Between 2008 and 2009 a group of
mostly privileged, celebrity obsessed teenagers burgled the homes of several
celebrities, making off with over $3 million in jewellery, clothes, bags and
other designer accessories. The group coined ‘The Bling Ring’ were the subject
of a Vanity Fair article which forms the basis of this film from director Sofia
Coppola. The film focuses on the acts of burglary, what the teens wanted, what
they got and some of the consequences they faced when eventually discovered.
To me the premise sounded
interesting. I had no prior knowledge of the robberies and hadn’t heard of the
group until I began seeing trailers for the film. It looked to be a satire on
obsession with fame and greed and reminded me a little of the similar but
deeply flawed Spring Breakers. This
film annoyed me even more than that. I should state right here that I abhor the
fame hungry, greed inspired culture that some teenagers aspire to be a part of.
My girlfriend occasionally (often) puts on programmes like The Hills or E! News and
they make me so angry that I have to leave the room. There are few people on
the planet I despise more than those who seek fame and fortune without the
talent to deserve it. This film focuses on exactly those kinds of people and
appears to glorify their actions.
