Have you ever been so filthy rich that you toyed with the idea of taking hookers home with you, forcing them to live out your fantasies, and then brutally murder them? Yes? No? Well either way, if you have and want someone to relate to or haven't but want an idea of what that'd be like American Psycho is the film for you. This psycho-thriller features some excellent acting by not only its protagonist by the supporting actors as well along with some interesting social commentaries voiced entirely in monologues by Christian Bale himself.
Patrick Bateman (Bale), your average American power-yuppie, dreams of a life different from his own. Whether this world exists in direct response to his boring job or his boring friends, Patrick needs something more to keep him interested. So, like any man Patrick takes up a hobby; but he's no sucker, he doesn't want woodworking, model planes, or anything like that. Oh no. Patrick needs a hobby that will keep his adrenaline pumping. Skydiving? Base Jumping? Formula 1 Racing? No! He starts to kill people!! Of course! Why didn't you think of that?
So Patrick, ever so disillusioned with the comfortable life he leads starts to kill people. Now he's no fool, he is always prepared and treats his honored (soon-to-be-dead) guests well right up until he sticks the knife (or any sharpened object) into their backs (or any part of their body). As we all know, when people start dying, other people start asking questions. Detective Donald Kimball (Willem Dafoe) is commissioned to uncover the reasons behind the disappearance of one of Mr. Bateman's colleagues and in doing so starts to unravel the Ripley-like identity game that Patrick had been playing to keep investigation at bay.
As Patrick's bloodlust heightens and Kimball's progress continue we see them falling into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Not only is Kimball's progress starting to frighten him, but he's beginning to feel a slight (emphasis on slight) tinge of guilt over what he's been doing. Will Patrick come clean? Will Kimball catch him in the act? Who knows?
Christian Bale puts forth yet another great performance in this film, in what has become in recent years a cult-classic. Bale's look of total boredom and indifference to his life is so well played out that when he kills his first hobo, as much surprise as we feel; we sort of knew it was coming. Patrick Bateman is such an interesting character not only because of the amazing dialogue the movie contains but also for Bale's exceptional performance. What other murderer could talk about Phil Collins as he kills a victim? The best part is, for many music lovers, his little monologues are actually quite interesting.
Willem Dafoe's portrayal of Det. Kimball is a relatively small part but it reeks of Dafoe and for that is quite satisfying. Dafoe plays an honest and hardworking detective just trying to do his job. Other smaller parts include brief scenes with Reese Witherspoon as one of Patrick's acquaintances, Josh Lucas as one of Bateman's "best" friends, and finally Chloe Sevigny as Patrick's preferred prostitute.
As mentioned before, the monologues of Patrick are not only a prelude to psychotic behavior but they're also quite interesting. The comparison between the earlier and later works of particular artists are actually well thought out and if you're a fan of the artists in question you may find yourself eerily creeped out by the fact that you're completely in agreement with a man who's about to kill someone. Patrick also gives us a gateway into the mind of the young upper class of inner city life; this elite level of players and ladies that are only concerned with three things: pleasure, reputation, and money. American Psycho takes this idea to an extreme and shows what happens when you base your life upon three relatively superficial standards. The dissatisfaction of Patrick's life is more extreme than typical, but his response is a true reflection of the darker side of humanity.
"American Psycho" opens April 14, 2000 and is rated R. Drama. Directed by Mary Harron. Written by Mary Harron, Bret Easton Ellis. Starring Chloe Sevigny, Christian Bale, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Reese Witherspoon, Willem Dafoe.
