R E V I E W S

American Psycho (2000)

Starring: Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, Chloe Sevigny
Director: Mary Harron
Rating: R

Studio: Lions Gate Films

Review Posted: Unknown

Rating: 8/10

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By Sheila Danzig.

I was attracted to this movie because the book was considered anti-feminist yet it was directed to feminist director Mary Harron. (I Shot Andy Warhol)

American Psycho was a powerful satire of American values and the isolation that our lives have come to. I love black movies and this one was as black as any.

Our "hero" Patrick Bateman (Christina Bale) has everything. He is a wealthy successful (though we never get to see him working while in his office) commodities broker. He has the perfect Manhattan apartment, and a closet full of magnificent Valentino suits. The one thing he does not have is a soul. Patrick is a psychopathic murderer.

What makes this movie exceptional is that Patrick narrates it and you get to hear his thoughts. He tells us, after his extensive morning fitness and beauty routine that he is not really there. "There is no real me." He feels no emotions other than greed and disgust. He is overwhelmed by his need to murder. He is a modern day Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde who seems to calm himself by murdering others. He is concerned, he tells us, because this nighttime thirst is pouring over into the daytime.

Bale looked older than the 27 years that Patrick was supposed to be. However, he plays the part in a captivating ice cold manner that was quite Tom Cruise-esque, and particularly reminded me of Cruise in Magnolia, another wonderfully black film.

The film surrounds us with cold uncaring superficial characters, who seem to know each other on such a shallow level that they keep confusing each other with other members of the firm.

It doesn’t take much to tick Patrick off these days. When others in the firm have business cards that seem to have more class than his, he becomes horribly jealous and needs to murder a homeless person. When one member of the firm tops all of the cards with one with gold ink, he dons his gloves to murder again. He does not seem to pay any attention to the details of how he will get away with these murders. He simply acts on his obsession to murder. An obsession that we suspect may be due to his overwhelming need to fit in.

American Psycho ends in confusion. I am not certain still what the ending meant. I am certain it meant for me to reexamine what the entire film meant to me. I give this film an 8, with the understanding that is for lovers of black films only. I never looked at my watch and I would not see this movie again.

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