She learns the industry without losing herself

The movie flows really well. Anne Hathaway’s character starts out knowing nothing about the fashion industry and ends up with real respect for it, without losing who she is along the way. That balance is hard to write, and the film gets it right.

The more her character gets attacked, the clearer she becomes about herself — so when she finally walks away, it reads as her finding herself rather than as the plot needing an ending.

Meryl Streep is excellent, and the supporting cast holds up its end throughout. The screenplay is great, and setting it in New York gives the whole thing a vibe that carries the film.