My most coherent thought coming out of “The Rules of Attraction” was, “What the hell was that?”
Unlike some other truly epic stinkers, I think there was a movie in there somewhere. But it was buried under an avalanche of overdone “technique,” fake irony and strange underwritten scenes that ambled along forever, looking for a place to land. (Let’s just say Swoosie Kurtz must have had some bills to pay.) I must say I enjoyed watching James Van Der Beek peel away that inane teen dream smile to reveal the smarmy, scowling speed freak we all knew was under there all along. But with no script to speak of, it’s a ride that goes nowhere – and not nearly fast enough.