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Celluloid Fun - An eclectic blog of arthouse and independent films with some mainstream movies.

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TEENAGE THIEVES: Sam (Taissa Farmiga), Marc (Israel Broussard), Nicki (Emma Watson), Rebecca (Katie Chang) and Chloe (Claire Julien) step out wearing clothing, shoes and acessories they stole from celebrities in the film The Bling Ring. Image: NALA Films, Village Roadshow.


Between October 2008 and August 2009, six people, mostly teenagers (Rachel Lee, Nick Prugo, Alexis Neiers, Diana Tamayo, Courtney Ames and Roy Lopez Jr.), broke into the homes of celebrities in and around the Hollywood Hills area, and collectively stole around three million dollars worth of designer clothing, jewellery, shoes, fashion accessories and cash. The teenagers, dubbed the Bling Ring, used “Google Maps and a website called celebrityaddressaerial.com to find the stars’ home addresses and they even checked the stars’ Facebook updates and Twitter feeds to determine when the stars would be away working or attending events.”1

The group targetted stars whom they considered to be famous and fashionable celebrities, and the list of victims include “Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Megan Fox, Brian Austin Green, Rachel Bilson, Audrina Patridge and more.”2 It seems almost too outrageous to be real but it did happen and a film was made based on these burglaries.

The Bling Ring is Sofia Coppola’s latest film, that is loosely based on the Vanity Fair article The Suspects Wore Louboutins by Nancy Jo Sales, depicting the exploits and arrests of the teenagers known as the Bling Ring. The film has made its world premiere at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and received mostly positive reviews. It stars Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson, Claire Julien and Taissa Farmiga as the Bling Ring teenagers and Paris Hilton makes a guest cameo appearance. Hilton was “robbed five times by the Bling Ring and she even replaced the key under the doormat after the teenagers took the key when they robbed her the first time.”3 Hilton even allowed Coppola and the film’s cast and crew to film scenes inside her home. Some may say Hilton’s appearance in the film shows she is a good sport and has forgiven the teenagers, but others who are more sceptical may consider it another “public appearance” by Hilton who would do anything for a bit of publicity.

The film trailers only reveal the highlights of the teenagers clubbing, partying, entering celebrities’ homes and eventually being apprehended to face charges for their criminal sprees. The film may be popular among the younger, female audiences who are likely to be fashion-obsessed or reel in those interested in the culture and fanaticism of celebrity and fame.

The Bling Ring screens in Australia from 22 August 2013.


References:

1. Child, Ben (2013). The Bling Ring 'Trashy and Inaccurate', Says Real-life Burglary Gang Member. The Guardian. Website:
The Guardian: The Bling Ring 'Trashy and Inaccurate', Says Real-life Burglary Gang Member
(Accessed 22 March 2013)

2. Sales, Nancy Jo (2010). The Suspects Wore Louboutins. Vanity Fair. Website:
Vanity Fair: The Suspects Wore Louboutins
(Accessed 22 March 2013)

3. Sacks, Rebecca (2010). Q & A: Nancy Jo Sales Dishes on the Bling Ring. Vanity Fair. Website:
Vanity Fair: Q & A: Nancy Jo Sales Dishes on the Bling Ring
(Accessed 22 March 2013)


The Bling Ring teaser trailer by Trailer Addict (Courtesy of NALA Films, Village Roadshow):


The Bling Ring feature trailer by Trailer Addict (Courtesy of NALA Films, Village Roadshow):


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Claire Danes as Lainee Diamond and Sarah Bolger as Lucy Diamond in the film As Cool As I Am. Image: Identity Films.


The film adaptation of the Pete Fromm's book As Cool As I Am is yet to receive an Australian release date but the film’s trailer is a strong indication of the provocative, gritty and intelligent nature of the protagonist named Lucy Diamond, played by Irish actor Sarah Bolger. This independent film possesses the subtle tones of a sleeper hit that audiences will immediately warm to and love. However, fans of the book may be critical of the film if it omits key plot and character points. The cast looks fantastic, which includes Claire Danes as Lainee Diamond, James Marsden as Chuck Diamond, Thomas Mann as Kenny, Peter Fonda and Alanis Morissette. Max Mayer, who directed the gentle comedy drama Adam, will helm this film with a screenplay by Virginia Korus Spragg.

The book is told in first person narration by Lucy whose parents married when they were teenagers because her mother became pregnant. Lucy is often left alone while her lumberjack father goes off to Canada and returns a few times each year and her mother gets a job and has romantic affairs. Lucy develops a sexual relationship with Kenny, her best friend from school and when Kenny moves away, she pro-actively seeks sexual satisfaction elsewhere. The book covers two years of Lucy’s life (aged 14 -16) and she speaks so openly and sincerely about the pains, joys, triumphs and responsibilities while she struggles with the onset of womanhood. As Lucy progresses towards maturity, her mother and father regress in an attempt to recapture the youth they believed they missed out on when they became teenage parents.

The film adaptation may concentrate mostly on themes of family, friendship and relationships with some attention to the sexual experiences and romances of Lucy. The film trailer may highlight the most dramatic and emotional moments in the film but hopefully viewers will find other things that might prompt them to see this beautiful and evocative film adaptation.

As Cool As I Am Film Trailer from Trailer Addict. (Courtesy of Identity Films):

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WARNING: The following trailers contain foul language.
Poster artwork for the film The Heat.


The new film The Heat, has Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy teaming up to bust a drug case. Bullock plays the perfectionist and highly logical FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn who is assigned to work with Boston Police Department's finest - the foul-mouthed and short-tempered Shannon Mullins played by Melissa McCarthy.

Sarah and Shannon have always worked alone yet they are forced to work with each other to bring down a notorious drug lord. The two are total opposites (in their physical appearance and their work ethics) yet are brilliant in their own way in catching the criminals. Neither of them have ever had friends before as they have spent so much time and energy focussing on their work. Their partnership shifts from strangers, to partners, then to buddies and without having to compromise most of their own judgements and values along the way.

The premise sounds like a combination of buddy-cop action comedy dramas and this film looks like a mix of Lethal Weapon, Rush Hour, Miss Congeniality and Bridesmaids. There have not been many female buddy-cop movies, and this film seems to target both female and male audiences from the 16 - 35 year old demographic.
Director Paul Feig of Bridesmaids fame, will also direct this film so there may be another huge hit for him in a comedy film featuring women in lead roles.

The Heat screens in Australia from 11 July 2013.

The Heat; Film Trailer 1 from Trailer Addict (courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox):


The Heat; Film Trailer 2 from Trailer Addict (courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox):



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Poster artwork for the film The Cherry On The Cake.


Fleeting Feelings by Linh


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DEVOTED DUO: Roger Ebert and his wife Chaz Ebert attend the 14th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani, Wall Street on 14 June 2010 in New York City. Image: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images.


Valé Roger Ebert (18 June 1942 – 4 April 2013) by Linh


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CHILDLIKE CHARM: The boy (Simon Delanges) and the girl (Lindsey Hénocque) frolick in the field in the family film The Field of Enchantment - La clé des champs. Image: Thelma Films.


Microscopic Marvels by Linh


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2013 French Film Festival

March 25th 2013 04:08
Poster artwork for the 2013 French Film Festival.


French Fixation by Linh


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Poster artwork for the documentary film West Of Memphis.


Fighting For Freedom by Linh


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Poster artwork for the animated film Despicable Me 2.


Animation Anticipation by Linh


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Golden Academy Award statuettes for the 85th annual Academy Awards.


Worthy Winners by Linh


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