The Bling Ring

"The Bling Ring", the 5th film from indie darling and Hollywood royalty Sofia Coppola is a pop fusion of celebrity, technology, youth, fun and a cautionary tale that should be sought out.

"TBR" tells the true story of a group of Hollywood teenagers that in 2008 used the internet and social media to break into the homes and rob some of the days biggest celebrities including Paris Hilton, Rachel Bilson, Orlando Bloom and the crème de la crème of the day: Lindsay Lohan. Much like this years "Spring Breakers" "TBR" is a comment on youth in today's culture and again like "Spring Breakers" its spot on.

After 2010's disappointing "Somewhere" director Coppola returns to more of the form that we expect from the director of great movies like "The Virgin Suicides" and "Lost in Translation". Coppola writes as well as directs all her films and while scene chewing dialogue is not her strong point her female characters are always strongly constructed and former "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson really shines here in her first real role outside of the boy wizard franchise. Watson plays Nicki, one of the Bling Ring members who along with relative newcomers Katie Chang and Israel Broussard are the standout characters of the ring. Perennial "Aisle of Mann" favorite Aimee Mann also shows up as Nicki's mom who homeschools her and is a devout follower of "The Secret". Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale also appears as a sleazy nightclub owner.

I remember following the story of "The Bling Ring" as it actually happened, the movie is a great time capsule of the early 2000's when websites like TMZ and dlisted were in the newborn stages of reporting celebrity newstories often before mainstream media even had a clue that people were interested. These kids simply Google the addresses of the celebrities they target and find out when they are out of town filming or at a late night party and treat their Hollywood Hills pads as their own personal mall, without any remorse or thought of consequence.

Coppola grew up in Hollywood and is probably the best teller of this story, a mainstream structured production of this could easily come off as a Lifetime movie of the week. Along with creating a great soundtrack Coppola doesn't take sides and just shows the story as it probably actually happened.

Between Emma Watson's performance and the stylish setting and story take a chance on "The Bling Ring" it will remind you that you in fact used to be as cool as these kids, but maybe not with the same wrap sheet.