The Rules of Attraction | 
| Director: Roger Avary
Actors: James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Kip Pardue, Jessica Biel, Ian Somerhalder
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $5.22
Used (7) from $5.22
Rating:  192 reviews
Sales Rank: 125967
Format: Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), German (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 057373158784
EAN: 0057373158784
ASIN: B000089Q73
Theatrical Release Date: October 11, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
A not-quite dazzling array of cinematic tricks (split screens, freeze-frames, running the film backwards, rapid editing, etc.) are used to depict college students floundering in the pursuit of love and meaning. Drugs, blow jobs, pornography, booze, rape, masturbation, '80s pop tunes, beatings, suicide, attempted suicide, faked suicide, loss of bladder control, and trite pseudo-philosophy are on display as pretty young actors with squeaky-clean images (like James Van Der Beek and Jessica Biel) attempt to dirty themselves up. The Rules of Attraction comes to life for about five minutes when an actor named Russell Sams appears for an outrageous restaurant scene, then slumps back into terminal disaffection when he departs. Also featuring Shannyn Sossamon, Faye Dunaway, Swoozie Kurtz, Ian Somerhalder, Kate Bosworth, Eric Stolz, Fred Savage, and many strikingly good-looking young people. The filmmakers are attempting to depict the vacuousness of today's youth but only succeed in portraying the void in their own hearts. --Bret Fetzer
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| Customer Reviews: Read 187 more reviews...
 Rules of Attraction February 4, 2009
V. H. Hickman (Berkley, MI, USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Rules of Attraction that I ordered was delivered in good time. It is in good physical condition. I haven't yet viewed it so I can't speak of the DVD itself. I am happy with this purchase!
 Tries to hard... February 2, 2009
LAA (NY, NY)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This movie tries too hard to be negative, empty, and depressing. The movie tried to shock its viewers, but it came across as freshman-year college film class "dark." I was very disappointed.
Great movie October 9, 2008
Chris Hardiman (Chicago, IL USA)
Interesting look at college-life from the perspective of a few hedonistic students. The book is way better.
The ultimate film about college life May 11, 2008
Adam Dukovich (Roseville, CA United States)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I just watched this movie, and I have to say that I really, really liked it, although I can understand why others don't. This is a cult film, to be sure, and it requires a certain sensibility to see through to the end--the film's blunt force trauma approach to Gen Y college kids will leave lots of viewers cold, unable to muster any feeling for the film's characters. But others will enjoy the comedy of it all. For me, the movie clicked from the very first scene. I totally got what was going on and what the filmmakers were trying to say because of my own college experiences. I knew all these bastards, and I appreciated that they weren't really that sympathetic. This movie really is the definitive movie about the most prevalent form of college life that on sees today, so much so that there seems no point of ever making another.
All of this is not to say that the film is perfect, even if you share the film's sensibility. All of the scenes featuring Sean (James Van Der Beek) interacting with the drug dealer were a real drag on the movie. The actor who played the latter evidently never learned that good acting doesn't necessarily mean MORE acting. And although Van Der Beek does a surprisingly good job as Sean Bateman (my expectations were, to put it kindly, low) there are a few uneven moments. Generally, though, the acting is pretty good, and the movie is a technical marvel.
If you're not convinced so far, here are five of my favorite moments from the film. If you like them, consider watching it.
1. Sean has lost a chance at being with the woman he has convinced himself he's in love with, so he decides to kill himself. First, he tries to hang himself with a phone cord. The light fixture can't hold his weight, so he falls to the ground. Then he tries to slash his wrists with a razor, but it's a face shaver and he is again unsuccessful. Finally, he tries to overdose on pills, but all he has are what appear to be cold pills, which he takes a bunch of and chases with off-brand NyQuil. It's a pretty funny take on emo-style hysterics.
2. Sean (Ian Somerhalder of LOST) is late to meet Sean for dinner when one of his friends overdoses. He's completely nonplussed as they drive to the hospital, dismissing the crisis by saying things like, "Freshmen don't OD." He doesn't even bother to conceal his boredom when the guy seems to die (but doesn't).
3. "I only did it with her because I'm in love with you." Sure...
4. The restaurant scene. "Well, Richard..." "I'm DICK!" "Well, Dick, what are you studying?" Much of the rest of the dialogue is unprintable. The scene is the key to the entire movie: entitlement, resentment of authority, lack of control--it's all there. And hilarious.
5. The scene where Sean's secret admirer (who we had seen several times before) commits suicide. In between all the irony and sleaze, it's a genuinely beautiful and sad moment.
The Rules of Attraction is more than the sum of its parts, though. It makes an effective brief for what its subject group is like, and it does not exactly let them off the hook when it comes to moral terms. It is not, of course, for everyone, but if you're still reading this it might be worth a viewing.
P. S. Van Der Beek also punches Jessica Biel in the face. So, there's that.
 For Bret Ellis Lovers April 10, 2008
ktmonster (Los Angeles, CA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
As a huge fan of Bret Ellis' novels, I was especially pleased with this theatrical interpretation. For those who love American Psycho and appreciate movies that hold true to Ellis' work, this is a must-see to be sure.
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