American Psycho

What I got was a film that, like the book, just dropped us in on the life of Patrick Bateman. The film toned down the violence in the book, but that is about it. The film really captured the satire of 80's life very well.

Though this film isn't a comedy I found myself laughing all the way through, just like I did with the book. A word of warning, this film should not be taken at face value. There is a lot going on here. If you are not in the mood to think don't watch this movie, however if you want to be challenged I cannot think of a better film to see.

Before I sign off I would just like to state that, in my opinion, the bar has been set for lead actor this year. Christian Bale you are the one to beat.


So far the best movie of 2000!   July 28, 2000
63 out of 82 found this review helpful

I seem to be one member of an elite group of people who absolutely LOVED this film. Upon seeing AMERICAN PSYCHO in a sold-out theater, it was painfully obvious to me that most of the movie-goers in there were expecting something along the lines of SCREAM. A crumby slasher flick. A story which displays a number of gruesome and well-thought out deaths. A story where there is a hero. A story which ends happily ever after. This movie had none of the above, which is what made it such a fantastic and original film. Despite the graphic violence portrayed in the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, most of the killing is off-screen and left to the viewers' imagination. But the slaughter is also accompanied by fabulous black humour. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I laughed so hard at a movie (and was looked back at like there was truly something seriously wrong with me). Mary Harron does a fantastic job directing this movie and her decision to cast (and stand behind) Bale as Bateman is nothing more than perfect. *Some may know that Harron temporarily left the directors' chair when the studio told her that Bale would be replaced by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film was almost given to Oliver Stone, but came back to Harron when Leo decided against the role...THANK GOD! All-in-all, AMERICAN PSYCHO is flawless. If you've got a taste for humour which is black as night, a knowledge of 80's pop culture and if you know just a tad about serial killers and the fact that they can indeed be that handsome man next door, you'll EAT THIS MOVIE UP! Enjoy!


Often overlooked film of 2000   January 5, 2001
Bob Thompson
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

Unfortunately for "American Psycho," the book has already garnered such a notoriously controversial stature that the film itself has a difficult task in trying to win over viewers. Like "Natural Born Killers," many people may have already made up their minds about this movie long before they even consider watching it.

Like "The Fight Club, "American Psycho" is a movie that could not be more misunderstood. Sure, this is about a psychopath on the most childishly obvious of all levels, but most of all this is satire on the yuppies of the mid to late 80's. It is an exploration in the hollow, meaningless existence of a rich Wall Street stock broker. A man who's life is so consumed by greed and power lunches that he can only find salvation whilst murdering someone. All the best scenes of "American Psycho" occur in the first three quarters of an hour. Christian Bale meticulously describes his morning routine with hilarious results and constantly tries to explain the significance of 1980's pop music. "The Greatest Love of All's transcendant beauty makes it by far Whitney Houston's most accomplished record" he claims, before butchering two girls. There is also a perfect scene in which Bale and his peers spend ten minutes arguing over who's business card font is better.

The violence (and sex) may be unsettling to some but is often times hilarious if you are willing to take it with a grain of salt. How can you not laugh when a bank machine asks Bale to "feed me a stray cat?"

This is a very clever and sophisticated film that could be perceived incorrectly. It is one of 2000's finer movies and deserves something better than to be overlooked because of the book's notoriety.