The Rules of Attraction
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Movie Reviews of The Rules of Attraction
Movie Review: The ultimate film about college life
Summary: 5 Stars
I just watched this movie, and I have to say that I really, really liked it, although I can understand why others don't. This is a cult film, to be sure, and it requires a certain sensibility to see through to the end--the film's blunt force trauma approach to Gen Y college kids will leave lots of viewers cold, unable to muster any feeling for the film's characters. But others will enjoy the comedy of it all. For me, the movie clicked from the very first scene. I totally got what was going on and what the filmmakers were trying to say because of my own college experiences. I knew all these bastards, and I appreciated that they weren't really that sympathetic. This movie really is the definitive movie about the most prevalent form of college life that on sees today, so much so that there seems no point of ever making another.
All of this is not to say that the film is perfect, even if you share the film's sensibility. All of the scenes featuring Sean (James Van Der Beek) interacting with the drug dealer were a real drag on the movie. The actor who played the latter evidently never learned that good acting doesn't necessarily mean MORE acting. And although Van Der Beek does a surprisingly good job as Sean Bateman (my expectations were, to put it kindly, low) there are a few uneven moments. Generally, though, the acting is pretty good, and the movie is a technical marvel.
If you're not convinced so far, here are five of my favorite moments from the film. If you like them, consider watching it.
1. Sean has lost a chance at being with the woman he has convinced himself he's in love with, so he decides to kill himself. First, he tries to hang himself with a phone cord. The light fixture can't hold his weight, so he falls to the ground. Then he tries to slash his wrists with a razor, but it's a face shaver and he is again unsuccessful. Finally, he tries to overdose on pills, but all he has are what appear to be cold pills, which he takes a bunch of and chases with off-brand NyQuil. It's a pretty funny take on emo-style hysterics.
2. Sean (Ian Somerhalder of LOST) is late to meet Sean for dinner when one of his friends overdoses. He's completely nonplussed as they drive to the hospital, dismissing the crisis by saying things like, "Freshmen don't OD." He doesn't even bother to conceal his boredom when the guy seems to die (but doesn't).
3. "I only did it with her because I'm in love with you." Sure...
4. The restaurant scene. "Well, Richard..." "I'm DICK!" "Well, Dick, what are you studying?" Much of the rest of the dialogue is unprintable. The scene is the key to the entire movie: entitlement, resentment of authority, lack of control--it's all there. And hilarious.
5. The scene where Sean's secret admirer (who we had seen several times before) commits suicide. In between all the irony and sleaze, it's a genuinely beautiful and sad moment.
The Rules of Attraction is more than the sum of its parts, though. It makes an effective brief for what its subject group is like, and it does not exactly let them off the hook when it comes to moral terms. It is not, of course, for everyone, but if you're still reading this it might be worth a viewing.
P. S. Van Der Beek also punches Jessica Biel in the face. So, there's that.
Movie Review: Vastly and Artistically misunderstood
Summary: 5 Stars
Unfortunately, which can be the case with most profane yet seemingly shallow movies, this movie is vastly misunderstood and represented. It comes off at the surface as being a dark comedy about rich college druggies and sexaholics, and much to it's dismay, that's about where it ends with most people (refer to prior reviews and you'll see). Allow me to dispell these misrepresentations.
Artistically speeking, this movie shows a mastery of cinematography (coming from a fellow filmmaker) which I find inspiring. Yes, it may seem gimmicky, mainly because some of these camera and editing tricks haven't been done before; i.e., showing a scene backwards and then reshowing it again. However, in that most people miss the beautiful interweaving Roger Avary does between different characters in the same social situation.
In one scene he uses two characters' daily routine in a split screen, where you see everything they're individually doing before encountering each other in a hallway. However, Roger Avary masterfully pulls of a camera trick I've never seen before. He takes the two split screens and pans them together perfectly, something I think that has been taken for granted. I could go on, but just take my word for it, this is in no way gimmicky.
As far as the characters and story goes, if you analyze this movie off of what you're seeing, you're missing the point. Other than show shallow rich and defunct college kids, you're getting an insight into each character's psyche and how they affect the others. There's eventually a few strong underlying points. One, which has been stated in a previous review, is Lauren's line, then repeated by Sean, which states simply "You will never know me. No one ever knows anybody." I say simple, but I'll be damned if it's not profound. The other point of the movie, which isn't blatantly stated outright, is that you see all of these characters lead their lives through this love triangle that never really exists. All of their associations and relationships are invented in their minds. Paul thinks he's in love with Sean, and that they're together, Sean thinks certain love letters are coming from Lauren and invents his relationship with her, just as Lauren invents her relationship with Victor. Yes this sounds at the surface like a soap opera, but you must see it and delve into the psyche these characters go through and how they're affected by each other. It states profanely that not only can you never truly know anyone, but everything you feel and see could be in your mind only, a certain homage paid to American Psycho, which shares the same underlying theme. And ultimately, in the end, both movies leave you unfulfilled, much like a Dali painting. You have to figure it out yourself.
Do yourself a favor. Don't listen to the mindless dribble most reviewers spew out about this movie, just watch it and think. Keyword, THINK about it. You'll find yourself as rewarded and pleased as I have.
Movie Review: Ellis and Avery are NOT for everyone but this is a PERFECT MATCH
Summary: 5 Stars
Bret Easton Ellis is a writer that has NO middle ground. You either dislike immediately and not understand what all the fuss is about or you let yourself get drawn into what he is trying to display and go along for the ride. Rules of Attraction may be the least of his three works brought to the big screen but it may have translated the best with the direction of Roger Avary. It is also entertaining to watch beloved TV actors and actresses take roles that are worlds apart from their TV personas. Fans usually HATE the career choices but it is nice to see actors break from what is expected by the massses. This is NOT Shakespeare, has more shock value than merit, but it is still very enjoyable. If you read Ellis's novels you will see that they are an accurate although embellished account of the particular time and enviroment he is trying to illustrate. To nit-pick his work is to NOT get the message. These characters DO EXIST in the real world, if not as individuals, then as parts of many individuals. They are a reflection of the time and place he is describing not necessarily any particular PERSONS. The plot development is SECONDARY. This movie is a glimpse into a world that many people dont know and will NEVER experience but it DOES EXIST. There is no fiction in that.
There are Sean Batemans in this world. Rich Kids in school on Mommy and Daddy's dollar dealing drugs to their equally wealthy and spoiled classmates. There are Lauren Hyndes in this world. Virginal college girls saving themselves for their true love who himself is frolicking his way across Europe with not a thought in his mind of his celibate girlfriend at home. There are Paul Dentons in this world. Young kids that use the college years to experiment and try to find out what they want emotionally and sexually for themselves.
This move is to be enjoyed by the viewer and not to be used as a warning label or a cautionary tale. These worlds exist and cannot be changed. Sit back and enjoy the voyeuristic view. Several scenes are shot in just this manner. The Victor Romp retold by him in the diner is CLASSIC. Worth the price of admission or rental or time spent but so many more scenes are also well done. Many scenes are done so the viewer almost feels guilty watching the action unfold. From attempted suicides, to dorm room date rate, to misread sexual signals, we are treated to a train wreck of instances in these characters lives.
In the end we may not love any of these characters but there is usually one or more that we feel genuinely sorry for and that is the emotion that Bret Easton Ellis and Roger Avary are able to produce from many viewers.
Movie Review: Open your mind & let the ride begin...
Summary: 5 Stars
You know how you tell the really important, ground-breaking films? They usually divide people right down the middle, and The Rules of Attraction is no exception. There are many people who just won't "get it", but for those who do it's not only one of the most fearless films of recent years, but one of the most electrifying, truthful & downright poigiant "teen" flicks since The Graduate. Some people say the characters in this film are empty & unlikeable. You have to look beyond that however, look underneath the masks they're wearing & see what's beneath. All the characters in this film are actually completely likeable & crying out to be loved, whether it be the "invisible" girl in the background (who subsequently commits suicide in a truly gut wrenching scene of unrequited love), or more directly Paul (Ian Somerhalder) who sets his sights on Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beek), but is similarly a casualty of misguided love.
Some people have called this film "boring", however this is one of those films that only gives back what you bring to it. If you approach with an open mind & enthusiasm then this film will reward you with emotions that are rarely approached or touched upon by many other films. You have to work at this one, you can't just watch it with your brain in neutral! Therefore, if you found this film boring then it's more likely you as a person who are "boring"!
There really is something happening in this film at every moment, whether it be in the background or up front. If you fail to notice this then you really are watching the wrong movie..
One person asked "why did we need to see the suicide scene with the girl in the bathtub, as it was painful to watch"??!! I believe that is the whole POINT of this scene.. it's SUPPOSED to be painful to watch! This scene conveys the emotions of the girl who secretly has a crush on Sean Bateman, but is hardly even noticed by him. She is devistated, her heart is crushed, she cannot face life in this world without him.. so she takes her own life. Without this scene, her existence in the film would be rendered meaningless. With this immensely important scene we are shown that EVERYTHING, no matter how small or seemingly unimportant may have some meaning or connection.
To end this film is like a mirror to the viewer, it's as "intelligent" or "empty" as the person watching it..
Movie Review: You know what I think...Rock and Roll!
Summary: 5 Stars
In one word, WOW! this film will be remembered much in the way FIGHT CLUB is rmembered now. Here it goes...Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beek, good old Dawson), brother to AMERICAN PSYCHO's Patrick Bateman, goes to New England's Camden College. Lauren Hynde (Shannyn Sossamon, Angelina Jolie's twin from A KNIGHT'S TALE and FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS) and Paul Denton (Ian Somerhalder) also go to Camden and happen to be at the same party Sean is at. They are all at the End of the World party (the Camden Christmas bash) and they all are celebrating different things, which we find out through a flashback to the start of the semester.Sean has been getting love letters from a mysterious girl and he is slowly falling in love, while dealing cocaine and screwing anyone he can on the side, even though he doesn't seem satisified with his decisions. He assumes that Lauren has been slipping him the letters, but she has her eyes set on Victor (Kip Pardue of REMEMBER THE TITANS and um, DRIVEN), who happens to be in Europe screwing every foreigner in sight and taking every drug known to man.Paul is in love with Sean, but Sean doesn't seem to notice. Sean's more interested in getting more pot and geting laid.
James Van Der Beek couldn't have picked a better role to make people forget about Dawson's Creek. This role is about as un-Dawson Leery as he can get and he fits like a glove. He really embodied the character. He is great in this film and deserves an Oscar nom but the fact is that no one will even think to give it to him just because he is a Creeker.
The movie is extremely fun to watch! Director Roger Avary has made an amazingly DARK, comedy. this ian't no ROAD TRIP or AMERICAN PIE that's for sure. Even if this film doesn't become a success atthe theatres it WILL (definately) on video and deservingly so. Oh yeah, teh soundtrack is awesome and Fred Savage is brillant in his cameo as the guy with no money (you'll see). you know what I think....Rock and roll!