Review: American Psycho

[01] Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman

Never underestimate the power of a classic - American Psycho is no exception.

Christian Bale plays maniacal character Patrick Bateman in the thriller, released in 2000 and based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

A 27-year-old satirist driven to murderous extremes through excessive OCD - though more fittingly schizophrenic - tendencies, Bateman is the epitome of Psycho. He plays the role so convincingly that you might need to question his level of sanity in his off-screen life.

Narrated by Patrick, the film’s internal monologue demonstrates how deranged the leading character is, despite his apparent normality to the other characters in the film - a star-studded cast that includes Justin Theroux, Reese Witherspoon and Jared Leto. Yet the other characters seem to be obliterated into non-existence - some, literally - by Bale, given the fact that his performance is so exceedingly brilliant.

The film does not encourage any form of emotional attachment to the main character, and neither towards any of his victims - an unusual feature for such a successful film, giving it an undeniable edge. Such techniques make the extremities of Bateman’s actions seem somehow justifiable, and his character almost comical. Narratives like “There is a moment of sheer panic when I realize that Paul's apartment overlooks the park... and is obviously more expensive than mine” make American Psycho possibly the most quotable film of its genre, transforming Bale into a comedic genius.

Ignoring the many brutal murder scenes - of which involved a wide variety of torture devices, from the chainsaw to the simple axe - the most disturbing scene of the movie would definitely be of the crude threesome that involves Bateman, in all of his unadulterated greasiness, and two prostitutes - who are later, of course, subject to such aforementioned killing devices.

Despite this, the likeability factor of the killer is still viable - or at least to me and my somewhat odd partialites, it is. American Psycho undoubtedly fulfills the ‘films-that-can-be-watched-and-enjoyed-over-and-over’ criteria, combining undertones of comedy, thriller, crime and drama in a cinematic experience that easily allows for its place in my personal ‘Top 10 Greatest Films’ list.

Not one to miss.