American Psycho follows wealthy investment banker Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a psychopath with trying to hide is murderous alter ego from the world and just fit in. However, as his urges grow to the illogical and gratuitous will his mask of stability slip off.
American Psycho really is a one man show. Christian Bale is terrific in his role, providing expertly delivered coldness as well as surreal black comedy. He simply dances along with expert craftsmanship, slowly allowing the audience to spiral down into the darkness of Bateman's subconscious. Without Bale's commitment to the role, I feel the picture would be lacking tremendously, it is therefore that much of this films brilliance is owed to his performance.
The narrative can be slow in places, but does show clear understanding of the source material, and is more so a comment on the the overindulgence of society than a burst of exhilaration. Mary Harron's superb direction is thought provoking, which combined with Andrzej Sekula's cinematography, creates a highly metaphorical and often good looking film.
Surprisingly, American Psycho is a funny film. The humour is very meta, as we are often laughing at Bateman rather than with him. For me this is essential, as Bale's psychopath is meant to be the amalgamation of societies flaws, and if we were laughing with him, well that would just be sick.
The ending of the film is a real tough spot for me. On the one hand, it is quite unsatisfying, leaving a lot of issues unresolved. However, after re-watching it does provide a sophisticated level of ambiguity, provoking thought and enticing further viewings.
I would recommend American Psycho, as something very different to satisfy your film urges. It may not be to everyone's cup of tea, but the social relevance of the picture, and Bale's iconic performance, can't be faulted. Oh, and watch out for any falling chainsaws...
My Score: 7.3/10
IMDB: 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
Did You Know: Christian Bale was warned by many that to take on the lead role in a film like this would be career suicide. However, this just made him more eager to take on the role. Also, prior Bale's casting it was presumed that Leonardo DiCaprio would play Bateman, however he left the project to shoot The Beach.
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