The Bling Ring.
Their is a quote at the start of the film by Nicki (Emma Watson) just before she enters the court room in which she stands trial for the Hollywood robberies: "I'm a firm believer in Karma and I think that this situation was attracted in my life because it was supposed to be a huge learning lesson for me to grow and expand as a human being. I see myself being like Angelina Jolie but even stronger. I'm studying business because eventually I want to be a leader. I want to lead a country, for all I know". This quote pretty much summed up the whole naive mentality that not only did Nicki have but her other fellow friends also had as well.
Written and directed by Sofia Coppola (Lot In Translation, Marie Antoinette) the film is set within Hollywood and tells the story of a group of friends who decide to steal from celebrity's. Rebecca (Katie Chang) is a young aspiring girl with big ambitions who meets new boy Marc (Israel Broussard) and soon enough they become inseparable. As Rebecca introduces Marc to some of her other friends Nicki, Sam (Taissa Farmiga) and Chloe (Claire Julien) they all soon enough go out partying and keep up to date with the local celebrity's movements on Twitter and various new sites. Realising that celebrity's are "out of town" Rebecca and Marc take into action what they've always wanted to do, enter their idols houses and see how they live. Entering Paris Hilton's home by using a key left under the front door mat they see the extravagance of the life they live. Room packed full of clothes, shoes and coats and even a closet full of jewellery they leave with a few items.
As word gets to Nicki that Rebecca and Marc have been to Paris Hilton's house they decide to try this theory out again and again and again and again. Taking Nicki, Chloe, Sam and one time only Emily (Georgia Rock) with them they break and enter into some top A-list celebs homes. Orlando Bloom, Megan Fox, Audrina Patridge, Rachel Bilson and Lindsay Lohan's homes are all targeted and they steal as much expensive clothes, jewellery and money as possible.
Partying the night away just like their idols they show off their newly acquired items and at one point decide to sell some of the stolen items on Hollywood boulevard to make some extra money. With Marc selling Orlando Bloom's stolen Rolex's to a nightclub owner Ricky (Gavin Rossdale) the teens live the lifestlye they have always wanted. Obviously the high life doesn't last for too long as the "bling ring" are tracked down and arrested they are brought to trial and fitting punishments are handed out.
You can tell this is a Coppola film as the films is just like Lost In Translation and Marie Antoinette it has that underlying feel of characters being outcasts and trying to do the right thing to fit in and find their place in society. The camera angles are nicely shot especially with the robberies taking place as each one is framed differently, Audrina Patridge is done at a really wide angle while Orlando Bloom is done via CCTV footage.
Emma Watson is perfect for the role as her american accent is spot on and she plays Nicki with impressive naivety and youth. Israel and Katie really make you feel that Marc and Rebecca's friendship had the best intentions at first but knew it would all change and end up ending badly. Usually in robbery style films their is a accomplice but for The Bling Ring it's the websites and social networks we all use on a daily basis. Twitter, Facebook, TMZ and Google maps are all used to orchestrate and plan the robberies and just shows how the youth and society use the internet to their advantage in the 21st century.
A great addition to Coppola's filmography and what has to be her most mainstream and accessible film to date. Definitely a film that shows us how completely alien the celebrity culture can be at times and how people sometimes just need that escape to another world but obviously do it legally.
8/10.
