American Psycho

An intentionally controversial thriller. Do I mind? Not at all. Bale is fantastically convincing in the role of the psychotic financier Bat(e)man and so is the portrayal of that high society world. Of course, I’ve no idea how realistic it is, but I know that I don’t have even the slightest desire to live it first hand. (12/23/2009)

American Psycho is one of those films that can be rated from one to five stars. From a technical standpoint, it's a decently crafted piece with good cinematography, editing, and especially strong acting performances, where most of the cast gives it their all, and it's almost a pity that the same level of performance isn't seen in a stronger film. Even in small roles, quality actors like Chloë Sevigny as the secretary shine. However, the problem lies with the content, which, while superficially flashy, is internally empty and decadent - scenes from the high society milieu, nightclubs filled with glamorous beauties and yuppies in elegant squares are typical. In short, it's a kitschy affair that, while somewhat faithfully capturing Bret Easton Ellis' literary source material, is quite indigestible for me. Overall impression: 40%. (06/16/2006)

A probe into the mind of a member of a certain animal species from Wall Street who revels in expensive formal suits and designer goods, slaps on all sorts of menthol, moisturizing and peeling masks, regularly visits tanning salons, blathers about nothing in his circle of friends passing it off as serious deep musings. His measure of success is, among other things, the appearance of his business card, which he likes to compare with his equally afflicted friends, and to be free and cool, he goes to parties to snort coke. In fact, he is so bored with his emotional emptiness that he entertains himself in a quite "original" way, he kills. Those empty-minded suits sometimes make you so sick that the murders aren't even that disgusting in comparison. And to be honest, the murders are the least interesting thing about the whole movie. (07/14/2003)

From start to finish, I was reminded of the Czech film The Cremator. American Psycho draws the same analogy between the state of mind of the main character and the society he lives in. In this case, it is a far-fetched caricature of Wall Street royalty chattering eternally and senselessly with excruciating relentlessness, contrasted with a man who sets himself apart from the snobbish herd by becoming a murderous psychopath. But is anyone curious about his hobby? The great Christian Bale and a cunning script that is only seemingly about nothing, just like all the blather at tables in fancy restaurants. (09/08/2020)

After finishing Bret Easton Ellis's novel, I revisited the film adaptation and appreciated it even more. Knowing the source material enhanced my viewing experience. The film is brilliantly assembled, featuring numerous dialogues lifted straight from the book. The novel’s diary-like format contributes to its cold portrayal of Patrick Bateman as a narcissistic psychopath, a character that the film captures perfectly. The book is infamous for its graphic depictions of murder, sexual acts, cannibalism, and other grotesque elements. Thankfully, the film doesn't delve too deeply into these explicit scenes. Instead, it focuses on the psychology of the main character, which I believe was a smart move. This approach creates a more effective portrayal through subtle hints, like Bateman playing with a lock of his victim’s hair, rather than relying on explicit brutality. Christian Bale delivers a stellar performance as Patrick Bateman, embodying the role with chilling precision. The novel is cleverly written, juxtaposing violent episodes with mundane chapters about fashion and business, creating a cohesive picture that reads like the diary of a madman. Some may see it as an attempt to shock or as a grotesque novel for the disturbed, but it’s more than that. Ellis’s work reflects reality and the behaviors of certain people, revealing that such individuals exist among us. Ellis hit the nail on the head, and both the book and film are masterpieces in their own right. (05/20/2018)