The Rules of Attraction [VHS] [2003]: James Van Der Beek|Shannyn Sossamon|Jessica Biel, Roger Avary: Amazon.co.uk: Video

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Based on Bret Easton Ellis's often-overlooked second novel, The Rules of Attraction works better as a film than the disastrous Less Than Zero, though not as well as the canny American Psycho. Writer-director Roger Avary--who lets slip a nasty Quentin Tarantino reference that feels like sour grapes--can't quite decide whether to ditch the novel's extremely 1980s cultural references and make a contemporary-set picture or to evoke the period in which the book was written. Set on a small New England campus, the film offers a love triangle between "emotional vampire" Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beek), skateboarding "innocent" Lauren Hynde (Shannon Sossamyn) and gay libertine Paul Denton (Ian Somerhalder) that gets complicated by passing characters.

While not as hung up on time as Memento or Irreversible, the film does play its tricks, opening at an "end of the world party" to show its three leads at simultaneous low points, reversing to take stabs at each of them, then hopping back and forth in time as different narrators take over, with time-outs for a fast-forward tour of Europe by a minor character and a drug-dealing subplot to keep Avary's crime credentials in order. All in all it's a satirical piece that is removed from reality, always striking, sometimes funny or horrifying, but ultimately hard to connect with. --Kim Newman

Video Description

From the corrupt minds that brought you American Psycho (Brett Easton Ellis) and Pulp Fiction (Roger Avary) comes The Rules of Attraction, a razor-sharp, sordid movie about sex, drugs and hedonism on an American college campus. James van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek), Ian Somerhalder (Changing Hearts) and Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight’s Tale) star in this scathingly insightful satire on life and love among the young and privileged. This is the domain of the Camden College, a small, affluent, liberal arts college somewhere in New England. With endless rounds of drug, alcohol and sex-drenched campus parties, attended by sparsely dressed Camden students, life is one big drug-induced trip. But human nature determines that in a highly imperfect world, the rules of attraction always apply … and among the co-eds at Camden College, the first rule is – there are no rules.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something completely different....., 31 Aug 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Rules Of Attraction [DVD] [2003] (DVD)

Film fans may already recognise Bret Easton Ellis as the man behind American Psycho. People expecting more of the same may find this film a little more restrained than his previous adaption but this doesn't reduce the impact of the film. Basically, it follows the various relationships and activities of several students on a college campus. Before you say "Oh no, not another American Pie", this film's humour is much darker and subtler in tone. The direction of the film is unusual as well, rather than just following a linear path, it jumps backwards and forwards, allowing you to see each characters (often very different) perspective on the action. Probably not the sort of film for anyone who wants a good post night-out comedy but an excellent drama with a black humour to it.

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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex Drugs and Rock n Roll, 19 April 2003

By	"miamigirl151" - See all my reviews

Based on Bret Easton Ellis's often-overlooked second novel,The Rules of Attraction is written and directed by Roger Avary(pulp fiction, killing zoe. This film has to be the most underrated film of this year. I was expecting just a normal film about rich kids on drugs but i got a piece of art blended in with college life. Avary makes this film fit into a dozen catagories, a satire, drama, black comedy, romance just to name a few.

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!

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent adaptation of great novel., 3 April 2003

By	Jason Parkes "We're all Frankies'" (Worcester, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

Ellis hasn't fared that wonderfully when having his works adapted for the screen- the risible "Less Than Zero" so irked Ellis that he got Patrick Bateman in "American Psycho" ask in a video shop if they had any Jami Gertz movies (!). Mary Hannon's take on "American Psycho" had moments & a great central performance from Christian Bale- but you kind of wished that Brian De Palma or Oliver Stone had made the film (as they were both rumoured to be attached to the project at one time). Roger Avary is more famous for being a co-writer of "Pulp Fiction" & having disappeared off the cultural radar following the patchy "Killing Zoe". So I wasn't ready to be bowled over by this adpatation of one of my favourite books- but I think this is as good as it gets...

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!