The premiere of the second part of the cult film “The Devil Wears Prada” has caused a wave of attention to films about the work of journalists. In our selection – several already cult films, from “The Intern” by Michael Lange to “The French Messenger” by Wes Anderson .
“Sleepless in Seattle”, 1999
Advertising.
A film directed by Nora Ephron, who gave the world “When Harry Met Sally” and herself began her career in journalism, “Sleepless in Seattle” is a true classic. The plot unfolds as follows: an eight-year-old boy calls a radio station to find a new wife for his recently widowed father, Sam (Tom Hanks). Among the listeners is Baltimore Sun journalist Annie Reed (Meg Ryan), who is unhappily engaged. She writes a letter to Sam – but never dares to send it … at least not by herself. Her friend and editor takes the initiative in her own hands. I think you can guess what happens next.
“Trainee”, 2000
“The Intern” tells the story of Jocelyn Bennett, an intern at the fictional New York magazine Skirt. Jocelyn is treated terribly at work, she receives a low salary, but the girl lives for the magazine and adores fashion. At some point, a spy appears in the editorial office, who begins to transfer spreads and story ideas from Skirt to the competing glossy publication Vogue. Skirt magazine finds itself in a difficult situation, and some people begin to guess who the spy could be, and Jocelyn tries to clear her name, and in the process – she falls in love with the art director of the publication.
The screenplay for the film was written by Caroline Doyle and Jill Kargman, who both worked at Mademoiselle, Harper's Bazaar, and Interview magazines, so the level of authenticity (and irony) in “The Intern” is surprising.
“Unkissed”, 1999
An adult posing as a high school student to explore “modern teen culture” would seem both disturbing and illegal in real life—but as a plot for a '90s movie, it works flawlessly. In “The Unkissed,” 25-year-old Chicago Sun-Times editor Josie Geller—played by a youthful-looking Drew Barrymore—goes undercover to her old school, the very place where she was once relentlessly bullied. And don't worry: she doesn't fall in love with a student—just, let's say, her teacher.
“Almost Famous”, 2000
A story that stands out a bit from this glossy series. In “Almost Famous”, the main character is not a spectacular thirty-year-old journalist in a perfectly tailored jacket, but a teenager (the charmingly naive Patrick Fugee) who goes on tour with a rock band for Rolling Stone in the 1970s (yes, the term “rom-com” is rather conditional here). And yet it is impossible to ignore this film – it is a cult. First of all, thanks to Penelope “Penny” Lane, played by Kate Hudson: her bohemian style and mind have inspired the fashion choices of entire generations over the years – especially when it comes to the perfect autumn coat.
“French Herald”
The action of Wes Anderson's film takes place in the fictional French town of Ennois-sur-Blaise, in the office of the publication, created on the basis of The New Yorker magazine. Its characters are stylish and eccentric journalists played by Elisabeth Moss, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson. It is known that while working on the script, the director was inspired by The New Yorker magazine, of which he was a passionate fan since his youth. Some characters and events in the film are borrowed from real articles in this magazine. For example, the image of the editor-in-chief Arthur Howitzer Jr., played by Bill Murray, is inspired by the co-founder of The New Yorker, Harold Ross.