I think the idea was the job was life consuming and ate up your ability to enjoy the wealth and prestige it bought until eventually you become like Emily. And she was under the thumb of a domineering women trying to gain her respect by meeting her every whim and inane demand which wasn't actually her taking control of her life or gaining self worth. Leaving allowed her to have her self worth and it turned out that the way to gain the respect of her employee was just to stand up for herself. The difference between that and the start was that she wasn't really taking a stand then, she just had no capability to be good at her job and was hiding behind a moral excuse. But when she was good at her job she was just another pawn like everyone else around Emily, so Emily didn't really respect that either.
-Thats how I read it at least. I really like your review regardless of disagreements though, because it's nice for someone to be bringing in the real world questions that make a film watching rather than just whether it was entertaining or not. I want to write reviews like that but I always get sucked into the traditional :(
I think the message of the movie is that to be successful in a high pressure industry, you have to become ruthless, self-centred person who commits to nothing but getting the job done. Unfortunately the story bungles this message in the delivery.
- Firstly, Andy is beaten over the head for not taking her job seriously (even though she has every reason too, what with everyone in the job being either a lickspittle or a dominatrix).
- Then Andy is needlessly thrown sadistic choices by her boss, for no reason other than to show her that you have to make sadistic choices in this industry (but again, only because assholes needlessly throw them at you).
- Then Andy is beaten over the head by her friends and partner, for working too hard and neglecting them (right after she's met them for coffee and give them a shit ton of presents). They casually jeopardise her job for fun, and act all surprised when she gets pissy at them. Evidently, she's the one at fault here.
- Then she is told that she is becoming selfish and work-obsessed like Miranda; but that's only happening because Miranda is a fussy, spiteful, unreasonable person who would otherwise fire her for not being moulded into her image.
- Finally, the boyfriend gets a promotion and leaves Andy! Right after lecturing her about how she should not commit to her job and spend more time with him. The hypocrisy goes unmentioned. Come to think of it, despite being played up as a voice or reason, he's just as selfish and domineering as Miranda. He has an idea of what Andy should be like, and he starts whining like a spoiled brat when she doesn't conform to those expectations. He's also, catering is a high pressure, high commitment job that will probably result in you missing one or two birthdays too. No association is made by the movie though - what an asshat.
As for the review, I don't think it reads like one. It reads more like an argument against the film; one which presumes the reader is already well acquainted with it. That's fine for people who have seen it, but to someone looking for advice about the movie, they aren't going to get much from this.
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- I thought I'd messed something up, every time I said Emily I meant Miranda. Oops. It's been a long time (I do love that somehow this film really is a semi-classic and has been remembered long after other films have passed away)
If you change the films message to it being insufferable to work with Miranda, whose managed to force here way into the top spot because of what the industry is, some of those objections go away. Then she's less walking away from the industry and more this particular women and some of the criticism of the industry still works, for letting such a person get to the top. No defense for her friends not being supportive enough though
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Who's the Real Devil Here?
Seriously, I did not understand how Andy was supposed to be making the "right" choice at the end. Was she wring to screw over Emily? Maybe, but she tried to make it right later.
The first part, where Andy learns not to act like the fashion industry is all superficiality and worthless was GREAT and I say this as someone who doesn't care much for fashion. She assumed herself above her entry-level position because of the line of work—bad idea, and she deserved the call-outs she got for it. Her friends and boyfriend, not so much. I can understand missing that one important thing with her boyfriend being a strain, but the rest of the time they're essentially telling her to stop doing her job well because it takes up time. Most first jobs are time intensive, especially in industries like publishing. Complaining about the nicer clothes—hey, maybe Andy likes them and is trying something new? And defending themselves with saying she never cared about fashion "before" is weak since she's working for a fashion magazine!
All in all, Miranda was bitchy, but also ran the top magazine in New York. Andy changed, but to fit a job with great opportunities and hopefully pursue a lucrative career. Why is that bad again?