Wednesday, July 7, 2010

THE RULES OF ATTRACTION (2002)


Cast: James Van Derbeek, Shannyn Sossamon, Iam Somerhalder, Jessica Biel, Jay Baruchel, Paul Williams, Faye Dunaway, Russell Sams, Swoosie Kurtz, Kip Pardue, Clare Kramer, Eric Stoltz, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Clifton Collins Jr. Kate Bosworth, Joel Michaely, Aurora Snow, Amber Smith, Ron Jeremy

Written & Directed by: Roger Avary
Based on the book by: Bret Easton Ellis
Cinematography by: Robert Brinkman
Editor: Sharon Rutter




There is so much cut footage I believe, that is not on the dvd. I think the producers were hoping for Blockbuster success that they were hoping for a special edition Dvd. Supposedly the director caught so much footage of Kip Pardue in character as victor in Europe for the two minutes of the scene summarizing that trip. That there was talk of releasing it as a mini movie on Dvd or as a film itself. But alas it never came to be.

Bret Easton Ellis has said that this is his favorite of all the film adaptations of his books.

This was a film I was looking very forward to other then having and still do have a huge crush on actress Shannyn Sossamon. (who was surprisingly the second choice for the role behind Christina Ricci) The film seemed to cast all the hot young actors running around Hollywood at the time. I was also reading up on the filming by following Director Roger Avary’s blog where he wrote about the film almost everyday as well as showing footage and poster art. When he showed the trailer I was in ecstasy. I read the book also while this was going on to prepare myself as to what to expect material wise from the film. So when it came out I watched it opening night and I wasn’t disappointed but it wasn’t what I thought it would be it also taught me a lesson as a young man. Don’t believe everything you read from a director when he is discussing his project. I should have learned that lesson earlier with the film THE FACULTY which I didn’t hate but wasn’t the film I thought it was going to be.

Roger Avary is a oscar winner for co-writing PULP FICTION though he only gets a story by credit on that film. There has been controversy over the writing and relationship between him and Quentin Tarantino as to where his work begins and ends on projects such as TRUE ROMANCE, NATURAL BORN KILLERS and PULP FICTION. The settled there differences and Quentin produced his debut film KILLING ZOE. This film is certainly a step up though KILLING ZOE wasn’t that bad.

The film is really a experimental film it has tons of style deals with many different subjects mainly through the three protagonists eyes and jumps from satire, to dark comedy to drama while dealing with a long list of subjects like sex, suicide, homosexuality, drugs. The film stays very true to the book while cutting out some subplots that are missed as they gave some characters depth and made certain scenes a reason to actually be there. The film has the gloss and polish of a studio film but has a punk rock heart. A certain rebelliousness. It’s like someone who looks normal and infiltrates a building then once they are in there they show they’re true colors as they try to dismantle the place from the inside.

The film isn’t bad but it seems to be a film that you will either love or hate. Most of the characters are hard to feel sorry or even sympathy for except for Sossamon’s character Lauren. The film has plenty of examples of amazing technique and film technology as scenes run backwards but with visual tricks that throw you off. Two camera shots that are follow the character separately on a side by side screen until they meet each other and the two angles come together into one wide shot. It fits in with the film as there are copious amounts of drugs and alcohol and lends itself to the characters experimentalism, But at times also feels like there is no reason for it to be there. The film is supposed to be set in the 80’s but then tries to blur it’s time period so it can seem universal and timeless for the college experience.

It reminds me of what director Roger Avary was going for a film that like RULES OF THE GAME was not only a coming of age tale but supposedly a eye opening film that deals with the young generations morals and behavior. The film was also supposed to be James Van DerBeek’s breakout film into more serious film territory as he made this and was also supposed to be in the film STORYTELLING but his segment was cut. While he makes a mark here in a good performance. You just never feel any sympathy for him. In fact if this was a traditional Hollywood movie he would be a villain not a protagonist

There is really no plot as we just really experience the trials and tribulations of the three main characters Sean the rich boy partier, Lauren the virgin, and Paul the homosexual. How they cross each others paths to form a weird love triangle. The film is heartbreaking almost as much as how many times Lauren gets her heart broken.

I really like the film and it almost made my Hall of fame but after watching it recently wile I still like it I don’t love it and doesn’t lend itself to ageing. It also wasn’t as great as I used to think it was. I think it deserves more consideration then it currently receives.

The film also has a good soundtrack and a cool score from tomandandy that is catchy. The dvd includes a out of nowhere audio commentary by Carrot top only because roger avary wanted to try a audio commentary of someone watching the film for the first time and there reaction. For the experiment I have to give him kudos it’s a cool idea. Not entirely successful though.

Decide for yourself, as I still recommend it

GRADE: B-

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