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All Movie Info
Directed By
Mary Harron
Written By:
Mary Harron, Guinevere Turner
Cast:
Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, Chloe Sevigny, Justin Theroux, Joshua Lucas, Guinevere Turner, Matt Ross, William Sage, Cara Seymour
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American Psycho (2000)
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Movie Review by Xavier
July 3rd, 2007
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Please! Just Return Those Videotapes!!!
When I first watched this, I derided it. I liked it but I still put the movie down. Why? Because no movie based on the book could ever do it justice. (Oh, there he goes again, I hear you squeal. Banging on about books, literature and writey stuff. Why can't he just watch the movie...?!? Goddamn columnists!) American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis is easily the grossest, most disgusting and vile collection of words ever assembled. It is also morbidly fascinating, boldly written and utterly, utterly compelling. Since I last saw this movie the number of folk I have met and conversed with that think this is brilliant has grown exponentially. So I thought I would give it another, more balanced stab. There was a joke there....
The first thing that I would like to comment on is the sublimely superb casting. Christian Bale, rapidly becoming one of the most bankable male leads, largely due to his astute choice of films, is absolutely spot on as weirdo Patrick Bateman. His looks, mannerisms and aggression fit the bill. The actor cannot contain all the credit. Bale was evidently directed very well. There are also jems in the supporting cast as well. Justin Theroux as Bryce, Chloe Sevigny and Cara Seymour all deserve pats on the back for expressing exactly what my mind required of them. And I am not taking anything away from the myriad of faces that populate the rest of Batemans world either. Leto, Mathis, Defoe, Ross...All are doing a fine job. So the casting was spot on, at least that put a smile on my face. How about the screenplay? The general feel of the book is caught. Let's face it, it's a story about a proper nutter. However some scenes and scenarios are brilliantly transposed from the book and really are quite surprising in there execution. One of my favourite non gory moments from the book was the incident with the comparing of the business cards. The anxiety of Bateman is captured perfectly. There are also little snippets that almost augment, or maybe even better my imagination. The moment when we glance at a crossword and see that Patrick has casually filled in the answers as 'Bone', 'Meat', 'Bonest'....excellent. The film looks great too. Is is shot rather well. The locations look great and the costumes (designer suits?) all look authentic.
Sparkling, you would say. After comments like that you may be thinking that you should watch this film. If you haven't already, you really should, after all it will not disturb you half as much as the book will. After an attempted and concerted effort on my part to be balanced I still come to the same conclusion. You see, and I will simply not ask you to excuse me, the book is that good. No one would have got away with shooting the scene with the tube and the hungry rat. I would even go as far to say that the book does not come across as misogynistic or as obvious as the film does. Even though there are plenty of moments in the film that allows the viewer to use their own imagination, the book forces you, no, dares you not to. This gets a rating of 3.5. A good solid rating if you ask me. I'm very sorry; Books 1-0 Movies.
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Jul 4, 2007 4:18 PM
Lucky for me I watched this one before I read the book and was suitably entertained (mmm Bale) and it woiuld get a 4.5 from me however if I read the book first I know it would be lower.