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 trailer for the movie bears a striking resemblance to the theatrical trailer for Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1971). Both trailers feature short clips from the movie being intermixed with nouns and adjectives describing the movie (printed as big bold white text on black background), while classical music plays in the background.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lauren and Lara snort cocaine, traces of cocaine disappear and reappear around Lara's nose.

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:

References "21 Jump Street" (1987)

Soundtrack:

Aida Grand March

Pointless but then, that's the point!

This movie will leave you feeling so empty. There are no likeable characters and no standard storyline construction (there is no beginning, middle or end as such). But, you see, that's the point. This certainly will not be everybody's "cup of coffee" so to speak. Too many people like their movies to wrap everything up at the end and have everything explained to them and for Lassie to save the day. If you are one of these people then don't bother. On the other hand if you like a movie to challenge you then I am sure you will find ROA superb.

Based on the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis it is probably THE best book to film adaptation I have ever seen. It captures Ellis' tone perfectly. Take some morally corrupt but beautiful people and show how much of a waste they are. Nobody ever listens to one another and everybody is out for number one. They are all selfish, greedy, and self centred. You are given not one character to like. It is a dark dark comedy about the corruption of excess and moral vacuum left behind. It is in my humble opinion brilliant. You will physically feel that vacuum in your stomach after watching the movie. These people and their actions are the perfect allegory for our ME culture. One significant difference from the book is the timeline which is updated to more current times from the books 80's context.

Roger Ebert went to see this twice because he was unsure how he felt about it. In the end he felt it was too unrealistic with regard to the nudity and attitude to it and he couldn't reconcile with the fact that there was no one to like in it. In response he received many letters from students saying that this is exactly how it is on campuses in the US, that this is what they do every weekend. That might give you an indication of the level of reality achieved here… and also an idea of the culture gap. This is another movie where older people may just not get it. When I read Ebert's review his main criticism's centred on the characters but personally I found myself throughout the movie saying for almost all characters `I know someone like that'.

Go see it, but be prepared to feel nothing. It's decadent. It's great!

P.S. I haven't read the other reviews but if you are silly enough to compare this to American Pie or such nonsense then you are WAAAAAY off the mark.