Review of The Rules of Attraction (2002) by Archibald T — 29 Jan 2013

A long time ago I read a book called 'The Rules of Attraction' by Brett Easton Ellis. Not to get pointers in what to look for when someone is attracted to you. No. It was sort of preparation before seeing the film that was to come out. It would be my first kind of comparison experiment to see if a book is in any way better than the film. I was younger than I am now and couldn't get laid. So something as awaiting for the film version of a book to come out was the only thing I could look forward too at the time.

My first impressions, as I recall, after reading the book was a feeling of disorientation. The book is sort of a mosaic piece of different characters and their perspectives of events that unfold. It's about a group of college kids who share their adventures whether they be sexual or drug induced while studying at a ficitional college named Camden. The structure of the book was the most memorable as it would begin and end in mid-sentence. The story revolved around three specific characters: Lauren, Sean and Paul. These characters become the focal point of a "story". Hard to describe their plight after having not read the book in a long time, but from what I could recall is that all three were heavily delusional and empty.

I remember going to a showing of the film when it first came out. I was the only one watching it other than the projectionist. That's happen A LOT when I go to the movies ( few examples; About Schmidt, Hulk, even Watchmen and Grindhouse). I tend to either go see a film after it's been released for a few weeks and I would always go on a weekday. Less people, the better.

The film itself was spot on in terms of the book. It was perfectly adapted to the screen by Roger Avery. The man behind 'Killing Zoe' (as well as the co-writer of 'Pulp Fiction') does a clever job at integrating several great filmmaking techinques to bring the book to life. His use of rewinding backwards to a previous point in the beginning of the film to get either Lauren's or Sean's or Paul's perspective in the first few minutes sets up the momentum of a surreallistic college movie. It's not your typical fray of college 'American Pie' bullshit. It's harsh reality that is presented here is darkly cynical.

The best, and probably equally inventive piece of direction, is the split screen shot of when Sean and Lauren first meet. It's a great scene set to the music of Donovan as the split sections of both characters are joined in unison to perfect a type of moment of connection for both characters (before they end up hating each other). These characters, you have to remember, are also tragic. They're disillusional and feel nothing for each other. What they want they can't have and what they have they don't want. It's a disturbing piece, but honest.

As the comical and tragic events unfold for our three protagonist, we can only hope that one day they'll change their shallow ways.