Film Review: The Bling Ring (15) (U.S.A. 2013) (Director: Sofia Coppola) Saturday 06.07.2013 19:15 The Filmhouse Cinema Screen One, Edinburgh 

I was intrigued by this film as it had the prospect of Emma Watson (best known for the Harry Potter films) being directed by a Coppola, and it was known for the best part of a year before release that her character was a distinct move away from anything she had been involved with previously. The term 'The Bling Ring' was coined by local media covering the thefts to describe the group involved.  

The film concerns the real events of the thefts from the L.A. homes of, amongst others who names I did not recognises, the likes of Paris Hilton (who allowed her own house to be used for the film, a fascinating insight), Lindsey Lohan, and the British actor Orlando Bloom. 

The film focuses upon the vacuous nature of both the lives of the young adults who committed these crimes and the so-called celebrities who they idolised and targeted. It also reveals how easy it was for these crimes to be committed as it was not difficult for these young people to find out on the internet both when these people were out of town and what there addresses are. The ease of what happened was further aided by some of the properties having there front doors unlocked or the keys left under the front door mat, suggesting a degree of complacency amongst a sector of the young and incredibly rich. 

As these people's escapades begin to draw attention it was not surprising which members of the 'Ring' were panicked and which were blazae and subsequently when caught which were honest and which were deceitful and trying to 'spin' the situation as a learning stage. Sadly the one who was honest and appeared to have been dragged into this stuff did not appear to have their cooperation taken into account in the sentence received.

Emma's Watson's character was particularly scuzzy and one of the more manipulative, I had no issue with her performance. I found it impossible to care for those committing the crimes and did not have much sympathy for those being  burgled due to the disgustingly trashy and ostentatious displays of wealth these people appeared to have in their homes. Despite not caring in any way for the characters portrayed I did find the film very interesting in a car-crash kind of way. I found the film to be a good watch, though have no sense of it rewarding repeat viewing.  

Rating: 07/10.