Review of:Born Rich (2004)
Director:Jamie Johnson
Rating:
Starring:Ivanka Trump (Real Estate Heiress), Josiah Hornblower (Vanderbilt/Whitney Heir), Cody Franchetti (Textile Heir), Georgina Bloomberg (Media Heir), Luke Weil (Gaming Heir)
Official Site
Being rich is something that can only be dreamed about by most Americans in this country‚ and in these trying days the allure of money holds an even greater hold upon the dreams of most. We all know that there resides within the country a type of elite. A small group of people that never has to worry about the rigors of day to day life‚ but to the contrary‚ they live their life with the knowledge of infinite wealth at their disposal. Filmed in a three year period‚ Emmy-Nominated Director Jamie Johnson of the Johnson and Johnson empire gives us a tantalizing look into the lives of ten members of America’s wealthiest families‚ and some of the mechanisms of their thinking.
I would have to admit that before viewing this film I came with my own preconceived notions of what being rich would be like. To myself it would entail sleeping late everyday‚ and eating whatever I wanted‚ whenever I wanted. Upon viewing Born Rich, I came to the realization that if I did have the opportunity to live such a life maybe it would be different. Although many of the powerful that were interviewed on screen seemed to enjoy their life‚ there was also a sense of uneasiness of talking about it. Maybe it was the simple fact that they were identifying themselves in the public eye in a way they had not done before. Out of the people that were interviewed‚ I had not seen one of their faces or identities in anyway before. Now that has changed‚ and I am sure that it was one of the things that went through their minds while doing this film.
The film does allow a look into a lifestyle that many of us have only dreamed about‚ and although it doesn’t follow along some of the lines I would have liked it to (there was a quick reference to racial preference I would have liked to have seen explored more)‚ it does give you a more analytical view of the rich. A simple list of the family’s surnames is all it takes to engender some recollection of power. Ivanka Trump (Real Estate Heiress), Josiah Hornblower (Vanderbilt/Whitney Heir), Cody Franchetti (Textile Heir), Georgina Bloomberg (Media Heir), Luke Weil (Gaming Heir), among others voice off in the film.
I found some of the interviewers more interesting than others. Cody Franchetti was one of the more interesting interviews. He has the good looks of an Antonio Bandera ‚ but his speech and movements reminded me of what I imagine English royalty would be like. He seems more pre-occupied with the cut of his jacket than what is happening in the world. Do not let that fool you though‚ his interview when touching upon subjects of wealth is intriguing. The interviews with Luke Weil become the most important to the film‚ since he actually tried to sue to block the films release.
If you were interested in the lives of the rich, this would be the film for you to see. Judging by the nightly news‚ which always seems to carry some little tidbit of information of the lives of celebrity‚ the chances are great that there is a great interest. I applaud this film for touching upon a subject matter from the inside‚ and would highly recommend it for anyone.
