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The Rules of Attraction

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Germany, United States · 2002
Rated R · 1h 51m
Director Roger Avary
Starring James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Ian Somerhalder, Jessica Biel
Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance

The incredibly spoiled and overprivileged student body of Camden College provides the backdrop for an unusual love triangle between Sean, drug dealer; Lauren, a virgin; and Paul, a queer classmate exploring his sexuality. Based on the satirical black comedy novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

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What are critics saying?

50

Philadelphia Inquirer by Carrie Rickey

Although it would be understatement to call their characters unsympathetic, Van Der Beek and Sossamon play their parts with such doomed passion that they have some affecting moments.

80

Rolling Stone by Peter Travers

Rules needs that dose of hilarity. Ellis' satire, filtered through Avary's harsh lens, is hard to stomach, harder to ignore.

70

Dallas Observer by Robert Wilonsky

For all its kinetic energy, for all its camera tricks, for all its dark humor, there's still something a bit off about these Rules, and it's not really Avary's fault.

60

Variety by Scott Foundas

Gets an ambitious, sometimes inspired but ultimately less than satisfying screen treatment from Roger Avary.

70

Washington Post by Stephen Hunter

The movie feels more like a walk across campus than a movie. That's so depressing. On the other hand, each of these lost children is really looking for the same thing, ol' Mr. Love.

63

Boston Globe by Ty Burr

If there's one thing Avary gets right, it's the brutal use-or-be-used approach to interpersonal relations that Ellis laid out with numbing detail, and James Van Der Beek is down to the challenge as Sean Bateman: horndog, cokehead, ceramics major, and all-around jerk.

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