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34
10,000 B.C. Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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Rules of Attraction, The
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MPAA RATING: R for strong sexual content, drug use, language and violent images
Starring James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Ian Somerhalder, Jessica Biel, Kip Pardue, Kate Bosworth, Thomas Ian Nicholas, and Joel Michaely
Set at an affluent New England liberal arts college, this film takes a satiric look at an emerging sexual triangle.
| GENRE(S): | Romance |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Roger Avary
Bret Easton Ellis (novel) |
| DIRECTED BY: | Roger Avary |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: February 18, 2003 Video: February 18, 2003 Theatrical: October 11, 2002 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 110 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 6.9 (out of 10) based on 55 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Chelsea E. gave it a10:
There is only one word that can properly portray this movie; real. The reality of the movie is almost disturbing. There is an undeniable college energy about it. Being a college student, I can completely relate to most of the characters and their actions. It’s so much more than just another portrayal of wild parties, drugs, and sex in most college flicks. Those movies show the superficial side of college students, while The Rules of Attraction allows the audience to identify with the actors and get a glimpse inside their souls. It focuses on the brutal reality of life… “Luck has nothing to do with it. Everything is preordained. Manifest destiny. You can stop time from happening no more than you can will the oceans to overwhelm the world, or to cause the moon to drop from her outer sphere. Luck has nothing to do with anything.”
John F. gave it a9:
A tough, forcefully abrasive adaptation of a flawed (and decidedly forgettable) Bret Easton Ellis novel? Roger Avery didn't do himself any favours in following up the empty (and ugly, and flat) Killing Zoe, but has gone on to inadvertantly create one of the most important films of this past decade. This is an angry, hugely inventive dissection, and one that mercilessly attacks (like all of the very best satire) EVERYBODY. Its nihilistic viewpoint is raw, but not without heart; the final, artfully composed twenty minutes wring the heart whilst also throwing arms in the air in utter disillusion. We, as a species, are fucked... but how did we let it come to this? The dearth of religion? The church of the self? Avary suggests nothing, merely letting us bathe in the horror of our own complicity. Much as I loathe many of this movie's supporters, it is almost inarguable that this is a film that's going to be avidly devoured for decades to come.
Ricardo R. gave it a10:
This as got to be one of the most underrated movies of all time. Critics say it's superficial, well guess what? Youth IS Superficial, and the american youth is one of most superficial on the planet, so this movie is nothing more than a loyal portrait of how college life is nowadays. Also the movie is extremely well directed in a sense that's totally innovative!
Disco_Stew gave it a0:
Rules Of Attraction is by far the worst movie I have ever seen in my entire life, I am still recovering from it.
smile gave it a9:
This movie does't tell everything about the Elli's book, but it truly tells the highpoints. The cruel and narsistic way to deal with it works even better in film than realistic comedy. There is no need for searching under the surface. Camden surely lives in the moment or at least Parties, sex and rock'n roll are everything in college life. Everybody seems happy, but nobody isn't thats the real life.
Lana gave it a10:
This is one of the very best movies i've ever seen, because it was so REAL. Watching this film was like watching my own life. i have definately met many people in real life who are virtually identical to the types of characters in this film, and these situations are very realistic. The characters are selfish and narcissistic, greedy, thoughtless and cruel, just like real people. Finally, a film that shows something other then sugarcoated fairy tale fantasies of "love" that never happen in the real world.
J Ed gave it a9:
Not for the faint hearted or those with a heart of stone -- I found this to be absolutely compelling watching. Many of the characters are dislikeable but all of the main characters are all too human. This movie is about love (or more generally, longing for another human being). The central love "triangle" is really about everyone shooting off in different connections, never really connecting. "Do you every really know anybody?" No, you will never really know another human being. Shannyn Sossamon is fantastic and some of the "artsy" film techniques are truly creative and add depth This is thoughtprovoking stuff. Aside: I wonder how many of the low scores by users and mainstream reviewers are a (sub?)conscious reaction against the fact that a main character, one of the first we meet, is gay, and about the most honest depiction of what it's like that I've seen (that love can be hard for everyone and anyone).

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