MOVIE - THE RULES OF ATTRACTION - Review Rating $ (OUT OF 10)
MOVIE - THE RULES OF ATTRACTION - $ (OUT OF 1O)
STARRING - JAMES VAN DER BEEK, IAN SOMERHALDER, SHANNYN SOSSAMON, JESSICA BIEL, CLIFTON COLLINS JR. & FAYE DUNAWAY.
A disturbing look at the interactions among a group of University students. Disturbing, not because it presents a provocative examination of college life, but for its use of gratuitous violence and/or sex.
Any movie that starts with a rape scene, has a suicide in the middle, and ends with accidental death requires, to be considered artful, a meaningful examination of its subject matter. In The Rules of Attraction what's presented, in between the rape / suicide / accidental death, is as vacuous as the characters it portrays.
A little history is necessary before we proceed. This movie is based upon Bret Easton Elliss 1988 novel by the same name. Ellis also later wrote the more infamous American Psycho. Many of the characters in this movie appear in other books by Ellis. One of the central characters in The Rules of Attraction, Sean Bateman, is the younger brother of American Psycho's Patrick Bateman (See link - Greg's Preview). If you are not a book reader, but a fan of Ellis's and American Psycho, The Rules of Attraction might be of interest to you as a means of seeing the historical development of some of Ellis's characters. That is possibly the only justification for going to see this piece of garbage.
In between, the debauchery, the movie suggests that life is full of choices and that often we are oblivious to those who are actually in love with us. This is not exactly a new revelation. Ellis's perspective, on the subject, might have been interesting if it hadn't been as shallow and gratuitous as most of the characters in the story. Without more, The Rules of Attraction, is nothing but a putrid showcase of Ellis's vile, perverted world view.
The director's overuse of scenes being replayed backward is not only annoying but serves to unnecessarily lengthen this film. Instead of focusing on The Rules of Attraction the director should have spent some time learning the rules of proper film making.
I am extremely disappointed that Faye Dunaway lent her good name to this movie. I hope this accomplished actress hasn't fallen on such hard times she's had to stoop to this level. If nothing else she should get a new agent.
Shannyn Sossamon is the only bright spot in this film. Hopefully, we'll see more of her in the future.
The Rules of Attraction will actually make you feel like taking a shower after you watch it. Do yourself a big favor and either stay home or go see any number of other much more provocative and worthy films (Secretary comes to mind).
The Rules of Attraction is, quite simply, a piece of trash without any artistic merit.
Alternative Reviews:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-rules11f.html
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/TheRulesofAttraction-1116282/
The Official Website is also bad and not worth a link.
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2003
David Schwartz.
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