The Bling Ring

Never in my wildest cinematic dreams would I like a pointless movie for being so pointless. There's really not so much to The Bling Ring but as you start to think about what the leads are aspiring to, you see that's the point; nothing is being achieved and yet people are trying so hard to achieve it.

What's up? Israel Broussard plays Marc, a new kid at his school who doesn't have any friends. He soon gets his first with Rebecca (Katie Chang) a girl whose head is in the clouds about the lives of celebrities and all of the things they do. Both have a shared love of breaking in and stealing things, which leads them to burglarizing several celebrities' houses such as Paris Hilton and Audrina Patridge. Along for the ride are Nicki (Emma Watson), Chloe (Claire Julien), and Sam (Taissa Fermiga from American Horror Story).

What's good? The Bling Ring oddly brings a lot of humor to a situation which isn't typically deemed as funny. The leads' desperation to get into a life of nothingness most notably Nicki is quite ironic and humorous. Emma Watson is the star as far as I'm concerned. She milks her character's vapid & over the top nature perfectly. Only she can deliver lines such as, "I could lead a country for all I know" in such a serious, deadpan tone.

All of the acting is actually quite strong. Though the leads aren't terribly well known they're all fair game here for a good time. Katie Chang is also noteworthy as the leader of the pack, easily deemed the most desperate and fame hungry of the group.

Props also go out to the way this movie was shot. The editing and cinematography is pitch perfect, though you're seeing places in California that are far from uncommon, never have they looked so perfect as The Bling Ring is almost like a postcard/dedication to the lifestyles lived in California.

What the fuck? My biggest complaint about The Bling Ring is that when it comes to the resolution I feel like the viewer was a bit shut out in the cold. I would have enjoyed seeing more scenes involving the courtroom drama/verdict of the leads' crime and maybe a few less scenes of them partying like rockstars.

Overall The Bling Ring is a fascinating, sad, yet comedic look into how celebrities and their lifestyles are glamourized to a point of obsession. Never has watching someone shoot for so much to earn so little feel so entertaining to view.

3/4