Film review: The Bling Ring

As a portrait of a generation for whom social media has erased the line between public and private, The Bling Ring is sharp enough.

Katie Chang and Israel Broussard in The Bling Ring. Courtesy A24

Stephen Applebaum

Jul 03, 2013

The Bling Ring
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Emma Watson, Katie Cheung, Israel Broussard
***

Having looked at fame and celebrity from the point of view of a bored film star in Somewhere, Sofia Coppola now turns to the fans.

Drawing on a Vanity Fair article, she tells the true story of privileged LA kids who stole from the Hollywood homes of wealthy celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom, before eventually being arrested. Sympathy for the victims is hard to muster when you see the gaudy Aladdin’s Cave of designer gear that is Hilton’s actual home.

On the other hand, the thieves themselves are a shallow bunch, and it is hard to decide whether Coppola isn't herself also dazzled by the bling. She doesn't have much to say, but as a portrait of a generation for whom social media has erased the line between public and private, The Bling Ring is sharp enough.

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