Cover: American Psycho Rating: 0
20 Feb 2013

Details

Director:Mary Harron
Writer:Bret Easton Ellis
Producer:Christian Halsey Solomon, Edward R. Pressman, Chris Hanley
Theatrical:2000
Rated:R
Studio:Am Psycho Productions
Genre:Drama, Horror, Thriller
Duration:101
Awards:4 wins & 7 nominations
Languages:Inglese, Italiano
Subtitles:English, Spanish
Sound:Dolby Digital 5.1
Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
Discs:1
Region:2
Release:Jun 2005

Summary

An adaptaion of a novel of the same name, American Psycho stars an excellent Christian Bale as the strutting, Narcissistic corporate high-flyer Patrick Bateman (a nod to Norman Bates?), in a mind-numbingly artficial and greed-obsessed mid '80's. His colleagues and acquaintances (and, indeed, Patrick himself, as he admits in the beginning) are completely hollow, devoid of any emotion and concerned only with prestige enhancing finery like business cards and restaurant reservations.

Patrick is different, however, in that he occasionally breaks free of this drudgery by committing deranged and brutal murders (in an almost whimsical fashion). The balance between Patrick's smooth facade and his psychopathic cravings begins to collapse, and this is where we join the movie.

Bale's performance is outstanding. He shows all the characteristics of a serial killer (obsessive neatness, ridiculous over-articulation and a pedantic hyperanalysis of everything from business cards to Phil Collins albums) but in an incredibly subtle and underplayed way, as befits someone who is trying to keep this in check. Interestingly, the one person he can't bring himself to kill might well be the only genuine human being in the film: his secretary (Chloe Sevigny). As with many films made in the early noughties, there is a twist towards the end which only reinforces Patrick's overwhelming normalness and is completely believable having listened to his opening speech.

A very intelligent and stylish film.

Credits

Christian Bale ... Patrick Bateman
Justin Theroux ... Timothy Bryce
Josh Lucas ... Craig McDermott
Bill Sage ... David Van Patten
Sarah Ellquist ... Sarah Ellquist (On Camera Narrator) (as Sarah Ellquist)
Chloë Sevigny ... Jean
Reese Witherspoon ... Evelyn Williams
Samantha Mathis ... Courtney Rawlinson
Matt Ross ... Luis Carruthers
Jared Leto ... Paul Allen
Willem Dafoe ... Det. Donald Kimball
Cara Seymour ... Christie
Guinevere Turner ... Elizabeth
Stephen Bogaert ... Harold Carnes
Monika Meier ... Daisy
Reg E. Cathey ... Al, the Derelict
John Cale ... Composer
Andrzej Sekula ... Cinematographer
Andrew Marcus ... Editor
Gideon Ponte ... Production Designer
Krista Sutton ... Sabrina
Jeanne Develle ... Set Decoration
Isis Mussenden ... Costume Design