American Psycho

WARNING: This review is hidden because it reveals the content of the film.
Click here to show this review. I can see how people would be offended and disgusted by this film and character Patrick Bateman, but I was impressed by the fantastic performance by Christian Bale as this incredibly narcissistic vile person. The title is a bit misleading, as the movie is not another examination on serial killers, but more about poking fun at the materialistic upper class New York yuppies in the 1980's. An early sequence in the film involves comparing business cards as a status symbol and it’s so funny, you can’t help but like Bateman and his incredibly self absorbed picture of himself. Then he walks outside and kills a beggar and his dog in the lane making you feel guilty about liking the character. It’s a weird feeling to have in a movie and it is repeated several times. The director makes Bateman almost like a standup comedian in other scenes where he amusingly reviews music and then switches into a monster! I thought it was done with a lot of restraint. Most of the violence is left to the imagination however there are some gruesome moments. I have read excerpts from the book and it made me sick. I’m glad they tried to emphasize the society of rich kids instead of all that. Another thing that was interesting was how he assumed other peoples identities in his social group until they wouldn’t believe who he really was. It was sort of a clever metaphor for a world where everyone tries to be something they are not and then lose themselves in all the lies they tell. This movie will never win awards but I bet it will get a cult following. Check it out.