The Rules of Attraction (2002)

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 | Bisexual | Drug Dealer | Love Triangle

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
Eric Stoltz	...	Mr. Lawson
Fred Savage	...	A Junkie Named Marc
Eric Szmanda	...	NYU Film Student
Kavan Reece	...	Handsome Dunce
Theresa Wayman	...	Food Service Girl
Paul Williams	...	Duty Doctor
Skyler Stone	...	Quinlivan
Quincy Evans	...	Dicky
Lucille M. Oliver	...	Young Nurse
Anderson Goncalves	...	Bertrand
Drew Wood	...	Jim from Dartmouth
Curtis Andersen	...	Guy Rolling Keg (as Curtis Anderson)
Chasen Hampton	...	Townie
Malcolm Galt	...	Hacky Sack Guy
Noelle Evans	...	Crack Whore
Michael Ralph	...	Guest
Cheyenne Wilbur	...	Maitre D'
Ron Jeremy	...	At the Player Piano (as Ron Jeremy Hyatt)
Holly Hollywood	...	Undressed to Get Screwed
Amber Smith	...	Undressed to Get Screwed
Alaina	...	Undressed to Get Screwed
Trisha Upton	...	Undressed to Get Screwed
Hayley Keenan	...	Claudia
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlie Babcock	...	Party Guy (uncredited)
Candice Bryant	...	Girl at Keg (uncredited)
Giovanni Capitello	...	College student (uncredited)
C. Robert Cargill	...	Bus Station Townie (uncredited)
Cory Elgin	...	Student (uncredited)
Cris Gurtman	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Jesse Heiman	...	Lucky Party Goer (uncredited)
Tara Kleinpeter	...	Sorority Girl (uncredited)
Alexis Krause	...	Student (uncredited)
Matthew Lang	...	Getch (uncredited)
Paul Oakenfold	...	Himself (uncredited)
Stevo Polyi	...	Bong-Boy (uncredited)
Tommy Ritter	...	The Keg Guy (uncredited)
Katja Schuurman	...	Dutch TV-Actress (uncredited)
Saskia Slaaf	...	Dutch Model (uncredited)
Aurora Snow	...	Masked Naked Girl at Party (uncredited)
Rowland Wafford	...	Man with Bong on Rupert's Couch (uncredited)
Keren Woodward	...	Herself (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Avary

Writing credits (WGA)
Bret Easton Ellis		(novel "The Rules of Attraction")
Roger Avary		(screenplay)

Produced by
Roger Avary	....	executive producer
Marc Butan	....	executive producer
James Deutch	....	executive producer
Samuel Hadida	....	executive producer
Marsha Oglesby	....	executive producer
Tom Ortenberg	....	executive producer
Michael Paseornek	....	executive producer
Jeremiah Samuels	....	executive producer
Greg Shapiro	....	producer

Original Music by
tomandandy

Cinematography by
Robert Brinkmann

Film Editing by
Sharon Rutter

Casting by
Rick Montgomery

Production Design by
Sharon Seymour

Art Direction by
Christopher Tandon

Set Decoration by
Teresa Visinare

Costume Design by
Louise Frogley

Makeup Department
Trish Almeida	....	key hair stylist
Sharisse Fine	....	hair stylist (as Sharisse)
Amy Harmon	....	makeup artist
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects artist (as Greg Nicatero)
Carol Strong	....	key makeup artist
Jake Garber	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Silvia Leczel	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Michael P. Flannigan	....	production supervisor
Curtis A. Miller	....	production manager: Lions Gate Films
Carl Pedregal	....	post-production supervisor
Jeremiah Samuels	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Paul Clark	....	first assistant director
Dawn Massaro	....	second assistant director
Harry Ralston	....	second unit director
Mollie Stallman	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Nelson Bush	....	set dresser
Marc Martin Del Campo	....	set dresser
Teresa Holmes	....	stand-by painter
Robert Lucas	....	leadman
Cynthia Martinez	....	greensman
Michael O'Donnell	....	set dresser
William A. Petrotta	....	property master (as William Petrotta)
Joy Taylor	....	set dresser
John Michael Tillotson	....	set dresser (as John Tillotson)
Greg Wilkinson	....	leadman
Christina Ann Wilson	....	set designer (as Christina Wilson)

Sound Department
Brian Basham	....	adr recordist
Felipe Borrero	....	sound mixer
Lance Brown	....	sound re-recording mixer
J. Aloysius Flanagan III	....	sound re-recordist
Nerses Gezalyan	....	sound mixer
Michael Kamper	....	sound designer
Adam McDaniel	....	additional sound
Glenn T. Morgan	....	supervising sound designer
Glenn T. Morgan	....	supervising sound editor
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Unsun Song	....	sound recordist
Aaron Wilcox	....	facilities management
Aaron Wilcox	....	re-recording projectionist
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Greg Zimmerman	....	foley recordist

Special Effects by
Ron Bolanowski	....	special effects coordinator
Michael Duenas	....	special effects
Garth Majors	....	special effects
Harry Smith	....	special effects
Mario Vanillo	....	special effects
Leonel Zapien	....	special effects
Chiz Hasegawa	....	project coordinator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Danny Albano	....	digital artist
Gretchen Avary	....	positive visualization
Victor DiMichina	....	digital imaging supervisor
Tyler Foell	....	2D supervisor
Kevin Kipper	....	digital artist
John R. McConnell	....	compositor: Pixel magic
Ray McIntyre Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor
Brad Moylan	....	digital compositor: Pixel Magic
Patrick Murphy	....	digital compositor: Pixel Magic
Reid Paul	....	digital effects supervisor
Alfredo Ramirez	....	digital compositor
Alfredo Ramirez	....	digital effects compositor: Pixel Magic (uncredited)

Stunts
Keith Adams	....	stunt coordinator (as Keith W. Adams)
Richard Burden	....	stunt rigger
Danny Downey	....	stunt double: Ian Somerhalder
Michael Gaines	....	stunt double
Chris Nielsen	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Lynn Alston	....	still photographer
Paul Bode	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Douglas Busby	....	additional second assistant camera
Cynthia Bystrak	....	best boy grip
Jacqui Compton	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Jacqui Compton-Jensen)
Harris Done	....	camera operator: second unit
Erik Folsom	....	best boy electric
William H. Hobson	....	dolly grip (as Bill Hobson)
Michael Hoffer	....	key grip (as Mike Hoffer)
Steve Irwin	....	24 frame video playback operator: Playback Technologies
Simon Jayes	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Keith A. Jones	....	second assistant camera
Ryotaro Kinno	....	loader
Rick Lamb	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit
Eric Leach	....	company grip
Tom Lembcke	....	company grip
Victor Major	....	electrician (as Victor G. Major)
Daniel P. Moore	....	video assist operator
Reinhart 'Rayteam' Peschke	....	chief lighting technician (as Raymond Peschke)
Craig Price	....	grip
Dee Austin Robertson	....	video assist operator
Pablo Santiago-Brandwein	....	company grip (as Pablo Santiago)
Michael Scott	....	camera operator
Eric Smith	....	electrician
Scott Sprague	....	electrician
Thomas Vandermillen	....	first assistant camera
Niel Williams	....	company grip (as Neil Williams)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill Korengold	....	set costumer
Lizz Wolf	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Roger Avary	....	montage
Richard Flores Jr.	....	telecine colorist
Frank Moshier	....	post-production coordinator
Timothy Serda	....	technical assistant editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer

Music Department
Roger Avary	....	song wrangler
Brian Bulman	....	music editor: temp music
Andrew Grush	....	musician (as John Andrew Grush)
Andrew Grush	....	singer (as John Andrew Grush)
Tom Hajdu	....	singer
Joel C. High	....	music supervisor
Leandro Maciel	....	musician
Ed Ma	....	musician
Ed Ma	....	singer
Andy Milburn	....	singer
George Ramirez	....	musician
Tiffany Ryan	....	assistant to music supervisor
Stephanie Lynn Urcheck	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
Daniel Davis	....	driver: base camp generator

Other crew
Emily Aaronson	....	production assistant
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Nicholas Brandt	....	production assistant (as Nick Brandt)
Jake Donohoe	....	post-production accountant
Tau Flagg	....	production assistant
Christopher K. Grap	....	assistant production coordinator
Doris Hellmann	....	production accountant
Matthew Hirsch	....	production coordinator
Jeff Lane	....	production assistant
Danny Lee	....	business affairs coordinator
Wayne Levin	....	head of business/legal affairs: Lions Gate
Kelly Lofstrom	....	business and legal affairs assistant
Daniel MacArthur	....	production assistant: Lions Gate
Robert Mazaraki	....	production coordinator
Robert M. Melnik	....	senior vice president of business affairs: Lions Gate Films
Ryan Miningham	....	production assistant
Udo Pfeiffer	....	intern
Emily Rice	....	post-production accountant
Caroline Rutter	....	production assistant
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Lisa G. Shillingburg	....	first assistant accountant
Michael Singer	....	unit publicist
Donna Sloan	....	vice president of production: Lions Gate
David Thornsberry	....	location manager
Scott Tuft	....	production assistant
Angelo Vacco	....	voice actor

Thanks
Bruce Campbell	....	special thanks
Don Coscarelli	....	special thanks
Ron Jeremy	....	special thanks (as Ron Jeremy Hyatt)

Production Companies

• Kingsgate Films
• Roger Avary Filmproduktion GmbH

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (video)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership (Russia)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD) (retail)
• EuroVideo (2003) (Germany) (DVD) (rental)
• GAGA (2002) (Japan) (all media)
• Hollydan Works (2003) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2003) (Romania) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pixel Magic

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity
• NovaStar Digital  sound post-production

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 marker board on Victor's door when Lauren goes to see him reads, "Victor, Tests came back positive. Be careful."

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 Walking Tall (1973)

Soundtrack:

Aida Grand March

Brilliant adaptation of Ellis novel

Roger Avery succedes brilliantly in this impressive and horrifying adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' first novel. I read the novel 4 years ago as a Freshman in college after being blown away by 'American Psycho' and wanted to make 'Rules' into a film myself thinking no one would ever try. So much for that. Anyway, Avery impressed me alot. The series of Patrick Bateman references are also quite amusing for readers/viewers familiar with 'American Psycho'

Some reviewers have tended to comment on Avery's use of visual gimmicks, but he puts them to use well. The split screen where Sean meets Lauren is perfect, showing the seperation between them. The backwards film also works, showing how relatively meaningless many of the actions are, while drawing attention to them at the same time.

One last thing. People, including here on the IMDB have been criticizing the characters for being one-dimensional. THAT IS THE POINT. Ellis' characters ARE one-dimensional. What you get is a boat-load of information about all of these people and what you are left with is an empty being, soulless, if you will. It works. YOU aren't SUPPOSED to be attached to these characters because THEY are not attached to themselves or anyone else.

Brilliant film. Very well acted. Very well done.

Frank