FILM REVIEW: The Bling Ring

Sofia Coppola’s latest film The Bling Ring highlights the influence of celebrities, the power of the internet, and the cost of vanity. Based on true events, a privileged bunch of teenagers from Los Angeles, driven by celebrity obsession, break into the homes of A-list celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Megan Fox and Lindsay Lohan.

Feast your eyes on the copious amounts of fashion in every scene! The fashion is the only aspect to envy though, as the reckless teenagers tick off almost everything in the ‘don’t do’ list. Their behaviour is completely cringe-worthy at times.

The group is led by Rebecca (Katie Chang), a wealthy student who surrounds herself with expensive fashion and a wild lifestyle similar to that of coveted celebrities. Her friendship group shares the same perverse compulsion, as Chloe (Claire Julien), Nicki (Emma Watson) and her adopted sister Sam (Taissa Farmiga) encourage each other’s egos and feed their addiction on a regular basis. Outsider Marc (Israel Broussard) is completely foreign to their world until he befriends Rebecca on his first day at high school and becomes equally absorbed.

Visually, the film is pleasing and the cinematography is a credit to the movie. The film unfolds logically and although it follows a predictable storyline, it is well-structured. As far as the young female cast is concerned, this is not Watson’s best performance but Chang is a convincing act. Be prepared for heavy substance use; the film depicts several products and popular methods of use.

The Bling Ring is a frightening reminder of popular influences in Western culture and extreme consequences of obsessive vanity.

by Sarah Thomson

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