Emma Watson Proves Her Acting Muscle as Rave Reviews for “The Bling Ring” Pour In
Emma Watson appears to have left Hermione Granger well and truly behind her with her latest film The Bling Ring, which premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and the critics are very much behind her career move.
Her portrayal of the “pole dancing, heroin smoking,” fame-obsessed teenager, Niki, in Sofia Coppola’s satirical tale of the real life teenagers who robbed celebrity homes through 2008 and 2009, has amassed rave first reviews from the festival. While the film itself isn’t being exclaimed as an instant classic, it seems to have faired relatively well in the critical bear-pit that Cannes can so often be, gaining a few four star ratings.
Here’s our review round up of Emma’s performance:
Much creepy attention has been lavished on photos doing the rounds of Emma Watson pole dancing in The Bling Ring. But the real story here isn’t the good-girl-goes-bad stunt casting; it’s that Watson can act. Against the odds, the Harry Potter star gives a sharp, knowing, smart performance as Nicki.
– Time Out
Watson’s supporting role is destined to be the most talked-about: Beyond the ‘good Harry Potter girl gone bad’ angle, Watson is clearly having a blast with this character, and she bites down hard on her campy Valley Girl accent.
– Vulture
It’s fun to see Watson departing so decisively from her smartypants Hermione identity, while Chang marks herself as someone to watch.
Watson plays grown up and f**ked up and does a decent job of it.
The Bling Ring is to be released in the US on June 18, with a July 5 release date in the UK. The full trailer can be viewed here.
Have these reviews changed your mind about going to see or perhaps not see Emma in The Bling Ring? Let us know in the comments section.