applehuntr
Joined Jul 2000
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Reviews36
applehuntr's rating
"The Rules of Attraction" is a brilliant film from director Roger Avary, it went ignored in theaters and hopefully will find its following on video/DVD.
The film could be classified as a black comedy, it is darkly funny, but the dramatic aspects are what work best, such as a haunting suicide scene or the beginning in which the 3 main characters Lauren, Paul and Sean are introduced. That scene also has elements of comedy in it, but it is at its strongest with Lauren, who after passing out wakes up to find herself being raped, and videotaped. The scene then freezes, and rewinds to tell the story of Paul, and so on. This is a fantastic editing technique, and it really hits home on repeated viewings after knowing the characters motivations.
The acting is excellent, with the stand out being Shannyn Sossamon, if the film had only been more well received then she could of gotten the recognition she deserves for this great performance. James Van Der Beek bought himself a clean slate here, anyone who sees this film instantly forgets about Dawson's Creek and will accept him as a real actor. Ian Somerhalder is solid as the third main character Paul.
The supporting cast is memorable, from a trampy Jessica Biel to a pill popping Swoosie Kurtz, and they keep the film moving at a brisk pace. The film has a few minor flaws, but nothing big enough to take away from this experience.
Roger Avary has created an excellent film, with a score by Tomandandy that is nothing short of genius, that is powerful, hilarious and tragic. A unique masterpiece.
10/10
The film could be classified as a black comedy, it is darkly funny, but the dramatic aspects are what work best, such as a haunting suicide scene or the beginning in which the 3 main characters Lauren, Paul and Sean are introduced. That scene also has elements of comedy in it, but it is at its strongest with Lauren, who after passing out wakes up to find herself being raped, and videotaped. The scene then freezes, and rewinds to tell the story of Paul, and so on. This is a fantastic editing technique, and it really hits home on repeated viewings after knowing the characters motivations.
The acting is excellent, with the stand out being Shannyn Sossamon, if the film had only been more well received then she could of gotten the recognition she deserves for this great performance. James Van Der Beek bought himself a clean slate here, anyone who sees this film instantly forgets about Dawson's Creek and will accept him as a real actor. Ian Somerhalder is solid as the third main character Paul.
The supporting cast is memorable, from a trampy Jessica Biel to a pill popping Swoosie Kurtz, and they keep the film moving at a brisk pace. The film has a few minor flaws, but nothing big enough to take away from this experience.
Roger Avary has created an excellent film, with a score by Tomandandy that is nothing short of genius, that is powerful, hilarious and tragic. A unique masterpiece.
10/10
2002 has been a slow year for movies, at least for me, and "The Rules Of Attraction" shines with brilliance in this mediocre year.
The Plot: College kids: get drunk, party, screw, get high, screw some more, party some more and don't go to class.
This may not sound like much, but director Roger Avary has injected such life into it that the film flat-out sparkles. The camera work, the music, the acting (Shannyn Sossamon is the stand-out here with a delicate, great performance), EVERYTHING all fits together so nicely it is nothing short of invigorating. The film also, thank God, isn't pretensious or boring. It is a faithful adaptation of the book (right down to the mid-sentence ending) and Avary deserves endless praise for this underrrated, underacheiving (only 2.5 million opening weekend, ouch) film. Viewers have been rather love-it/hate-it with this movie and, again, the film deserves praise for invoking such strong feelings.
A great, funny, depressing, colorful, electrifying film. It is already one of my personal favorites. *****9/10*****
The Plot: College kids: get drunk, party, screw, get high, screw some more, party some more and don't go to class.
This may not sound like much, but director Roger Avary has injected such life into it that the film flat-out sparkles. The camera work, the music, the acting (Shannyn Sossamon is the stand-out here with a delicate, great performance), EVERYTHING all fits together so nicely it is nothing short of invigorating. The film also, thank God, isn't pretensious or boring. It is a faithful adaptation of the book (right down to the mid-sentence ending) and Avary deserves endless praise for this underrrated, underacheiving (only 2.5 million opening weekend, ouch) film. Viewers have been rather love-it/hate-it with this movie and, again, the film deserves praise for invoking such strong feelings.
A great, funny, depressing, colorful, electrifying film. It is already one of my personal favorites. *****9/10*****
'Not Another Teen Movie" is not the worst film of the year (that honor goes to Life As A House, ick.), its not even a bad film. It doesnt pretend to be a masterpiece, it just wants to entertain for an hour and a half and it delivers.
There really isnt a plot, just a mixed bag of good and not-so-good jokes.
THE GOOD: The performances are actually pretty decent, I enjoyed Chyler Leigh and her character. Her paintings cracked me up. The Bitchy Cheerleader and the Bring It On send up was hilarious ("you put the "ism" in "defense mechanism"!) and their cheer, that was great. I liked the cameo of the American Beauty paper bag. Most of the dialogue is witty and fun, and there a lots of nice little touches. (The Anthony Michael Dining Hall)
THE NOT-SO-GOOD: There were a few self-aware moments, and they irratate me greatly. The overweight football player and his concussions were boring. The cheerleader with Tourette's is in bad taste, it came with a few laughs, but it was too mean and I like black humor. The cameos arent funny (Melissa Joan Hart, Sean Patrick Thomas and Molly Ringlwald) they could've been, but they were all about self-awareness.
It's kind of a half and half deal, but the good parts are more prominent, and it was consistently entertaining and fun. So I recommend it.
*** out of ****
There really isnt a plot, just a mixed bag of good and not-so-good jokes.
THE GOOD: The performances are actually pretty decent, I enjoyed Chyler Leigh and her character. Her paintings cracked me up. The Bitchy Cheerleader and the Bring It On send up was hilarious ("you put the "ism" in "defense mechanism"!) and their cheer, that was great. I liked the cameo of the American Beauty paper bag. Most of the dialogue is witty and fun, and there a lots of nice little touches. (The Anthony Michael Dining Hall)
THE NOT-SO-GOOD: There were a few self-aware moments, and they irratate me greatly. The overweight football player and his concussions were boring. The cheerleader with Tourette's is in bad taste, it came with a few laughs, but it was too mean and I like black humor. The cameos arent funny (Melissa Joan Hart, Sean Patrick Thomas and Molly Ringlwald) they could've been, but they were all about self-awareness.
It's kind of a half and half deal, but the good parts are more prominent, and it was consistently entertaining and fun. So I recommend it.
*** out of ****