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Visitors Review

INFOFREAKO 2013-05-16 20:32:11

Watered-down disappointment.

I had high hopes for 'American Psycho' but was largely disappointed. Anyonewho has read the book and can still praise this movie is a fool. The wholething reeks of compromise to me. The book was a satire on 80s yuppie rampantconsumerism true, but ALSO an examination of violence. By emphasizing thesatire and down-playing the violence (there is very little, and it islargely implied), Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner have turned what couldhave been a milestone EVENT of confrontational cinema into an average comedywith a few laughs, and less blood than an 'Evil Dead' or Romero zombieflick. While I understand it would be impossible to film the most extremescenes in the book, I still think more disturbing images were required tomake this more than say, The Cell or Hannibal. The audience I watched thiswith laughed at the corporate culture and Huey Lewis jokes, but they alsolaughed at Bateman running around with a chainsaw, just like it was Itchyand Scratchy. No-one was DISTURBED or CONFRONTED. Is this the way it wasmeant to be??What 'American Psycho' needed was David Cronenberg say, or (and I can'tbelieve I'm typing this!) Oliver Stone. Yeah, Mr.Subtle. But 'AmericanPsycho' ISN'T a subtle book, and the movie cries out for the vision Stoneshowed in 'J.F.K' and closer to home, 'Natural Born Killers', not thewatered-down, playing-it-safe mediocrity we have here.I must, however, praise Christian Bale's largely excellent WilliamShatner-esque performance. He tries his best with the material at hand, butas I said, the script just doesn't cut it. Read the bookinstead.

Kristine 2013-05-16 05:19:46

I found it very dull

"American Psycho" did not excite me what so ever. I have read the book andloved it. So, I was looking forward to watching the movie. I knew my motherhad it, so I watched it. I was appauled. I know that they couldn't stick tooclose to the book, otherwise it would have been a "X" rated film. But, Ifelt like the movie was too short. And the murders were too plain. Not whatI could've imagined in a movie. They could've gone a little further. I guessthis movie in some way reminded me too much of "Clockwork Orange". I willadmit, the movie was wonderfully made. But for me, this was not a movie I'dbe into. I'd rather stick to the book.3/10

JDiddy2004 2013-05-16 03:49:11

Bloody Perfection

As a novel, "American Psycho" gardnered much controversy as a extremely graphically violent book that pulled no punches in releasing what was wrong with corporate America. As a film, "American Psycho" pulls no punches as a masterful film that shows what can happen if one person has too much power in his life.Bret Easton Ellis wrote the novel in the early-1990s as a social satire of an America that was becoming a new entity in the world of the twentieth century. His novel was bloody, funny, and above all masterful in its approach to show the reader how much power Americans had in the corporate world.When the novel was approached to be turned into a film, it was automatically decided that the violence will be in the film but not to the extreme extent as in the novel. The violence worked, as it gave an even deeper look into the sadistic mind of the main character, Patrick Bateman (played by Christian Bale of "Equalibrium" fame).This film should not be underestimated for its powerfulness in the realm of satire films. Its a psychological thriller that takes the viewer on a ride into the darkest reaches of a psychotic mind and never brings you out.

aeriz 2013-05-15 22:00:41

Psychoticly hilarious!

One of the best films I've seen over the last few years. Although it's ahorror film about a serial killer, I found it more funny than scary. Theone liners nobody seems to understand are so bizarre and out of the bluethat you can't help but laugh. Bale just acts so... well, psychotic whenhekills that he looks like a visual comedian. Full of multiple meaningsanddisturbing to some viewers, American Psycho is a must see film forwhateveropinion you may form afterward toward it.

James Shaker 2013-05-01 20:14:57

Killer Performance

How well do you really know your co-workers? Your friends? Your relatives? `American Psycho' dives deep into the mind of a serial killer and almostallows you to feel what he is experiencing. Based on the controversial bestselling novel by Bret Easton Ellis, the movie follows pretty much the samepremise as the book. Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) is a poster boy for the eighties. He wearsexpensive suits. Eats extravagant meals of swordfish meatloaf. Has anapartment overlooking the park. However something is missing in his life. To fill the void, Bateman takes up perverse sexual practices and evenresorts to killing total stranger and personal associates. Even after allthe blood is absorbed into the urine soaked concrete of the Manhattansidewalks, Bateman is still unhappy. What even makes it worse is that noone seems to notice.Christian Bale is flawless in a role that few people lined up to play. Hisperformance in this movie has given the Oscar race a good jumpstart whichbarring any unseen potholes should continue right up untilnominations.`American Psycho' delivers its share of problems as well. Script holes tendto tatter it throughout its screen time and thought the movie, the dialogseems to be improvised rather than scripted. In a movie of this subjectmatter, lines should flow as smooth or perhaps even smoother than silk. Wecannot tolerate conversation as though it was being preformed in front of alive audience in New York.**1/26/10

lizardluv 2013-05-01 17:17:19

If you're confused by the ending...

My take on the ending is that the last killings are so over-the-topthere is confusion (intentional) about what is real and what might bein Bateman's head. But it doesn't matter, the underlying theme becomesclear regarding yuppie excess, and the soulless, emptiness and insanityexhibited throughout the movie. I didn't read the book (and I realize the book is more intense/brutal,etc) but the film gets its point across. What are we really laughing athere? What reflection is presented about American society, class, andbourgeois culture? Seeing how this was set in 1987, during the Reaganyears, this film is every bit relevant today, and more so.My 3¢

ablu272 2013-04-13 04:16:20

Kinda Funny; Kinda Scary!

American Psycho was a little too dirty. I didn't enjoy seeing so manynude shots with the prostitutes or the bed scenes with that pot-headchick Bateman was having a affair with, Some of that could have beencut out or shortened, but for the most part I enjoyed this movie. Somescenes were really funny. I feel bad for thinking that Bateman'sbehavior was funny, because the film isn't categorized as a darkcomedy, but there are plenty of scary scenes. Bateman is charismatic,intelligent, classy, and frightening. I applaud Christian Bale fortaking on this role. Lately he's been casted as sadistic, scarycharacters that audiences can't help but take an interest in. I can't wait to see him as Batman. He'll play it deliciously. I hope heplays the sadist again - he does it so well - not that I don't love hissinging, dancing, Disney side (because I do).

gran 2013-04-12 23:49:22

Um...

I think 'American Psycho' was made solely to see just how many unresolvedplotlines could possibly be packed into one film before it was completelyruined. The answer to the dilemma is exactly one less than existed in thisfilm. I didn't have a problem with the sex or the violence at all - theysuited the story just fine - but I've never seen a more unresolved film -onall levels - in my life. The script would've failed Screenwriting 101; andcampy, quasi-clever references to Huey Lewis, Whitney Houston, and otherpop-musical has-beens don't change that fact, though I think they thinkthatthey can conceal it.

MrKearns-2 2013-03-31 03:41:14

Well, the poster's cool.

The poster for American Psycho is incredible. The film, on the other hand, is so pointless it's almost difficult to sumup.There are certainly many people who will enjoy this movie, assuming thereare a large number of serial killers in the world. Because, frankly, unlessyou find brutal murder funny, there's not much redeeming about thismovie.From the opening, we meet Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale). He'swell-dressed, has perfect hair, and a penchant for brutally murderingpeople. This brings us to our first flaw. Director Mary Harron would likeyou to believe that he's a nice normal guy and then really shock you withthat first murder scene. In fact, I was hoping for someone to get killedjust so we could get on with her pithy little movie.Every character in this movie is simply uninteresting. Reese Witherspoonappears at Patrick's girlfriend, and phones in her performance. ChloeSevigny is superfluous as Patrick's secretary, and Jared Leto is simply inthe movie because he sort of looks like Christian Bale.Bale, on the other hand, does a good job of making me hate his character.Then again, he doesn't do it correctly. I hate this guy not because he killspeople, but because he isn't believable. He reeks of phoniness 24/7, and theentire film, we watch as Bale tries to hide his grin, as if he's saying"mommy, I'm naughty".So, while the audience sits there, Bale kills lots of people, and apparentlyit's funny. The audience who previewed this with me was roaring, as if thiswas some masterwork of Groucho Marx (who probably could have done a betterchainsaw gag if given the chance).Perhaps the most awful thing about this movie is that it tries to be sowitty, when in fact, it's just stupid. Before he kills his victims, Patricktalks about 80s music, that is simply stuck on the soundtrack to make usthink it's the 80s, as if it mattered. This is a wonderful date movie, if you're dating Ted Bundy, or if your ideaof a fun evening is Robert Palmer and Huey Lewis intermixed with brutalmurder.I give this movie 1 star out of 5. A bad screenplay, and a talented, butwasted cast leave this Psycho in solitary.

Walter 2013-03-30 16:57:41

Into the mind of madness...The Unrated Version

First of all I want to address any little idiots who say that this movie is favored by homosexuals. I am not a homosexual and I enjoyed this film. I didn't concentrate on the characters clothes or their vanity. But if a reviewer noticed "gay" undertones , then that reviewer should check himself for having "gay awareness". I was more interested in the characters actions and personalities, the story and the mind of this unassuming, successful yuppie, Patrick Bateman. This movie is so well written that even the script is fun to read. This movie was directed brilliantly. Its one of those lingering films that lets you come up with your own conclusion. The folks that don't enjoy this movie are folks who like movies that dont stimulate the mind, they rather watch Van Wilder or some dumb movie that actually lowers your I.Q. while watching.What brought me to this film was my interest in serial killers and true crime. Real life serial killers are way more frigthening than a Michael Myers who you can shoot with a Desert Eagle and wont die, or Jason from Friday the 13th, etc. Serial Killers are real, your neighbor, your co-worker, anyone could be sitting next to you wondering what your lungs look like...."on a stick". American Psycho brings you into the mind of this yuppie who can't control his desire to murder. What makes the story unique is that his circle of friends and co-workers are so self-absorbed in their own world of vanity that no one bothers to notice Patrick Bateman's behavior. Not even his girlfriend (played by Reese Witherspoon).I enjoyed this film a lot and if you have an interest in serial killers and mass murderers watch this film. Come up with your own conclusion.This movie is so interesting that there are website discussions on the film. I recommend this film for it's style, story and main character.A DVD must have.

bregund 2013-03-25 12:48:53

As empty as the era it ridicules

This review contains spoilers.This movie doesn't know what it wants to be. It's too serious to be a blackcomedy, too gruesome to be a comedy, too funny to be a drama, toonarrow-mined to be satirical, and too broad to be a character study. Inshort, American Psycho takes the middle road so often that the end result isa weak, ineffectual film that promises more than it delivers.Just in case you don't know that this film takes place in greed-driven 1980s(oh right, like the 1990s internet explosion had nothing to do with greed),gigantic cordless phones, 1980s music, power suits, whitewashed Malibuwalls, and odd menu choices like `sea urchin ceviche' are jammed into yoursenses. With all of these blatant era-placement devices, you just know thatduring the writing of the script someone must have quipped about `instantculture immersion via baseball bat.' I'm surprised they didn't stick aNeiman poster on the wall. By the way, why aren't any of the women actorswearing those huge shoulder pads that were so popular in the 1980s? Christian Bale, as the yuppie Patrick Bateman, is pretty good in thisotherwise vapid film. The men are broadly-painted cliches of the typical1980s ivy-league archetype: snotty and oily-haired, with mannerisms akin tothose of car salesmen or insurance agents, engaged in a culture of their ownthat we as viewers are supposed to ridicule, not just because it is the1980s but because they were born priveleged, have nicknames like `Biff', andwill someday die not in a smelly hospital but in the comfort of their ownhome on a four-hundred-year-old poster bed attended to by a privatenurse.Several things don't make sense: when the prostitute ran screaming down thehall, pounding on doors, why didn't any of the residents open their doors? Why don't we ever see Bateman doing any work instead of just listening tomusic or going to lunch? How could you kill someone with a nail gun? Andjust what happened at the end, was Paul Allen alive or dead? I don'tunderstand this film at all.This film is as pretty and sterile as Patrick Bateman's condo, and, likemuch of the 1980s, offers little substance.

Eileen Lau 2013-03-24 20:36:34

Corporate America satire at its best

American Psycho has become my favorite movie of all time. The layers ofsatire and irony are so brilliantly put together they mesmerize the mind.Iwould not list this movie under the horror section and I think that it'sname in a way does it a horrible injustice. I was hesitant to watch itbecause I thought that it was going to be a cheezy horror flick when it wasanything but. It's an intelligent commentary on corporate America in the1980s, about the modern Manhattan buoguesie (spelling?). Also I thinkChristian Bale captures pure Americaness because he's able to see us fromanobjective point of view. Seeing this movie may make you rethink yourvaluesand priorities in life. If you liked movies such as Fight Club, Quills,Happiness, and Welcome to the Dollhouse I think you'd most likely like thismovie too.

hblo2234 2013-03-15 05:57:34

An excellent work

I saw "American Psycho" for the first time when I was younger. I didn'tthink to highly of it then, and I now know the reason. When I wasyounger, I could not understand the complexity of this movie, and thecharacter "Patrick Bateman." And now, after seeing it again recently, Ican truly appreciate this movie for the work of art it is. There is somuch more to be read between the lines in this movie then in mostothers, it's one of those movies you can see 100 times, and still findsomething new that you missed every other time, and enjoy it all themore. Bale plays his role so well I think, I have read the book, and Ithink that he is perfect for the character. Though the book is MUCHmore graphic, I think the lack of graphic violence in this movieactually goes in favor of it. It allows us to focus on the other thingsone could so easily pass up. If you have not seen this movie, you mustgo rent it, especially if you are somebody who enjoys GOOD MOVIES. notyour average Vin Diesel flick. The eccentric character of PatrickBateman is what this movie is about. It is the only "horror" movie Ican look back on, and say, I have never laughed so hard from this, andnot in a cheesy way, in a very good way. GO SEE THIS MOVIE

cactuschris 2013-03-14 17:08:51

Terrific

This movie is great, totally smart and amazing acting by Christian Bale.You've most likely read enough argument over it, but see it yourself...theonly people who have told me they didn't like it really didn't have thebrains to understand it.

PaintPuppy 2013-03-14 04:25:02

Terrible terrible terrible

Just read the book. Trust me. This movie was boring and essentiallyplotlessand pointless. There is very little reference to the book, which waswonderful and this movie just insults the intellectual and phenomenalwriting of Bret Ellis.

Ed Kelleher 2013-03-13 11:16:45

Stunning cinematography.

Steve Murray 2013-02-15 05:25:55

A visually chilly but often very funny satire of American greed and conspicuous consumption.

aledh-644-505424 2013-02-14 18:00:59

Whats it all about

I really didn't get this film until someone explained it to me then itjust clicked. It's a strange film which makes you believe that the maincharacter is a murderer but it's all inside his head. Plenty of blood,sex and craziness.Christian Bale delivers a grand performance as the psychopath and agreat performance by Chloe Sevigny helps it along its way.I really can't write much more as like I said I didn't get the film atfirst. I may have to watch it again sometime and maybe I can add moreto it then.My rating - 5/10

2013-02-12 05:20:53

NO MORE MR NICE GUY

The only words that were coming to my mind while watching AMERICAN PSYCHO were " Stop it ! It's too much ". Too much blood, too much satire, too much of everything. I haven't read the Bret Easton Ellis novel but what is certain is that literature allows a lot of liberties cinema simply can not translate in images unless you are Jean-Luc Godard or Orson Welles.AMERICAN PSYCHO tries to describe a peculiar world, the world of the 1980 New-York yuppies. These yuppies are very snob without the cultural background found in, let's say for instance, the englishmen of the first part of the XXth century. They are like empty shells, living a life of fast money, expensive restaurants and uninteresting social activities. Well, they don't particularly bother me as long as they stay in their artificial world. And I can easily imagine to what kind of excess easy money can drive a man who has not a solid moral history.If I have understood well the purpose of the authors of AMERICAN PSYCHO, the movie, apart of this harsch critique of the yuppie world, would like to convince us that money and power could eventually lead someone to believe that he can be a new god, deciding who has the right to live and who should die, without being worried by consequences. Patrick Bateman, after a slow start, becomes less and less prudent and finally commit murders in the open light. Like the serial killers he admires, he wants unconsciously to be recognized. The movie often hesitates between the satire, the not so fairy tale, the horror and the moral genre, so feel free to have your own opinion about it.A DVD zone Manhattan (New-York only ).

Libbets 2013-02-11 11:46:13

Chilling Stuff

I went to see this film with mixed ideas about how it would be.I had heard all the controversy surrounding the novel and the adaption.However I left the cinema extremely pleased.I though Christian Bale was absolutely perfect in the role, he plays anextremely complex character with chilling effect. I really cannot imagineany other actor in the lead role, let alone the likes of DiCaprio or Pitt,who were considered for the role.The film is an extremely deep black comedy satire, but what chilled me themost was that the film could quite possibly be a socialcommentary.Mary Harron is obviously deeply inspired by "ClockworkOrange"