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TheBlingRingCannes2013Review

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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.

B

Tags:Cannes2013,EmmaWatson,Festivals,SofiaCoppola,TheBlingRing