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AMERICAN
PSYCHO
With Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Samantha
Mathis, Matt Ross, Bill Sage, Chloe Sevigny, Cara Seymour, Justin Theroux,
Guinevere Turner, Reese Witherspoon
Directed by Mary Harron
Finally this long awaited controversial novel got the celluloid treatment.
Sure the excessive violence, brutality and sadism of a self-obsessed
80s Yuppie on a private killing spree is toned down immensely for the
film version of Bret Easton Ellis' best seller, but that in itself adds
to the film's satirical mystique. The boredom of young successful Wall
Street financial broker Patrick Bateman has him meanders through a fog
of social events, trendy restaurants, designer clothing labels and the
total and utter pretentiousness of it all. There is never a shortage
of money and fun can be bought without flinching. Patrick's inner demons
come out in his lust for murder and maiming. This anti-hero is played
marvelously by Christian Bale who, since his debut in Spielberg's Empire
Of The Sun, had been pretty selective in choosing his roles. Most
recently he was in the phenomenal Velvet Goldmine and the villain
in the updated Shaft. Here, you love to hate him as he disfigures and
murders prostitutes and homeless people, axe colleagues (literally),
maim animals and cheat on his airheaded fiance. This film is a vivid
and biting modern horror that doesn't only poke fun at the privileged
and their carnivorous ways, but also reflects on how wrapped up man
can be with himself, unaware of the madness surrounding us - not a finger
lifted to alter the status quo. This altered state of excess gnaws at
Bateman's brain as he sinks deeper and deeper into his depraved blood
drenched alter ego. The added features are a little disappointing for
such a cool film. You get cast biographies and a featurette. A commentary
track on how the writer and director approached the work would've been
great. Or a voice over by the writer would've been even more brilliant.
Still, can't beat the old wide screen format.
5 / A
- PB
click below for Rules Of Attraction review
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