D' Francis
Born Rich was made in 2003, long before the fascination of rich people and dialogue on income inequality even began. This film is sure to bring up political controversy, but I don't even view it in a political sense: rather a human one. In the wide cast of wealthy heirs (of beautiful girls and awkward looking guys from New York City) interviewed, you get a different spectrum. All of them were spoiled rotten but some of them are respectful and others are arrogant and disdainful. Luke "I can buy your family" Weil is the obvious villain.It turns out that most of them didn't even know they were rich until they turned 18, as money was a subject their parents were reluctant to talk about. Does money buy happiness? I guess you'll find out. But like Ivanka Trump said, wealthy people are still people and they - while having an easier life - feel pain just like everyone else. Jamie's directing skills in his debut aren't anything special and it sometimes looks like a homemade film. But the content itself is good and that's what matters.
Lanabelle 12345
When I was young, I've always imaged what it would be like to be rich and what I would do with all my money. Oh, the things I would buy and have! My life would be wonderful and complete! After watching Born Rich, I'm not so sure I want that anymore. I was surprised to see that these rich kids are just as troubled, if not more, than kids who are born from poor and average income families. What happened to them? For me, the only one who was normal was the only one, who admitted to having depression, Josiah Hornblower. During his college life, his parents took him out of school due to depression. I think that was the best decision that his parents have ever made for him! By him working side by side with normal, hardworking individuals, he was able to learn to connect himself to society and actually find meaning to his life. He found out that working hard made him feel good. He describes those years as the best years of his life. He was finally able to learn what life outside of being rich was like. He is the only one who is worthy of my respect, because although he is a millionaire and does not have to work, he has a job, just making about $50,000.00/yr. That shows me that money is not who or what he is all about. He is more than just a name (Vanderbilt/Whitney), he is an average human.
jmvo
I heard about this movie and have been wanting to see it for quite a while. I actually date someone who, as he puts it, is a member of 'the lucky sperm club'. He is dating outside of his social class - don't tell the rest of them! This is a very revealing and true to life account. The stories I hear about these families and their 'lucky' offspring are unbelievable. First hand I can tell you that these kids are searching for meaning and purpose almost more than the rest of us are. Many of them struggle with having that much money and how to be responsible with it. Also, many of them were raised by nannies and sent to boarding school and crave a connection with their parents who never had time for them. They don't know how to trust or love someone. Money doesn't replace any of that. Mock them, feel sorry for them, envy them - whatever you want.....but they are real people. And some of them are quietly going about living meaningful, productive lives. But don't tell anyone they are dating outside of their social class!
goodwithfaces
Worth seeing. I wasn't as offended by the world-view presented as others were. These are very young people grappling with enormous privilege, which unsurprisingly, is its own circle of Hell. Ironically, their struggles are not very different from anyone else's. "What am I going to do with myself?" is something everyone asks. Not having to work is just the other side of having to work. Ultimately, we all still have to make our way in this world. But, one does get a sense of the truism of Thoreau's comment that(paraphrase)"to be born rich is not to be born at all, but rather, still-born." I saw this on HBO and watched Indian Point, another documentary, right after. There was Robert F. Kennedy, another child of privilege, hard at work doing something that matters to him. The individuals who are struggling in Born Rich could benefit by watching him at work and learning how to live.
AD
