neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Rules Of Attraction
	Roger Avary James van der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Jessica Biel, Ian Somerhalder, Kate Bosworth, Kip Pardue, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Fred Savage, Eric Stoltz, Faye Dunaway 2002		The feature film of the Bret Easton Ellis novel "The Rules of Attraction," directed by Roger Avary, is a sordid, caustically funny, creatively constructed sex comedy, set at a contemporary college where academic achievement takes a back seat to an endless parade of parties. If this is supposed to be an up-to-the-minute take on the book, some anachronisms in music and drug use ('80s new wave tunes, cocaine chic) are distracting. No biggie. It's easy to be caught up in the sexual, pharmaceutically enhanced feeding frenzy of Camden College's student body — sort of a medicated undergrad "La Ronde." Sean Bateman (James van der Beek) is an indolent student and dealer who compulsively seduces attractive local females while trying to pay off the massive debt he owes his violent supplier by selling more blow. Sean is coveted by both demure Lauren (Shannyn Sossamon), who misses her overseas boyfriend, and ambisexual Paul (Ian Somerhalder), who used to date Lauren. But Sean is more interested in Lauren's randy roommate (Jessica Biel), and Kelly (Kate Bosworth), and so on. With Eric Stoltz and Faye Dunaway.