Mary Harron's American Psycho

American Psycho is a brilliant book written by Bret Easton Ellis, and it has been adapted wonderfully here, showing the details of Patrick Bateman's (Christian Bale) bizarre world. Bateman is an investment banker in New York City, constantly surrounded by others who dress, talk and eat just as he does--infact, they all frequently fail to correctly identify each other. Seemingly occupied only with the worry of which restaurant to eat at, his daily hygiene routine, bad 80s pop, the exact shade of other people's business cards, Bateman is slowly consumed by an overwhelming urge to gruesomely murder the people around him.

Superior Acting

Christian Bale does a wonderful job as the psychotic Bateman, mastering everything from his contemptible sneers to the borderline hysteria that he desperately tries to mask as his brow sweats in angst as he examines his fellow co-worker's business cards. Bateman swings between extremes: he does faux calm well, but as the film's climax builds, he becomes openly hysterical and maniacal. It's a great role and Bale is exceptional for it, also matching the physical demands of an obsessively toned body. The supporting cast is also wonderful--from Reese Witherspoon's oblivious socialite to Justin Theroux as the most memorable of the bland yuppie investment banker bunch.

Spiraling Out of Control

The pace of the film follows Bateman's descent into madness. It unfolds initially with Bateman's daily rountines, narrated by him in disturbing (and illuminating) detail. We meet the other investment bankers in his life, his girlfriend (for lack of a better word), her friend with whom he's having an affair, and even his secretary, whom he instructs to wear skirts and heels. The pace increases steadily as he slowly begins dabbling in murder. At first it's a homeless person, but before long his murders become more elaborate--nail guns, chain saws...his blood thirst seems unquenchable. A shootout in the middle of the night turns into a bloodbath of unrealistic proportions, highlighting both the depth of his insanity and outrageousness at its finest.

Dark Comedy

Some may be offended by the gorefest that is American Psycho, but infact, the film is quite funny. There is nothing real--however brutal the visuals may be--about the murders nor the intent behind them. Every fantasy Bateman has is merely his way of coping (albeit not the healthiest method) with his empty existence. The entire film is described perfectly and exactly within the first few minutes. As Bateman peels away his face mask, he narrates, "And though I can hide my cold gaze, and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable..I simply am not there."

Real Or Imaginary?

The movie never tells you for sure whether or not Bateman is really commiting the murders, but considering how over-the-top events become, as well as the succinct opening, it's safe to say that while Bateman may be rapidly suffocating in such an empty, vapid world, he is probably not shoving kittens into ATMs or murdering homeless people. The shallow existence these characters live is both painful and entertaining to watch; seeing Bateman's internal struggle fail miserably is an indication that he is, on some level, aware of the vapidness. That he will continue to be swallowed by it is perhaps the most depressing part.

copyright Lions Gate Films, 2000

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