“THE DEVIL GETS HER DUE”
Starring: Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Grace Coddington, Patrick Demarchelier, Oscar De La Renta
Directed by: R.J. Cutler
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language.
Genre: Documentary and Biopic
By John Delia
If you would like to see what the editor of a hugely popular magazine goes thorough day after day, then the documentary The September Issue should fill the bill. Crammed with an ‘all in a days work’ philosophy, director R. J. Cutler provides a keen insight of an industry that caters to a woman’s style and ego.
The documentary dives into the world of Vogue centering on their most
powerful and monetary successful September issue. Focusing on Anna Wintour, the legendary editor-in-chief of the famous magazine and the character on which The Devil Wears Prada is based, the camera provides a look at her everyday challenges, critical decisions and strong managerial hand. Cutler holds nothing back with this examination of mostly every woman’s bible on fashion.
The largest issue of Vogue comes out every September and Cutler latched on to the magazines biggest issue ever in their history with nearly 1000 pages when he made the film in 2007. Filming most every move from editor to fashion shoots and designers to magazine layout, his interesting and bold account shows the demanding, exhausting, emotional and sometimes amusing account of this yearly undertaking.
I enjoyed Wintour’s head to head confrontations on choosing the right dress for photo shoots with her creative director Grace Coddington. Some of Grace’s on camera remarks in private following some of their meetings together are priceless. I was amazed however in seeing the age of the two most important decision makers of the magazine trying to pick out what is best for a target market that is mostly young. In a way the film made me wonder if Wintour allowed the filmmaker to make the documentary as a reply to show her ‘softer’ workaholic side than the one depicted in The Devil Wears Prada.
So I picked up the 2009 issue of Vogue to see if they could top the 2007 issue
on which the documentary is based. With the economy on a downturn even Vogue is affected coming in at only 584 pages, about 60% of the size of the 2007 issue. Filled with advertising on more than 80% of the huge publication, I had to thumb through 222 pages just to find the first article, a letter from the editor Anna Wintour. It wasn’t until page 250 that the articles began with a column called Talking Back about letters from their readers. After flipping through less fashion informative columns like “Contributions,” “Up Front,” “Lives” and “Nostalgia” followed by more advertising we finally get some style on page 464 with “Into The Woods” a gorgeous photo shoot of red capes, coats, dresses and suits. Next there is a story on the cover model called “The Indiscreet Charm of Charlize Theron.” From here on out the magazine sticks to what they do best and that is bringing fashions, scents and accessories to their readers.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A very entertaining look at a leader in the magazine industry. 4 of 5 Palm Trees