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| Release Date: | October 11, 2002 (US), March 28, 2003 (UK) |
| Runtime: | 110 min |
| Rated: | R |
| Genres: | Comedy, Drama, Romance, Thriller |
| Directed by: | Roger Avary |
| Written by: | Bret Easton Ellis, Roger Avary |
| Starring: | James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Kip Pardue, Jessica Biel, Ian Somerhalder, Kate Bosworth |
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 Ever been to college? Well, I haven't. As you can tell by my little biography thing in the staff section, I'm just out of high school, so I've yet to experience that guilty pleasure. But from what I've heard, there's lots of beer-swilling, love-making, and destruction of public property to appease any drunken fool. And there are lots of drunken fools, I'm sure! Frankly, college was created to sharpen and hone our academic skills to prepare us for jobs that will be far more superior to menial tasks many take simply because it's the easy way out. College was created for achievers. But that's changed now. Mix a bunch of kids who still don't know what the real world is and combine that with the legal age to drink, drive, smoke, screw, and be tried as an adult. That's an explosive drink! Since I'm getting ready to take that plunge myself, it helps to bone up on my fiction to learn more about this chapter of our lives. The Rules of Attraction is probably not going to help me much in this respect considering how wildly exaggerated it probably is, but it's still a blast anyway!
Enter Sean (Van Der Beek), a insaniac drug dealer who also happens to very attractive and, ironically, incapable of pleasing himself sexually. Enter Lauren (Sossamon), a college girl having some problems with...well, sex, I suppose. Enter Paul (Somerhalder), a guy whose having trouble managing relationships because he's gay, and there's a fine minority of that action on campus. Obviously, sex is the tie that binds in this trio, and the movie goes down the path in attempting to chronicle the strange antics they go through with various friends and foes while we lavish in the enigmatic college motif. It's gonna be a weird and wacky trip.
First off, I'm gonna say this: not everyone is going to enjoy The Rules of Attraction. Even I had trouble coping with it in certain places. Not only is it totally insane, it can seem pointless or ill-driven to many who loathe to expand their mindframe when it comes to film. Plus, it's also very raunchy when it comes to sex; apparently, it was toned down from an NC-17 rating, so I hear. I've got no idea as to what was cut, so don't expect me to grade that. But still, there's quite a bit of frank discussion and implicit suggestion in the whole matter. So that being said, I liked The Rules of Attraction quite a bit.
Perhaps the most memorable thing about this movie will be its novel direction by Roger Avary. It's got some very wild shots. Some include stuff as tame (but still as cool) as two simultaneous shots taken of two kids who appear to be looking straight at each other but are actually in front of their own camera, the two of which swivel back and combine into one complete picture. And then there are the introductory "rewind" scenes during the beginning that will probably be remembered for years. Normally rewound film can seem drab, but the footage combines different factors, including reversed music and backwards conversation (which is cool in its own right) and an overlay soundbyte of "Hark How the Bells" playing whenever it happens. There's only one scene that I don't particularly care for, one which Lauren's boyfriend Victor explains his exploits in a foreign land - not only was it long and overplayed, but it was also a bit annoying with Victor talking at 100 words per minute for five minutes. Oh well, it was only one thing I was worried about - not much can phase me when the majority dominates in quality.
These actors are superb in their respective roles. Especially memorable is James Van Der Beek as "emotional vampire" Sean. Not only does he do well as the mixed-up collegiate son, but he's also got this amazing "scary" look that he displays near the beginning. I swear, that gaze could make millions one day. Eric Stoltz manages to make an appearance, though short, that will probably invoke Avary fans to yell, "Hey, it's guy who robbed the bank with the French guys!" or, "Hey! It's that drug dealer who's got a thing for Frute Brute cereal!" The most intriguing character in the movie was Richard "Dick" Jareds, played by Russell Sams. By his zany antics, it's hard to tell whether he's gay or if he just loves training the spotlight on himself. Maybe it's both. His little dinner scene invoked altered images of a rib-tickling version of Rebel-led James Dean. I'm telling you, after demonstrating such vigor as this, Sams will get plenty more roles as time progresses (he's only been in two films as of yet - what a crime!).
Last thing: I'm not going to compare it to how Bret Easton Ellis told the story in his book, because I haven't read it. So don't bother.
All things said, I advise you to watch The Rules of Attraction, not because you're going to like it but because you can't know if you'll like it until you check it out first. Like I said, Rules is going to have a very select audience because of its low club count; if you don't fit in with this sort of material, you don't belong. So rent it when you don't have much else to do. You may not like it, but if the chances are good, you'll thank me for turning you onto a really enjoyable college satire that bites at the jugular and grabs at the crotch. Rock and roll. |
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Jesse Rose
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