Director:SofiaCoppola
Runtime:90minutes
WrittenbyShanshanChen,May21,2013at10:30am
ThelatestfromSofiaCoppolaisaleftturnofsortsfortheauteurwhoisknownforheratmospheric,ennuidrenchedfilms.Giventheedgysourcematerial,thereareplentyofopportunitiesforbitingsocialcommentaryonthephenomenaof21stcenturycelebrityidolisation,fetishism,voyeurismnoneofwhicharenotexploredinsatisfyinglyenoughdepth.FanswholoveCoppolaforherpoignantlymelancholiccharacterstudieswillfindTheBlingRingabitofadisappointment.
Agroupofcelebrityobsessed,thrillseekingteenagersplunderthehousesofHollywoodstars,includingParisHilton,LindsayLohanandOrlandoBloom,makingoffwithmillionsofdollarsworthofluxurygoods.Thescript,writtenbyCoppola,isbasedontheVanityFairarticlebyNancyJoSalesthatfirstchristenedtheteenagelootersTheBlingRing.AmongthegroupthereisdaredevilringleaderRebecca(KatieChang),newkidintownMark(IsraelBroussard),fashionistaNikki(EmmaWatson)andthefeistyChloe(ClaireJulien).
Forcynicalviewers,thecharacterscanfeelquitegratinglycaricaturedattimesunliketheentitledprotagonistsofCoppolasotherfilms,therichkidsofTheBlingRingdonotoftencomeacrossassympatheticoreventouchrelatable.ThefilmdemandsatemporarysuspensionofdisbeliefinordertonotchortleatthesceneofNikkisarrest,starringWatsonasantiHermioneinhermostdeterminedvalleygirlaccent(admittedly,ahugeimprovementfromherawfullypatchyAmericanaccentinThePerksOfBeingAWallflower).
Glitzysetdesignculminatesinadizzyingorgyofsequinnedclothes,glitteryshoesandshinycarsasthegangwhirlwindsthroughthehomesoftheiridols.ThelookinsidetheParisHiltonresidenceisonethatissuretostickwithaudiences,whilecameosbyHiltonandKirstenDunstaddanicelayerofmetatextualitytothisfableofcelebrity.
OnecanrelyonCoppolaforatopnotchsoundtrackandstunningcinematography,andTheBlingRingdeliversonthesetwocounts.Thepulsatingsoundtrack,whichincludescutsfromSleighBells,M.I.A.anddeadmau5,setsupafewamusingjoyridescenes,andpumpsupthecharacterslargerthanlifesenseofbravado.
ThelateHarrisSavides,afrequentCoppolacollaborator,capturesthehighliving,fastmovinglifestyleinacombinationoffoundfootage,shakyhandheldvideocamfootageandelegantframedRedOnecamerawork.Heimbuesthefilmwitharefreshingcontemporaryfeelthattiesinwiththegangsfrenziedcrimesprees.Oneofthemostcinematicsequences,whereourstoryisrefreshinglyabletobreathe,isfoundinawideestablishingshotoftheexteriorofTheHillsstarAudrinaPatridgeshouse.ThecameraslowlyzoomsinonRebeccaandMattastheymovefromroomtoroomuncoveringnewtreasures,allinplainsightthroughtheduplexsfulllengthwindows.Theeffectisdisconcertingandtroubling,tosaytheleast.
Inspiteofitsshortcomings,TheBlingRingworksasagenerallyenjoyable,ifslightlyvapid,heistmovieforthesocialmediazeitgeist.
TheBlingRingpremieredatCannesFilmFestivalandopensonJune14th.
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Tags:Cannes2013,EmmaWatson,Festivals,SofiaCoppola,TheBlingRing
