American Psycho
Based on Bret Easton Ellis' highly controversial novel by the same name, American Psycho is as confronting as it is compelling. Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) is a wealthy businessman that is surrounded by class from the clothes he wears to the restaurants he dines at. Bateman however is not your average upper class citizen as he is also happens to be a psychopathic killer. As Bateman struggles to control his growing lust for murder his true identity becomes harder to hide from his work colleagues, friends and even the police.
The film grips you in straight away as you are taken through the seemingly typical routine Bateman undergoes each day. Every scene is purposefully shot and as a result you are able to gain a true understanding of Bateman's life and through his narration his darkest desires and fantasies. This film is in essence a very sophisticated thriller as you are constantly unprepared for what Bateman might do. The lunches and work meetings all appear very normal but there is a distinct overtone associated with every scene that leaves you in a state of anticipation. Despite Bateman appearing constantly on edge he very rarely lets his guard slip and it's on very rare occasions that you are given a glimpse into the undeniable aggression and rage he possesses. It's not until Bateman's first act of murder that you realise his fantasies and desires are not just fantasies.
There is no doubt Ellis has written a very complex novel that can be interpreted as a representation of man's true desires and impulses or even an extreme satire reflecting on the monotonous way of life of upper class citizens. Director Mary Harron has respected the ideas of Ellis faithfully and created a film that similarly to the book received mixed reviews and gained a lot of controversy. Given that the film deals with such horrific acts of murder and graphic sex scenes it had to be expected. Luckily Harron was not afraid of such critism and disapproval and as a result developed a film that is regarded as a classic by moviegoers around the world. American Psycho is a haunting film and its unforgettable scenes, musical celebrations and performances stay with you long after the credits finish.
However the work of Ellis and Harron would be for nothing if it wasn't for the brilliant performance delivered by Christian Bale. Many actors starting out in their careers wouldn't take on the role of a serial killer out of fear they would be typecast as a psycho or villain. Bale didn't see it that way he saw a great role and simply made it his own. Bale's narration and performance throughout the film ensures his character is perceived as an emotionless and threatening person. But even more than that Bale makes the audience see Bateman not as a person but as a shell of a person who feels no remorse or regret for what he has done. Bale is excellent in every scene whether he's expressing his musical knowledge passionately where you can't help but laugh guiltily or he's chasing a woman with a chainsaw, stark naked, covered in blood with a an eager grin plastered all over his face
Bateman is portrayed convincingly as a man of control (who eventually loses control). Every aspect of his life from his appearance to his business card has to be perfect. His compulsion to control everything leads to his eventual descent into madness where he can longer control his urges. It is here in the last act that Bale's true brilliance is revealed as Bateman's spree appears to be coming to an end. The most likely person to discover Bateman's true identity is Detective Donald Kimball, played excellently by Willem Dafoe. Dafoe was asked to play Kimball in three different ways: he though Bateman was guilty, he didn't think Bateman was guilty and he wasn't sure. Harron has ingeniously blended the three performances together and as a result you have no idea how much Kimball knows or if he even suspects Bateman. There are many other strong supporting performances most notably Reese Witherspoon as Bateman's unsuspecting girlfriend Evelyn and Chloe Sevigny as Bateman's secretary Jean who appears to be equally in love and scared of Bateman. However this film belongs to one man; Christian Bale.
The title American Psycho leads to think you are receiving a spoiler before you even see the film and in many ways you are. This is film about a respected man who also kills people of which most people would already be aware of before seeing the film, yet this film is much more than a routine slasher film. American Psycho is a thought provoking and underrated film that keeps you engrossed all the way to its unexpected and highly debatable ending.
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