Starring Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson
Directed by Sofia Coppola
Just as kids were choosing between the Beatles and Stones 50 years ago, 2013's moviegoers get to pick their poison when it comes to teenage riots: Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring or Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers. Whereas the mantra of Korine's hedonists Spring break forever suggested a state of transcendence, the battle cry of Coppola's entitled brats betrays far more tangible aims: Let's go shopping.
In the case of five Southern California teens, shopping takes the Instant Gratification Gone Wild! form of breaking into the palatial homes of the celebrities they idolize and liberating the fashions and accessories they covet. Meeting at a drop-out school, Rebecca (Katie Chang) and Marc (Israel Broussard) impulsively slip into Paris Hilton's mansion after learning that she's out of town. They soon rack up more A-list victims while attracting an entourage that includes Nicki (Emma Watson), a wannabe starlet prone to prattling on about huge learning lessons and the principles of The Secret.
Based on true events, Coppola's film accurately depicts both teenage disaffection and the corruptive influence of celebrity culture. Being constantly apprised of stars' moves and missteps has instilled a false sense of intimacy in their devotees. As a result, the conspirators here have lost any sense of perspective, viewing their actions as simply an extension of the invasions of privacy that are already perpetrated daily on their idols. The ramifications of their actions never once occur to them.
Perhaps owing to its players casualness, The Bling Ring struggles to create much high-stakes drama. Instead, its content to serve as a candid snapshot of precisely how image-obsessed we've become.
