Walking into the theater opening night, I didn't have the knowledge that walking out - I'd be tempted to label this film as an A+ masterpiece. As I departed the theater before heading into Punch-Drunk Love, I was trying to figure out what could have made Rules of Attraction any better. It wasn't until my second viewing that I was able to do so.

I was really astonished by how much I was engaged into this film's situations, as it sucked me in from the opening bit and refused to release its pressure until the "God-all-mighty!!" teasing finale. Rules of Attraction wastes no time in getting to its point, and that is one of its benefits. Not only that, but it sticks true to the film's mood and tone throughout the entire duration of the feature, making every clip substantial to our viewing experience. In other words, nothing presented is there for pointless reasons. And when a movie can pull this method off with the gold as such, it needs to be given a huge applause.

I never did see Varsity Blues, but I can imagine the acting there was far from grand. In Attraction, James Van Der Beek challenges himself in a role that requires a lot from the actor, as he not only has to maintain his charming charisma that he is so used to showcasing, but the character's emotions are so wide that with the improper casting of the part, the film would not come off with the equal effect. The star really amazed me with his performance, as it ranks up with Mel Gibson (Signs) and Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down) as one of the best leading deliveries of the year.

His role is somewhat in the same department as Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky, where the beginning portion of that film works off Cruise's easy charm and usual grin yet has to face the obstacle of having a mask cover all that eventually - forcing the actor to create the sparks through actual acting. Van Der Beek is every sixteen-year old girl's sweetheart and while his role does ask him to use his traditional personality at times, the part for the most part demands him to step away from how many people perceive the actor and deliver something truly dark...yet, we love it.

The actor has this creepy yet awesome ability to give a dark stare that comes off a little bit like Jack Nicholson from The Shining. But here, what doesn't have Attraction insult Kubrick's creation is that it executes itself marvelously. Besides my adoration for these trances Van Der Beek would get into, he's the character most Hollywood screenwriters are afraid to write about for fear of getting too deep into the MPAA limits and being harsh to the audience's overall view of a star. Roger Avary goes the whole nine yards with his character analysis of Sean Bateman (Beek) and isn't the least bit terrified of the results come exit polls. But the filmmaker pulls his approach so nicely that it can elevate your general perception of James Van Der Beek as an actual actor (much like Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love). It's really a breakthrough performance for him, as it forces the actor to what he normally isn't prepared to do - act.

Sean is basically a sex-driven drug addict with his main mind-set on which girl he will get laid to that night and what alternative plans he has outside of that (partially pointed toward weed). In some rather humorous scenes, we actually get to see the character mentally go through all his nightly options which just adds to the trip. I can see why some filmgoers would label Rules of Attraction as a sort of loose, unfocused film with no real conflicts and a weak story. But really, the story's conflicts and story involve each character's dilemmas and the issues they run into that we get wrapped around. And at least for myself, I was hooked into just about every personality's problems which added to the sympathy level. It was as if Avary had placed a camera in a party dorm and let the record button just go, and this was his results.

Shannyn Sossamon has been an up-and-coming actress since starring in A Knight's Tale and further proved her on-screen personality in 40 Days & 40 Nights. In Rules of Attraction, the actress pretty much plays the same role as 40 Days except a bit darker and more honest in tone. She has the delightful smile and on-screen presence to like her at-first-sight, but what allows her character to be deeper in context is Roger Avary's commitment in making her role very realistic. She feels very human and her performance almost feels as if she's just right at home with this role and not having a whole lot of trouble transforming into the mind-set. Perhaps some of the cast members did some research into the college party lives or just went off their own past experience from the good 'ol days, but the film's truthful portrayal of behavior is one of Rules of Attraction's most strongest elements to its game.

Ian Somerhalder as Paul Denton really comes through with a very convincing portrayal of a gay student obsessed with Sean Bateman, and cannot see his life without Sean in the picture. The actor plays a straight-out "pretty boy" who finds attraction for straight guys, but doesn't seem to be going all too well with this path. In what is stylistically a very nifty part, in one particular scene (some people may find it uncomfortable) Paul and Sean are in the same room (of which Paul hoped to play some tricks) and director Roger Avary displays the actual reality of the situation at the same time as showing the imagination of Paul at the time (split-screen). And with the supporting music attached, while possibly awkward for some - direction wise the scene sells. A lot of Rules of Attraction is extreme style, but where the film goes right is delivering a whole batch of context beneath its flair. This could have been style-over-substance in filmmaking, but Avary makes sure not to fall into the trap that some people labeled From Hell as.

From the WB sitcom, 7th Heaven, Jessica Biel not only does a nice job of being attractive in this role (when is she not...) but convinces the viewer of the character's (Lara) absolutely slutty nature that almost makes us want to slap her at times. Lara will sleep with just about anyone, but even though her overall personality is a little shallow in terms of the screenwriting - that's the exact point. She is not an intellectual and is not very deep in context internally, but that's exactly who she is. Lara does not look for a real relationship but just fools around with one night stands with other guys who are just like her. She is also not afraid to hurt feelings or play twists with friends or acquaintances, which forces the audience at a time or two to just want to sock her. At a scene in which something actually does happen, I was left with no choice but to add in to the light applause that resulted from the crowd.

In what was a character I was almost screaming for more screen time, Russell Sams gives Richard "Dick" Jared one of the most fun performances out of the bag. The star is only seen briefly, but absolutely steals the moments with his over-the-top goofiness that had me chuckling along beyond belief with his weird yet extremely comical nature. Richard is implied to be an old boyfriend of Paul Denton's and when "Dick" drops in for a visit, it leads to a hilarious dinner table scene with the two and their mothers (Faye Dunaway and Swoosie Kurts). Words cannot describe the scene but is one blast to sit through, and I evidently wasn't alone opening night as you could just feel that the audience was on the verge of breaking out in applause at Richard's hysterical departure. This is his second film and I hope the actor does not quit here with comedic roles.

Playing Victor Johnson, Kip Pardue gives a very direct and honest delivery as the guy Lauren is waiting to hook up with (they are three-thousand miles apart and had dated before). Victor is her ideal boyfriend and just cannot wait for an opportunity for the two to reunite in a relationship that was broken off by the long-distance factor. Kip Pardue has never been in a solid role until now, and in Rules of Attraction the star supplies what is a very suave performance. In a long sequence where the audience gets taken a fast-paced, front-row view to Victor's Europe trip in fast-forward motion, the actor narrates with rapid talk and style that it is just an honor to be in the presence of the technique Roger Avary has established. We don't get too much of the character, but the way in which Avary compares and contrasts how Lauren perceives Victor to be and the reality of the actual scenario via the long extremely cool Europe sequence - it just sends an almost authentic gaze on how many people are versus what we may imagine in our heads. Not an Oscar-worthy performance, but definitely a breakthrough for someone who was mediocre at best in the Renny Harlin flick, Driven.

While I loved Rules of Attraction to pieces, I have a few minor complaints that do in fact pull this film away from the absolutely "classic" category I almost branded it as in my initial viewing. One flaw being where one of the character's deaths is played out in a manner where it is hoping to withdraw a very deep reaction from the viewer. While we care because the person is in fact killing themselves through a very painful and uneasy-for-the-viewer method, there's a certain level of attachment that is just not present to the point where we are deeply crying for the loss we are presented with.

This character is barely seen throughout the duration of the film, so we never really know who they are as a person but it is more so implied of their internal feelings and overall depressed emotional state. So when the suicide scene actually arrives, we do experience a sense of sadness that is superbly supported by "Without You" in the background, but this internal reaction from our part only really occurs considering the method of which the character is committing suicide through. We have no emotional attachment to the individual and that's where a minor flaw kicks in. To us the character is just a face we saw earlier in the story and someone who was never given beneficial time to build an actual personality worth actually caring for to a profound extent.

Another flaw, while extremely minor, deals with an element that I've always found intriguing just with the considerable range of this act I've previously seen pulled off. This deals with the task of having a character drive a vehicle on the road and make it seem as if they are actually the ones driving. In one specific scene, Van Der Beek is driving along with another passenger in the car, but through his rather long periods of time where he stares at his buddy next to him, it's just very implausible that he's actually the one behind-the-wheel. I've always had the state-of-mind that a great actor can not only transform into an entirely different persona, but even in the most simplest situations - make the viewer completely believe they are really there and force the audience to ponder for themselves whether the characters are in fact driving or if it's just terrific acting with the filmmakers themselves the ones driving. Or if it is a blue-screen, influence the audience in truly believing there is no magical trick behind the scene.

It's like that mistake many television shows fall into with their very fake on-the-road segments where the characters are evidently with a blue-screen surrounding them. But not only that, but their hands are constantly moving the steering wheel back-and-forth attempting to make it seem as if they are driving. But what the hell are the chances of having to move your steering wheel in the exact same positions constantly on a road? Minor factor? Hell yes, but the subtlest scenarios are one of the best ways to convey truly outstanding acting. An actor's job is to have its viewer be convinced of every aspect that's unfolding in front of them, and not just within their dialogue; acting involves just about every subtle detail.

As a whole, Rules of Attraction is a cross between American Pie and quite possibly American Psycho. It's the hardcore and too-honest version Pie was terrified of being but not exactly as downright f***ed up as Psycho. It's not exactly made for the Dawson's Creek audience but even may be too darkly told for the AP audience. Attraction is definitely not a mainstream release and after seeing the film, I understand why it barely did any business in its just modest theater count opening weekend (despite seeing it with fairly filled attendance). It's a more alive tale of sex and drugs among young adults and boasts a filmmaking skill that is just about superb. Both American Pie films managed to secure a fun ride and somewhat of a truthful take on the first summer back from college. But where Rules of Attraction makes its run for the money is that it does what most teen oriented films never ever attempt to do - make a movie of extreme quality and not just an overall good 'ol time at the movies.

In the case of this release, its audience didn't have a very clear picture that this was what the ride would amount to but it's exactly what the situation looks like. Perhaps its business is due to the rather mediocre advertising Lions Gate gave the production, I'm not sure, but what I do know is that Rules of Attraction is an absolutely outstanding film many are avoiding. It almost has that feel of one of those cult releases that doesn't get discovered till the shelves or until friends convince other buddies that it's a worth a look (I was recently forced down to watch Bubble Boy and was dearly surprised to find it one mindless fun movie). I've seen Attraction twice, with the second viewing at a theater which occasionally offers Fri/Sat midnight shows of flicks that have been long gone from theaters but discovered as more of a cult hit on video (Army of Darkness has been shown their before). It's either a coincidence or the theater manager's absolute intent, as Rules of Attraction (at least to me) feels like that one cult film that some theaters in the distant future may be offering at midnight for the fans that discovered the movie through whatever sources.

Rules of Attraction is a daring and bold film that can be disturbing at moments, but when looked upon in terms of its direction, script, acting, chemistry, and musical score, the movie is a triumph in developing a college-centered storyline to the sincere point where these are not just characters out of a surreal story, but actual humans coping with actual dilemmas and issues. Not quite a masterpiece (almost), but Rules of Attraction is one hell of a surprise that should not be avoided. For those of you who've seen it and loved it, spread on the word so this flick can blossom even if it doesn't occur on the big-screen.

Grade: A