The Rules of Attraction [DVD] [2003] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

James Van Der Beek(Varsity blues, standing still) plays a campus drug dealer Sean Bateman( brother of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho)who falls for the innocent virgin Lauren Hynde(Shannyn Sossamon)who is still in love with her ex Victor(Kip Pardue) who is on a trip across europe getting high every night. Of course nothing turns out how its supposed to be which is the best part about this movie, it's not predictable nor a stupid little teen flick.

This movie is a serious film for anyone who wants to watch real actors and actresses playing their parts. Avary even has the time to fit in special effects of playing scenes backwards and putting in split screens to see the actors and actresses emotions at the same time.

A great movie!

Avary translates the complex novel into an intrigueing film- this is the true American teen film- more 'Bully', 'Kids' & 'River's Edge' than 'American Pie2', 'Loser' & other stock US teen drivel. This is what 'Crazy/Beautiful' should have been like. Sure, Avary chucks out some elements I liked in the book (e.g. Lauren's abortion by Sean)- but he retained the feel of the book (which still exists- the book is not cancelled out by the film- which appears to be the major criticism levelled at films of fave books). Nice to see a reference to a Tarantino film in name only (does Avary mean Killing Zoe, From Dusk Till Dawn or True Romance?)& as with 'Killing Zoe' he has people watching German Expressionism on video (Das Cabinet of Dr Caligari here). Avary also makes intrigueing use of digital video close-ups that pan in & remind me of the end of 'Three Colours Red' (great when we realise who the unnamed girl obssessed with Sean is or the shots of Paul, Sean & Lauren at the End of the World party at the end) or the reverse-elements (which demonstrate how complex even hedonistic lives are). The Victor in Europe rapid-digital sequence is great (I wonder if Avary will make Glamorama now?)- though the reference to the Tate Modern, Oakenfold etc with Sean's reference to Internet masturbation appear to contradict the 80s setting of the novel (which is compounded by the brilliant soundtrack which features The Cure, Erasure, The Go Gos, Love&Rockets & an amusing use of Faith- which is very homoerotic & knowing regarding George Michael).

Nice to see a reference to Sean's brother- Patrick Bateman ("Who's Patrick?")also- though the Faye Dunaway episode was a little inconsiquential & the drug dealer plotline a little bit routine- but that's cancelled out by such scenes as the split-screen/come together sequence of Lauren&Sean, the sadness of the anonymous girl infatuated with Sean & her demise or the opening sequence. In many ways, I'd have preferred the film to have been longer- the world of Ellis' novel captured so well (perhaps the DVD will have outtakes from Victor's diary or other sequences cut out?).

Add to this some excellent performances- James Van Der Beek getting to mess with his star persona relating to the Creek/Teen fayre like 'Varsity Blues'- he does here what he should have done in 'Storytelling' (2001)- if he had not been edited out of that film. Van Der Beek takes to the role with great abandon, happy to lose himself in a depraved role- I'm with Uncut's Chris Roberts on him: the new Dennis Hopper! There are other great turns from Eric Stolz (as a stoned tutor messing round with his students), Kip Pardue (as Victor) & Ian Somerhalder (as Paul Denton). Further great performances come from whoever plays the scarred/suicide girl (a small role I know) & Shannyn Sossamon as Lauren (as great as Van Der Beek in one of the lead roles).

The Rules of Attraction is probably the best depraved teen movie since "River's Edge"- it's messy, hilarious, cruel, depressing & everything that edgy cinema ought to be. A great adaptation of a great book & a film that I'll come back to for certain- hopefully the brilliant actors here will be offerred roles with as much meat as those here & maybe the lite gross out/teen movie will become another dead genre? This is the real thing: more, please!