Die Yuppie Scum!

In 1999 Mary Harron directed this, American Psycho. A film that rose to unprecedented cult status. Before this there was an idea of Pat Bateman, an illusionary, something of a figment of  iconic horror. As written in the book of the same name by Brett Easton Ellis.  It wasn’t until Christian Bale and his spotless performance where we as an audience had an anti-hero to latch onto and adore, and I stress the word adore.
   Patrick Bateman’s madness is well documented throughout the film with such classics as “kill the homeless man and stomp on his dog”, and “ I love it when I cut up 2 hookers in the same night”  But it’s not until the end where we see his madness truly unfold in the epic “ running through the hallway naked with a chainsaw” His mask of sanity doesn’t just slip. It cascades off his persona to be left behind in a sea of confusion, dead hookers and bloodied copies of the style section of the paper. Is that a raincoat? Yes it is!
   This film boasts some impressive artistic merit with well thought out camera work and excellent use of color. I can’t get over how perfect everything looked but in a world of materialism and excessive greed I’d expect nothing less. My god there’s even a watermark….
   The supporting characters add to the perfection of the film with great great performances from Willem DaFoe, Jared Leto and , Chloe Sevingny. They offer up a rich backdrop for Patrick’s utter isanity to escalade and explode like a pretty blonde hair-ed head massacred with a nail gun. Afterall we all just want deep meaningful efforts from everyone involved
   The cult following the film is sure not to disappoint with hordes and hordes of horror film fans “trying to get reservations at Dorsia‘s” and “feeding atm’s stray cats”. or in some cases as your truly being able to recite the entire Hip to be Square monologue.
   Don’t be fooled by the sequel, and I use that word very loosely, there is only one American Psycho in all of its materialistic brutality and comedic debauchery. If someone ever asks to watch American Psycho make sure it’s not part two. If the sequel is the film in question….JUST…..SAY…..NO!! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to return some video tapes.

Great review 

One of my all time favorite movies, I've seen it many times..

I couldn't get through the book. It was so mind numbingly boring! I think there are only like 3 books that I have ever given up on, and American Psycho is one of them. The movie was amazing though.

Maybe I'll avoid the book.  I thought about picking it up in the future, however, I'm not much of a reader as it is.

I really enjoyed the movie after a couple viewings.  I didn't fully understand nor was I able to appreciate it upon my first viewing.  I think I was a teenager at the time.


Jaffe

I felt the same to begin with. But once the killing begins, you'll be hooked.

I got like half way though. The killings were totally brutal and I understand why feminists were in an uproar about the book. The brutality was great while I was reading it, but then it goes on and on and on about the most pointless things. I thought I was obsessive!

This is still one of my favs. As far as the book goes, just avoid the chapters named after 80s pop stars, they really are only about that subject. I read the entire thing thinking they'd throw something in the middle of his Whitney Houston love, but no. Other than that, the book is fantastic, as is the movie