American Psycho (Uncut Killer Collector's Edition)

What I got was a film that, like the book, just dropped us in on the life of Patrick Bateman. The film toned down the violence in the book, but that is about it. The film really captured the satire of 80's life very well.

Though this film isn't a comedy I found myself laughing all the way through, just like I did with the book. A word of warning, this film should not be taken at face value. There is a lot going on here. If you are not in the mood to think don't watch this movie, however if you want to be challenged I cannot think of a better film to see.

Before I sign off I would just like to state that, in my opinion, the bar has been set for lead actor this year. Christian Bale you are the one to beat.


In some ways better than the book   August 10, 2000
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

When I first heard "American Psycho" was going to be made in a film I was happy and sad. As we all know most films based on the book are usually not that good and the film version of Bret Easton Ellis's "Less Than Zero" was horrible. As it went from here and there and through differnt actors it finally came out. I have to say the film does justice to the book and even makes it a bit more enjoyable. For one thing there's less violence and sexual content than the book. Finally we get to see Patrick Bateman alive on the screen and Christian Bale does an amazing job. One of the faults of the book was that it was too long and draged on with the same content leaving the reader not so excited as he was in the beginning of the book at the end. With the film we see about how much one can take. Mary Harron did a great job at picking the right scenes from the book and driving the question at the audience..Is this all in Patrick Bateman's head or is it real? Although by not reading the book you miss classic scenes like Bateman meeting Tom Cruise and the U2 concert. However I'm not really complaining because the film did a better job than I thought it would. Another great one by Mary Harron!


This is a COMEDY!!!   December 4, 2003
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

When I first saw this in the cinema in April 2000 I hated it. But I watched it with the wrong attitude. I was judging American Psycho as a horror film. Which it certainly is NOT. It's about (as the film constantly says) a complete [loser]. He's no friends. Unable to communicate on any level with anyone of his superficial, yuppie colleagues (some of which don't even know his name), takes far, far too much pride in his appearance and has way, way to much love for his material possessions. He is Patrick Bateman. And fitting in/looking normal/being just like everyone else is the toughest thing in his life. But murder, misogyny, degradation and mutilation is what he secretly longs for. It's really only Huey Lewis and the News that prevents him from doing so.

American Psycho is full scenes that are tough to watch. You'll be watching them through the gaps between your fingers. How can you not squirm as Patrick Bateman looks in the mirror smiling, flexing his muscles, while having sex with a call girl? Or taking the whole business card thing WAY too seriously? Other times the film is just laugh out loud hilarious. Bateman tells Willem Dafoe's detective he would love to help him with his case but he has a lunch meeting with Cliff Huxtable. Come on! Cliff Huxtable??? Or how about the scene in the Men's Room when Patrick attempts to strangle the gay guy?

Don't watch this as a horror film. It's a comic, drama-tragedy. Patrick Bateman is a disaster waiting to happen. And his inability to stay connected to the world around him is a wicked delight. Though his world of slick, cocaine-snorting, superficial, Wall Street yuppies of 80s credibility is not really the thing anyone would want to be connected to. Maybe he's better off as a psycho with no pals.

The DVD has a great looking 2.35:1 anamorphic picture and a loud, well produced Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. The extras (apart from the deleted scenes), unfortunately, are pathetic.e movie with a scene of Bateman discussing his morning facial cream routine) that the point of the satire is nearly lost: Without the fickle trends of society, Bateman is an empty shell. Save his greed and bloodlust, he is a robot.

Harron tones down the violence to a lesser degree - although it is no less gruesome; the scene where Bateman, nude and bloody, chases a hooker with a chainsaw is an edge-of-the-seater - and emphasizes the story's taking place in the "Me Decade" with appropriate song and fashion that add to one's enjoyment of the film.

Despite a lame "Is Patrick really nutso?" twist that hurts the movie, the point is not lost here, and Harron has a solid sophomore hit on her hands.

Bale shines as Bateman, making us thank God the powers that be did not go with Leonardo DiCaprio as they at one point hoped to. Whether he's stiff, menacing, dryly sarcastic, tortured or over the edge psychotic, Bale is mesmerizing. If there's any justice in the world, Patrick Bateman will be a career maker.

Too bad the supporting actors don't fare as well. With the exception of Matt Ross, who steals his scenes as a homosexual co-worker of Bateman's in a memorable bathroom confrontation, all other actors are window dressing. Witherspoon's role is written so blandly anybody could have played it, while Sevigny is incredible annoying as her characer moons over Patrick. Willem Dafoe is amiable enough as a detective investigating one of Bateman's crimes, but ... this is Bale's movie.

It's a wild ride that gets a little hazy in parts, but is certainly enjoyable in most places.