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‘American Psycho’ is Still as Yuppie as Yuppie Gets

By Carrie Stemke · September 7, 2014

Few films have achieved the balance of horror and comedy like the perfection that is American Psycho. This movie, based on the book of the same name by Brett Easton Ellis, is one of my all-time favorites. Patrick Bateman, played by the always excellent Christian Bale, is a truly horrible person: he’s jealous of the people he calls his friends, he’s misogynistic and abusive towards women, he cheats on his girlfriend (a great supporting performance by Reese Witherspoon) without a second thought; the list goes on and on. So, what’s to love about him, and this movie?

First, it's strong direction by Mary Harron, especially in light of how frequently Bateman makes women his victims in one way or another. Mary Harron (I Shot Andy Warhol) did a fantastic job translating Patrick Batemen from the written word into life, creating an onscreen adaptation of the guy who’s great on paper, but psychotic behind closed doors.

Then, there are Patrick’s superficial friends and colleagues, played by Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Jared Leto, Matt Ross and Bill Sage. In this cronie "rat pack," these quintessential bros, Ellis and Harron have taken yuppie stereotypes to new heights. There’s an entire scene dedicated to a boardroom meeting competition over whose business card is the nicest that makes Bateman sweat with rage and jealousy. These men are only friends because they work in the same building, wear the same designer suits, and sleep with the same women. The friendships of convenience portrayed in American Psycho are a truly insightful reflection of the surface relationships that many people have in real life; except, of course, taken to the extreme.

There’s Patrick Bateman himself, a “button-down, Oxford cloth psycho,” to quote the elegant line in Fight Club. Patrick’s frustration with both the big and small things in his life: his superficial fiancee, his secretary who wears pants, his inability to get a reservation at Dorsia, the stains that won’t come out of his sheets, comes out in his "murderous rage." This humorous, over-the-top portrayal of a man who has few real problems in life but still gets angry with everything and everyone is a witty, gory, wry look at the life of the overprivileged heartlessness than can accompany life in the corporate world.

Finally: the soundtrack! The songs of Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Robert Palmer, and other well-known artists are blended seamlessly into the film. In fact, in a unique twist, the songs are actually part of the story, and it’s beautifully streamlined together. American Psycho shows Bale’s talent for being funny, a refreshing view of an actor who more often than not chooses very serious roles. Bale’s darkly comedic side comes out as he jauntily puts on a raincoat, fetches an axe and asks Jared Leto, “Do you like Huey Lewis and the News?”

Overall, this one of my top movies of all time and sits on the top shelf. Ok, I have to go return some videotapes.