The Rules of Attraction Script Review
If Roger Avary can pull this off, he is going to give directors like David Fincher, Steven Soderbergh, and Darren Aronofsky a run for their money. Avary, the co-writer of Pulp Fiction, has been tapped to write and direct an adaptation of Brett Easton Ellis's The Rules of Attraction.
I've read both the book and now the screenplay, and I must say that Avary does quite a good job with his adaptation. His techniques as a director are all planned out on his own personal road map and I can tell you right now, backwards scenes are where it's at. David Lynch did a bit of this in Twin Peaks, but this is nothing like Avary's unique use. Lynch used his as a way of making something surreal while Avary actually incorporates storytelling techniques used in the book that he is transferring to film. I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes some new effect that is constantly ripped off. Avary drenches the material all over with his style, from split screens, to freeze frames, and the new reverse motion, this is going to be like Requiem for a Dream or Fight Club all over again (style wise).
Enough about the style, let's cut a bit into the plot. The film starts off with one scene at a party, looked at three different times from three different points of view, all of which revolve around college students. The first student, Lauren (Shannyn Sossamon), is reflecting on the loss of her virginity (Avary does this very humorously) then we REWIND all the way back to the beginning of the scene and view everything again, this time through the eyes of Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beek). Patrick's brother for you American Psycho fans. Sean is working hard at determining his plans for the night between getting stoned or drunk, jacking off, or f**king. We REWIND yet again and witness everything else through the eyes of Paul (Ian Somerhalder), a bisexual who once dated Lauren and now has his eyes on Sean. (The three become involved in a wicked game of a love triangle all while going through the school year.) We then rewind even further, like months, and go back to before the party, going through their lives and watching them intersect.
Comparing the book to the screenplay is fairly a no brainer in this case. Avary does a very decent job of adapting the source material for the screen. However, I was disappointed with the lack of coverage between the relationships of Sean and Paul (there is a lot of sex involved which is perhaps why Avary brushed over it). This was a major plot point which is briefly covered in the screenplay. Granted, Avary makes this sufficient, however I thought there should have been more involvement. I am also glad he didn't cut out the scenes with Patrick, in fact, he adds one. SPOILER: This I am not so sure I agree with because the book never referenced Patrick's homicidal behavior, the screenplay does. While it stays in Patrick's character, doesn't that take things a little off course? (By the way, I hope to God, Christian Bale comes back to reprise his role as Patrick. I can see him all over this.)
Finally, Avary's dialogue is also top notch. He earned his praise for co-writing Pulp Fiction with Quentin Tarantino (who he references a few times in the screenplay, very funny) and now it's clear he has forged his own path. I don't know if this is because of the source material of because of Avary's ear (they are so alike), anyhow, he does a great job. For instance, he writes an exchange that is fairly humorous and very realistic. I believe it goes something like this.
BOY
Does beer make you full?
LAUREN (V.O. Drunk.)
Did he say that I'm beautiful?
I can only hope Avary directs the screenplay as well as he wrote it. He certainly has the talent behind him in way of James Van Der Beek , Faye Dunaway, and others. I can tell you for one, I cannot wait to see this movie.
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My Short Review of Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
Last month during my trip to Paris, I stopped by a movie theater to catch Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. The second installment of the Asterix movie franchise. This film is being released this Friday in the Province of Quebec only. Miramax Films recently struck a distribution deal on the two Asterix films for the United-States. No release date has been announced yet. Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra has been a huge box-office success in France since it's release in early 2002.
For those not familiar with Asterix, here's the lowdown: In Roman occupied Gaul (France) only one village remains untamed by the empire. Their secret? The village's druid has a magical potion that gives them unlimited power for a limited time. With their potion the Romans cannot conquer the small village. The story centers on the smartest and funniest man of the village, Asterix (Christian Clavier) and his dimwit best friend Obelix (Gerard Depardieu) who fell into the potion cauldron when he was a child (giving him continuous unlimited strength). The second film takes place in Egypt where Numerobis (Jamel Debbouze) has been ordered by Queen Cleopatra (Monica Belluci) to construct a magnificent palace for Julius Caesar (Alain Chabat) in three months. If he doesn't make it, death by the sacred alligators awaits him. Numerobis decides to ask his father's old friend Panoramix (Claude Rich), the druid for help. He agrees and brings along Asterix, Obelix and his dog Idefix along for the Egyptian trip. Meanwhile Caesar and Numerobis' rival architect Amonbofis (Gerard Darmon) plots to stop the palace from finishing.
While the first movie was a huge disappointment and a bore, this one is breath of fresh air. Alain Chabat, who wrote, directed and starred in this film, is brilliant. This film is much funnier and more interesting. It includes lot of extremely funny pop-culture references and is filled with spoofs of The Matrix and Star Wars. The supporting cast, headlined by Chabat himself, really shines. Stand-up comic Dieudonné as Caesar's first in command is downright hilarious. He steals every scene he's in. The same goes for Jamel Debbouze and Chabat. Christian Clavier is surprisingly well reserved in his film. The comedic genius is good but he seems lost under that mustache. He's better than in the first film but nowhere near as good as his solo project. Depardieu's Obelix is always great and the way he hid the Sphinx's broken nose is memorable.
It's a must-see film for the entire family. Way better then other summer disappointments.(Cough! Episode 2! Cough!) Make sure to catch it...
Stay tuned...
That's all folks...
DeadPool
