The Bling Ring
By Sophia Fineza
Image Source: IMDb
logline: Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.
Source: IMDb
Not only is this movie the EPITOME of early 2000’s Los Angeles, it’s also extremely interesting. Seeing the perspectives of the Bling Ring, especially after they were caught by the police, makes you feel almost BAD for them, even after watching an entire movie of them invading people’s homes, stealing their clothes and jewelry. It’s a really good watch, and yes, it may be a little shallow, but don’t let that turn you off to the movie. The characters are really well formed (see my essential analysis of Rebecca and Sam down below) and Sofia Coppola did a really great job directing. This movie did a really great job of showing you how fun being a #reckless #carefree #cool teen can be, but also showed how dire the consequences can be, both mentally and literally. There were multiple points within the movie where I had to pause and say, “okay wait, they are BAD PEOPLE. DO NOT ROOT FOR THEM.” The casting was on point for this one, especially with Israel Broussard as Marc and Taissa Farmgia as Sam. Everything feels very real, and their conversations don’t feel too plastic-y or fake. They could 100% be a real friend group, insulting each other, picking out outfits, and doing coke, of course. (please don’t do coke that was a jokey joke) I also love the Y2K aesthetic of this film. There’s plenty of animal print, thick-ass belts, and low-rise jeans for the whole gang, of course. And of course, you can’t forget the Facebook albums, “All of the Lights” by Kanye West, and the selfie-but-you-actually-have-to-turn-the-camera-around-because-front-facing-cameras-weren’t-a-thing-yet. I know this movie from the outside can look really stupid (i thought the exact same thing), but it’s actually a really great analysis and commentary on how the internet was beginning to play a major factor in people’s lives, and the lengths some will go to in order to achieve any form of stardom (or, in the Bling Ring’s case, stealing from stars).
My favorite (but really, just the most intriguing) characters:
Katie Chang as Rebecca - I love how the second they all got caught, Rebecca instantly excommunicated herself from the group, despite being the ringleader. It was always her idea to go to these celebrities houses, but even up until she’s caught with the stolen property, she’s lying to the police, and willing to turn EVERYONE else in. She always maintained an air of superiority, but still let the others in the Bling Ring feel as if they were in charge, when really she just ruled over all of them. Honestly, she’s kind of the blueprint for all the backstabbing b*tches out there. Even during the trial, she tried to make herself seem as innocent as possible, even though she was identified as the ringleader. She didn’t talk to anyone, not even Marc, who she had essentially groomed into doing whatever she said. It’s kind of sad, because even though she was the leader of the group, and usually the leader would protect everyone, she didn’t even hesitate to turn around and expose EVERYONE, the people she called her best friends.
Taissa Farmgia as Sam - Sam is a psychopath. I will say that straight up. I mean, they’re all some kind of crazy, but Sam is very….outwardly insane. In one of the break-in scenes, Nicki and Sam find a gun, and Sam immediately begins “threatening” Marc with the gun, pointing it towards his head and constantly keeping her finger on the trigger. We see later in the movie that she sneaks into her boyfriend’s house (drunk/high af), proceeds to threaten him with the gun, and FIRES, almost shooting him. She’s got a lot of trauma, and although we don’t really get the whole backstory of her mom, we do find out toward the ending of the movie that she’s a drug addict, and unfit to be a mother, which is why the Moore’s take her in. On the outside, she puts up a very chill front, but her darker side definitely comes out a few times during the movie. Her trauma, mixed with the constant drug use and adrenaline of robbing houses, makes for a very interesting and slightly scary character. Farmgia does an amazing portrayal of Sam, and therefore created the only person in the Bling Ring that I am genuinely afraid of.
This movie is rated R. Here’s why:
Alcohol and Drug Use
Language
Sexual References
Something I liked: The break-in of Audrina Partridge’s house is a really fun scene. The camera didn’t follow Marc and Rebecca as they robbed the house, as it usually does, but instead was on a nearby hill, resulting in a 1-2 minute shot of the duo breaking in, sneaking around the house, and leaving. I thought it was really cool to have a far away shot of the robbery, so we could just get a different kind of view of the burglaries. When you’re not up close on the action, it gives you less of an adrenaline rush, and almost makes you feel like these robberies are just relaxed and completely calm, like it’s not even really happening.
Where to Watch:
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