In The Bling Ring, acquisitive Southern California teenagers embark on an intoxicating, guilt-free burglary spree in the Hollywood Hills. Dazzled by the luxurious excess they witness on television and in fashion magazines, the group is headed by Rebecca (Katie Chang), who befriends shy, socially awkward Indian Hills High School newcomer Marc (Israel Broussard). Other members include Chloe (Claire Julien), and siblings Nicki (Emma Watson), Emily (Georgia Rock), and their “adopted” sister Sam (Taissa Farmiga)—the latter three home-schooled by their ditsy mom (Leslie Mann), whose curriculum draws from the self-help bestseller The Secret. Consulting stalker websites, they target the palatial, surprisingly un-protected homes of fashionistas Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox, Rachel Bilson, and Orlando Bloom, among others. Based on a real-life crime spree that led to a Vanity Fair article, the teen intruders' haute-couture haul in glittery designer loot was said to have exceeded $3 million (apparently none of these high-profile celebrities used a burglar-alarm; Hilton actually left her house key under the front-door mat). While this could have been a cautionary caper—a societal fable about materialism and amorality—the shallow, atmospheric script by director Sofia Coppola instead seems blatantly besotted with the idle rich, more enticed and titillated by their vacuous extravagance than interested in exploring the consequences of inept parenting. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “Behind the Real Bling Ring” segment (24 min.), a “making-of” featurette (23 min.), a “Scene of the Crime with Paris Hilton” featurette (11 min.), a bonus UltraViolet copy of the film, and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing film.] (S. Granger)
The Bling Ring
Lionsgate, 87 min., R, DVD: $19.98, Blu-ray: $24.99, Sept. 17 Volume 28, Issue 5
The Bling Ring
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