The Rules of Attraction (2002)

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.

Director:

Roger Avary

Writers:

Bret Easton Ellis (novel), Roger Avary (screenplay)

Stars:

James Van Der Beek, Ian Somerhalder, Shannyn Sossamon

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Camden College. Sean Bateman is the younger brother of depraved Wall Street broker Patrick Bateman. He's also a drug dealer who owes a lot of money to "fellow" dealer Rupert Guest, as well as a well-known womanizer, for he sleeps with nearly half of the female population on campus. Lauren Hynde is, technically, a virgin. She's saving herself for her shallow boyfriend, Victor Johnson, who's left the States to backpack across Europe. Her slutty roommate, Lara, has the hots for Victor as well. Paul Denton, who used to date Lauren, is openly bisexual and attracted to Mitchell Allen, who's dating Candice to prove to Paul that he's not gay. Sean loves Lauren. Paul loves Sean. And Lauren may love Sean.

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Plot Keywords:

talking about sex | dancing in underwear | sex scene | sexual pleasure | lesbian | 

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Taglines:

Rules Are Made to Be Broken

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, drug use, language and violent images

Details

Official Sites:

Former Official site for the film - site no longer active. [France] Official Director's site for the film. [United States]

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pravila privlačnosti

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,532,410, 13 October 2002, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$6,532,619, 21 November 2002

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,805,917, 21 November 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kingsgate Films, Roger Avary Filmproduktion GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the decade since the film's release, several commercials have paid homage to the European travel montage. Vodafone has done several.

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Goofs

In the main scene where Sean and Lauren talk for the first time, the camera shows the perspectives of both characters facing each other. Lauren supposedly takes Sean's glasses off to see his eyes, yet we see her hands removing the glasses from her perspective, but for Sean, what is shown is Laurens face. To be accurate, Sean wouldn't be seeing her face; he'd see Lauren's hand/palm removing the glasses, not her face if this action was taking place at the same time. In addition, she would have had to move her arms & shoulders to remove Sean's glasses, yet she clearly makes no movement at all. Finally, when the camera pans backward and we see both Sean and Lauren facing each other, they are at least four feet apart. Yet neither moved according to the camera. Four feet is too far for Lauren to have casually reached out and grabbed Sean's glasses without stretching, moving forward, then back to her position in the pose where we see them both facing each other.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lauren: and 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.

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Crazy Credits

The credits run backwards, starting with the disclaimer ("Any similarity to persons living or dead...") and rolling upwards to end with the cast.

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Alternate Versions

At least one broadcast on British TV removed the girl's suicide entirely, cutting the scene just before she begins slitting her wrist, straight to the subsequent close-up of the dripping tap. This removed the girl's reaction, and caused a very abrupt fade-out of the music. This is far more than the BBFC removed (only the close up of the wrist-slitting) from the DVD/ Home video version.

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Connections

References Walking Tall (1973)

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Soundtracks

Situation
Performed by Yazoo (as Yaz)
Written by Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet
Published by Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI) o/b/o Sony Music Publishing UK Ltd./Musical Moments Ltd.
Courtesy of Sire Records/Mute Records Ltd. U.K.
(P) 1982 Sire Records
Produced Under License from Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

I shoulda walked out.

I'm embarrassed to say I actually took the two hours out of my day to watch this movie. I'm trying to find the words to describe my utter distaste for... well... just about everything in this stupid flick.

I find not one redeeming quality in this horridly-produced film. Perhaps if I watch it in reverse it will make more sense.

The film leaves you with no sense of completion, no regard for any single one of the characters, no development per se except this philosophy: that nobody can be known. Well that's just great. Thanks.

If you're looking for porno, you can find it online. If you're looking for drugs, walk down the street looking for someone sniffing around a bit WAY too much and trying to look like he's big stuff. If you want to see people commit suicide... well, that's just sick and wrong. Don't see this movie.

I think the producers are trying to make viewers come away with a complete distaste for the movie, a quality I have not seen in any other movie. Congratulations. You get the uniqueness award. It worked. But if I'm looking to be offended, I typically don't have to dish out my hard-earned <ahem> cash to do so.

To be perfectly honest, this movie wasn't worth the buck I spent at the dollar theater to watch it. I came out of there thinking that perhaps they would offer me some reimbursement for my time.