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FILM: THE RULES
OF ATTRACTION
BY JACOB ZHIVOV
AND DAVID BLUMENSTEIN
February 18, 2003
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JACOB ZHIVOV
Sean Bateman, (James Van Der Beek) the younger brother
of psychotic Wall Street broker Patrick Bateman (American Psycho),
could be loosely described as a "student" at Camden College.
Sean's a drug dealer, owes a lot of money to "fellow" dealer
Rupert Guest (Clifton Collins, Jr.), and sleeps with nearly half of
the female population on campus. Lauren Hynde (Shannyn Sossamon) is
technically a virgin. She's saving herself for her very shallow boyfriend,
Victor Johnson (Kip Pardue), who's left the states to backpack across
Europe. Her slutty roommate, Lara (Jessica Biel), has the hots for
Victor as well. Paul Denton (Ian Somerhalder) is bisexual. He fucked
Mitchell Allen (Thomas Ian Nicholas) before Mitchell dumped him for
Candice (Clare Kramer). Sean wants Lauren. Paul wants Sean and used
to date Lauren. Lauren wants Victor, but might take Sean while she's
waiting.
It's good to see TV stars try to break away from their
nice guy / girl
persona. In The Rules of Attraction, James Van Der Beek and Jessica
Biel get their chance and by god it's fun to watch. James is excellent
and the only way to descibe him is as EVIL DAWSON. In this film he's
an utter bastard, liar and for a better word a c***. Jessica Biel
plays a role unlike her nice, good Christian character Mary on Seventh
Heaven -- Lara, an dirty slut who, during the opening sequence, we
are told get drunk and sleeps with the entire football team, this
helps to set the mood for her character's behaviour for the whole
film. Shannyn Sossamon is great and one of the best newer female talents
emerging today. Director Roger Avary had taken an excellent book
which is much more intense and mean and probably because of rating
issues has diluted the story down.
The Rules Of Attraction: ***1/2
American Psycho: ***
DAVID BLUMENSTEIN
"The Rules Of Attraction" takes a look at
some blank, well-off and sometimes nasty young people attending a
small university in New England. It's based on the book of the same
name by Bret Easton Ellis, who later wrote the more infamous "American
Psycho".
Director Roger Avary has done an excellent job of trimming
a long, rambling, open-ended book into a script which keeps the book's
essence intact. Stuff is switched around, characters are condensed
or omitted and less actually happens in the movie, but everything
feels right, and some scenes are notable for their excellent translation
to the screen, like Victor's travelogue. The book's funny parts are
punched up to be a little wackier, but the dramatic bits are also
more powerful for the complementary visuals. It even ends the same
way the book does.
The acting is all good. And EVIL DAWSON is great. I'd
almost say that this is his best film role -- even better than when
he played himself in "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back",
although none of his lines are as good as, "I'm a teen idol,
dammit!"
If you like reading, read the book. Then see the movie.
If you don't like reading, see the movie, then wonder how much better
the book is. Then read the book.
The Rules Of Attraction: ****
American Psycho: ***
Cruel Intentions: I've only ever watched as far as the lesbian kissing
scene.
Cruel Intentions 2: I've only seen the lesbian shower scene.
Back To The Future: *****, but has nothing to do with Ellis or The
Rules Of Attraction.
THE RULES OF ATTRACTION
Stars: James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Jessica Biel, Kip Pardue,
Ian Somerhalder
Release Date: February 20th, 2003
Rated: R
Running Time: 110 minutes
Showing: General release
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