The Rules of Attraction (2002)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Roger Avary

Writers (WGA):

Bret Easton Ellis (novel)
Roger Avary (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

There Are No Rules

Plot:

The incredibly spoiled and overprivileged students of Camden College are a backdrop for an unusual love triangle between a drug dealer, a virgin and a bisexual classmate.

Plot Keywords:

College | Drugs | Drug Dealer | Bisexual | Roommate

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

James Van Der Beek	...	Sean Bateman
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Lauren Hynde
Jessica Biel	...	Lara
Kip Pardue	...	Victor
Kate Bosworth	...	Kelly
Ian Somerhalder	...	Paul Denton
Joel Michaely	...	Raymond
Jay Baruchel	...	Harry
Thomas Ian Nicholas	...	Mitchell
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Rupert
Clare Kramer	...	Candice
Faye Dunaway	...	Mrs. Denton
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Mrs. Jared
Russell Sams	...	Richard
Colin Bain	...	Donald

Also Known As:

Die Regeln des Spiels (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, drug use, language and violent images. (edited from original NC-17 version)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 (cut) | South Korea:18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Brazil:18 | Canada:18A | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R (edited for re-rating) (certificate #39352) | Mexico:C

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Kingsgate Films

Trivia:

The radio station that awakens Sean is "WTNA". The music supervisors of the movie are Tom Hajdu and Andy Milburn (tomandandy); the radio DJ's are also named "Tom" and "Andy"

Goofs:

Continuity: When Paul and the others walk into the hospital with their OD'ing friend, the wheelchair is standing on the right of the door. In the next shot, Paul unfolds that same wheelchair.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lauren: It's a story that might bore you, but you don't have to listen, because I always knew it was going to be like that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lunar Park (2011)

Soundtrack:

52 Pick Up

Get over yourself.

Avary's whole point of this movie is simple: the society is numb. And he does it so perfectly that movie-goers looking for intense action or tears or giggles feel just as numb as the players. The director has done an excellent job here. The characters are without feeling. A rape, a suicide, homosexuality and philandering are all homogenous because this particular society (thank God my college years were not like that)is rapt with the self. That's the whole point. Nobody notices anything because the director wants you to feel the apathy. You may feel bored, but so are all the characters. However, they're bored enough to do really, really unbelievable things without a flinch or the bat of a lash. Like it or not, the duty of a director is to make you feel what he wants you to feel. Avary is fleet, decisive and deadly with his arrow (a Cupid for me). I don't see movies because I have nothing else to do. I want to experience a vision that is not mine. A new one. This movie is fast, it's hot and, like Pulp Fiction in its time, a totally new way to tell a story. I saw it four times and each time, I released the $8.00 freely. Transparently, it's not everybody's movie. But, people should see a movie because it's a movie and not because it's something comfortable or familiar or a blockbuster Hollywood coup. Life's a tough lot, often unforgiving and unfair. There are jerks out there, thank God, who make stuff interesting. I applaud the director always who can put that in my face. Avary simply explains how fortuitous most of us are. It'll be on my DVD shelf, trust.