Man, am I glad I don't live in the '80s anymore.
But I'm even happier that I don't know Patrick Bateman.
Besides his cheesy taste in '80s music (Huey Lewis, Whitney Houston, Katrina And The Waves), Patrick Bateman has a hankering for murder. He loves killing just as much as he does a fine glass of Chardonay.
The movie adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' controversial book "American Psycho" comes to the big screen under the direction of Canadian Mary Harron (of "I Shot Andy Warhol" fame), and it is a stunning film told through the eyes of Wall Street yuppie Patrick Bateman (played superbly by British actor Christian Bale).
The film, written by Harron and partner Guinevere Turner, is an interesting blend of social satire and just plain insanity. The two criss-cross at a second's notice leaving the viewer to decipher whether Bateman's actions were necessary or not.
While most people going into this movie will focus on the violence or the sexual content, the most important thing to know going into "American Psycho" is that Bateman wants everything in his world to be perfect. He wants to look his best, he wants to dine at THE restaurant in New York, and most importantly, he wants to have THE business card. Image is everything to our trustworthy serial killer.
But Bateman has more important things to worry about -- like homicidal urges. As the story unfolds, Bateman's lust for murder is increasing, as he begins to lose grip on sanity, and tumble into a downward spiral of uncertainty.
The film's momentum rests upon the shoulders of Bateman and the tension generated by his need to "fit in." While he always does his damnedest to cover up a cold-blooded murder, he's also finds time to make sure he impresses his co-workers or his uptight fiance, Evelyn Williams (Reese Witherspoon).
Even though Bateman's character is the epicentre of the film, "American Psycho" sports some truly strong support characters, most importantly Oscar-nominated actress Chloe Sevigny as Bateman's naive secretary Jean and Willem Dafoe's honest cop, Det. Donald Kimball. The chemistry between those two actors and Bale is dynamic, especially in the scenes in which Bale is confronted by Dafoe over the disappearance of one of Bateman's co-workers.
Another important element to "American Psycho" is music. Bateman loves his music. Not only does it help fuel his aggression, but it allows him to coat his obviously uncontrollable homicidal tendencies with a layer of reason. It allows a confirmation of sorts that those particular murders were well executed and necessary -- acts spurred on by interesting lyrics and a great melody.
In the end, Bateman's life is dominated by his attempt to cope in a world that is beginning to change, and watching that struggle tear apart his supposedly perfect world.
In the end, however, the most impressive accomplishment belongs to director Harron. Her eye for detail and the finesse with which she films Bateman's murder sprees makes us, in some twisted way, root for Bateman, even as he kills.
Strange, but true.
(This film is rated R)
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