Movie Review - The Bling Ring

Whenever I see "based on a true story", especially if in any way related to the Hollywood social elite, I usually assume the only connection to the truth is a cheery wave as it passes by.  If the events of The Bling Ring are indeed true then there are a number of people far stupider than I ever thought possible.

The Bling Ring sees hipster outsider Marc (Israel Broussard) attending a new school full of Hollywood dropouts.  He is soon befriended by Rebecca (Katie Chang) who in a very short space of time convinces him to go to an absent friends house.  While there they take a selection of items before cruising off in the victims parent's Porsche.  When their obsession with celebrities brings the news that Paris Hilton is going to be out of town they work out where she lives and break into her house, again pilfering a selection of items.  They share this news with a group of other social media addicted youngsters and so begins a crime spree across a number of celebrity properties.

This is a movie that tries very hard to convey the lifestyle of its main characters, often to the detriment of the audience. While much of the movie is done fairly low key (particularly during the theft scenes) it is punctuated with obnoxiously loud sections of the crew partying hard while taking photos of themselves basking in the loot, taking drugs and posting it all on facebook.  They openly brag about their exploits to the seemingly uncaring adoration of anyone in earshot.  It really makes you wonder why it takes so long for them to get caught.

As for the characters... well they are so obnoxious, objectionable and unlikeable that you spend most of the movie wishing they'd get caught.  The sheer idiocy on display really beggars belief.  On top of this the victims are celebrities who generally garner more fame with their off screen antics so you are really left with no one to sympathise with.  Even the mostly absent parents are either indifferent or just as annoying as their over privileged offspring.

What we are left with is a movie that is more endurance test than entertainment.  It does manage to hold your attention in the same manner as a car crash where the only thing keeping you going is the morbid fascination of wondering just how much these horrible people are going to get away with.  On a side note I was particularly horrified by Emma Watson sporting an American accent in her supporting role.  The final act also seems like it comes from a different movie leaving an already unpleasant experience disjointed as well.

Alternative Title - "We are in your houses stealing your thingz for the lulz. OMFG, lol!"

Movie Review By Request - Repo! The Genetic Opera

This movie has been on my to watch list for quite some time, so when I received a request to give it the Rufus Reviews treatment I finally pulled my finger out and sat down for some musical gruesomeness.

Repo sees a worldwide epidemic cause major organ failures, the only cure is a transplant and a company called GeneCo come to the rescue offering finance on the expensive procedures.  It all starts going dark when the head of GeneCo, Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) gets the legal okay to order repossessions should repayments not be kept up.  The story itself focuses mainly on Nathan (Anthony Head) and his daughter Shilo (Alexa Vega).  Nathan is desperate to keep his daughter safe after a tragic turn of events killed his wife when she was pregnant.  Nathan is even more desperate to keep his biggest secret safe, the fact that he is one of the masked Repo men charged with retrieving GeneCo's property.

This movie really took me by surprise.  I have heard mixed reports but I really found myself enjoying it.  There are songs aplenty and while some of them aren't all that great there are still a number of enjoyable set pieces and nothing that gets too annoying.  Special mention needs to made of the Graverobber (Terrance Zdunich) who works as combined narrator and plot driver.  He has some of the catchier tunes and a very strong presence for a supporting character.  Another big surprise is Paris Hilton's performance as Amber Sweet, one of Rotti's three insane children who do their fair share to add to the blood and violence.

There is a lot of blood and violence in this movie.  Unsurprising since the central premise is organ repossession.  This is of course fatal for payment defaulter and involves considerable amounts of blood and entrails.  Anthony Head performing this grisly duty while singing about his work makes for a very memorable scene.

The bit players do their melodramatic best whenever they are on screen, and like with the musical numbers, there are more hits than misses.

So if you have a strong stomach and want to see a very different and dark musical then Repo! The Genetic Opera may give you an entertaining evening.  Be warned though, this is a perfect example of a like it or hate it movie so I am not making any promises.

In three words - little glass vial