a testament to the enduring legacy of The Devil Wears Prada and the evolving nature of storytelling in Hollywood.
