American Psycho Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: American Psycho
Year: 2000
Director: Mary Harron
Country: US
Language: English

Besides Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, how many American films can you name with a prominent female director? Directed by Mary Harron, American Psycho is an adaptation of  Bret Easton Ellis' novel which was originally published in 1991. Though Harron was not Producer Edward R. Presson's first choice, which was David Cronenberg, she proved to handle the "masculine" material greater than any male Director could. Debuting at the Sundance Film Festival, the film polarized critics; some showered it with praise, others detested it. I personally find the picture hilarious in an incredibly dark way.

A wealthy New York investment banking executive (Christian Bale) hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.

Surprisingly, Christian Bale wasn't the original casting choice to play the intensely creepy Patrick Bateman. Lionsgate pursued Leonardo DeCaprio and Edward Norton, claiming that Bale was not famous enough at the time. Harron refused to work with DiCaprio, and ultimately the studio made the right decision. Bale's acting is tremendous; he is completely absorbed in the role of the sociopath serial killer. The characters acts as if everything is a commodity, even people. He is a self-absorbed, superficial man, which is intelligently demonstrated in the scene where he shows the audience his morning routine.

Harron has considered American Psycho a "feminist" picture and we can certainly see why. She is less impressed with Patrick Bateman than a male director like Martin Scorsese might be.  She does not glorify Bateman's actions; rather he shows the vile, cruel and pathetic nature of 1980's yuppies, greed and narcissism creates a toxic atmosphere, yet it has a rather humorous edge. American Psycho is a complete satire of masculinity and male culture. 

Although I was hesitant to watch it at first, I'm glad I finally did. American Psycho is a great picture with an astonishing amount to about North American culture. The film is riveting and beats to its own drum. It's politically incorrect, psychotic and legitimately chilling. Worth more than one viewing. Praise it! 4.5/5