A Movie Review: The Bling Ring

The Bling Ring. This is a movie based on the true events surrounding a group of teenagers who attended Indian Hills High School and decided to rob the young and fashionable in Hollywood. The movie starts with Marc’s (Israel Broussard) first day at Indian Hills High School. He becomes friends with Rebecca (Katie Chang) and Chloe (Claire Julien). Marc and Rebecca – Rebecca leading – quickly start on their crime streak. They start small, stealing from unlocked cars. They then upgrade to breaking into a friend’s home while the parents are on vacation.

As this point, this movie seems to be a dud. What’s going on, Sofia Coppola? The actors are acting in a teenage zombie manner. Rebecca is monotone. Chloe is a rich girl, California blond with no reason for existing. Marc is a wannabe nobody. Maybe this is how they see their lives, zombie-like. A switch soon goes off inside these teenagers that changes their demeanor, a switch that makes you cringe at times and perhaps deep down makes you cheer. Rebecca and Marc decide to take it up a level and see if they can break into Paris Hilton’s house. They find her house key under a mat and success breeds the desire for more of it. The Bling Ring quickly expands to Chloe and two other friends, Nicki (Emma Watson) and Sam (Taissa Farmiga). A swagger seeps in as they throw around the money they’ve stolen (or gotten via the sale of stolen property) at the top clubs of Hollywood.

As mentioned, this movie might have you cheering them on in a sick way. When they enter the houses of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, you might silently cheer as the houses are decadent, nothing more than houses of worship to their occupants. (Though you do have to give it up to Paris Hilton as she does a brief cameo and allowed filming in her house.) You might find yourself sympathetic to certain famous individuals that you wouldn’t think you’d have common ground with: Brian Austin Green and Megan Fox. Yeah, Megan Fox gets a lot of grief, but their home (though higher end then what many of us live in) seems normal. I mean why not target the decadent like a modern day Robin Hood gang versus those trying to live a normal life. Of course, that’s not what The Bling Ring was about.

The Bling Ring is made up of high school kids and so there are probably many who watch this movie and ask – perhaps even teenagers – where are the parents? The kids appear to party in Hollywood or break into homes or do drugs at all hours of the night. Coppola presents us with various takes on parenting in Southern California. Nicki’s mom (who is also Sam’s mom by default) wants her children to grow up famous and challenges them to attain that goal. She is the perfect Hollywood mother. Marc’s dad works in Hollywood and turns a blind eye to signs that his son is up to no good. While Chloe comes from a family who appears to be as tradition as one can get – eating breakfast together?!? In a way, this movie can be seen as a commentary on adults who work in Hollywood and the possible impact that this career choice had on their children (admittedly, Rebecca’s parents don’t seem to be connected to Hollywood though she herself is obsessed with celebrities). Can any type of parental approach possibly steer children, who grow up under the bright lights of Hollywood, away from the dark side that Hollywood brings to the table; especially when the teens are attractive and can curry favor from those in the Hollywood scene?

Though I won’t say that The Bling Ring ranks up there with Coppola’s Lost in Translation and Somewhere, I do recommend seeing this movie. As it starts out, it might cause a moment of reservation, but if you don’t write the movie off in those first few minutes and keep yourself engaged, I think you’ll find yourself enjoying the movie while thinking: these kids are evil and yet I have a voyeuristic perverse pleasure in their criminal acts.

Loose ends:

Many of the actors in the movie are largely unknown, which I think shines a positive light on Emma Watson. Israel Broussard and Katie Chang are the leads in the movie and even though Emma Watson’s acting clearly stands out she is still playing a supporting role. There has to be something said about Emma Watson’s personal character to take a back seat to unknowns.

A Movie Review: The Wolverwine

The Wolverwine. A serviceable action flick that sort of makes you wonder about family loyalty.

And why is it okay for The Wolverwine to have an affair with a soon-to-be married women while lecturing the soon-to-be married husband who is caught cheating, as well?

Zebroids at The Smell

Zebroids are perhaps a more adult version of the band that they followed: Dirty Few.  That didn't mean they didn't have fun.  A friend of theirs went around the audience with a beer bong, giving drinks of water -- this being all ages The Smell.

Dirty Few at The Smell

The Dirty Few at The Smell.  A punk band that skateboards through the audience during their set and vomits afterwards.  Now that's a band.

Heller Keller at The Smell

Heller Keller hit the stage at The Smell first on a Saturday night from a few weeks back.  There wasn't even any announcement.  They just started their normal energetic set, drawing those at The Smell to them.

 

A Movie Review: The Way, Way Back

The Way, Way Back. This is a wonderful and somewhat painful tale of flawed adults parenting awkward young teenagers. And what is truly interesting is the relationship that develops between the water park manager and our lead.  And though I love movies such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I especially appreciate the fact that our lead character is not a wanna-be writer with an IQ that will blow you away, but is just a normal kid.

A Movie Review: Fruitvale Station

Fruitvale Station. A solid movie; however, I felt like I was getting an overly glossed up point of view of Oscar.  Also, the movie doesn't take the time to dive into the tensions between the poor and law enforcement.

A Movie Review: Pacific Rim

Pacific Rim. I don't think this movie started off very well.  An early conversation goes something like this when a monster sighting wakes up two military personnel in the wee hours of the morning:

"What time is it?"

"2 o'clock."

"2 a.m.?"

Of course, it is 2 a.m.  Do you really think the army would let you sleep from 11 p.m. or whatever time they went to sleep all the way until 2 p.m.  And I thought military used military time anyways.

Also, the first attack happens during the Obama years.  I'd like to know how we made those robots work so well so quickly when Boeing can't even get their Dreamliner to function properly after years of testing.

Never mind all that.  This movie isn't brilliant Oscar stuff, but it is a very good summer popcorn movie.  The fights are cool.  And even though it would seem the use of a sword would be a weapon of choice for close combat versus having a blaster that takes forever to warm up, it is good that it is eventually brought to the fight.

A Movie Review: World War Z

World War Z.  For all the talk about now this movie was a mess, I do think it turned out to be a very thrilling movie.  It is Contagion on adrenalin.  It isn't as scary as one might assume considering that this is a zombie movie.  Even the fact that these zombies have amazing speed that allows them to outrun even the fastest human being doesn't really increase the scare factor.  Instead, this is a very well done medical investigation movie that stands above Contagion.  I even like how the "cure" was found better in World War Z versus Contagion.

Make Music Pasadena: Killola

Make Music Pasadena: Letting Up Despite Great Faults

I last saw them at Silverlake Jubilee.  Loved them then and loved them a couple months back at Make Music Pasadena.

Make Music Pasadena: Dom La Nena

So long since Make Music Pasadena.  Here's a photo of Dom La Nena.

Make Music Pasadena: The Dustbowl Revival

Been awhile since Make Music Pasadena, but I've been busy.  

A photo of The Dustbowl Revival.