The Real Bling Ring’s intro features a prosecutor who refers to the case as a “messed up LA Greek tragedy.” I became hooked right away. She claims that in this case, the defendants, their attorneys, and the participating police officers all aspired to fame. She continues cynically, only partially realizing that she is also being recorded, “It’s something that could only happen in Hollywood.”
The infamous serial burglaries that were dramatized in director Sofia Coppola’s 2013 film, The Bling Ring are revisited in this Netflix documentary. The movie depicts a moderately fictionalized account of crimes by a group of fame-hungry teens. The teens broke into and stole from the homes of celebrities who were at the top of the Hollywood A-list in 2008. Their target list included Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, and Audrina Patridge.
In contrast to the movie, the documentary gives more accurate information. Yet like the movie, it pits Nick Prugo and Alexis Neiers, top members of the “Bling Ring,” against one another. In their own words, Nick and Alexis give opposing accounts of the events, and episode two contains an exciting scene in which they directly dispute one another. Although they aren’t in the same room and probably don’t get along, the documentary nevertheless adds fuel to the fire.
