American Psycho
Incited
by material envy and insanity, a young and privileged sociopath goes on a killing
rampage. The movie is based on the controversial novel of the same name by Brett
Easton Ellis. Widely criticized for its misogynist content, the film is directed
by a woman, Mary Harron, nine months pregnant the week of the release, who defends
the feminist content of the film.
Cast: Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis
Director: Mary Harron
Distributor: Lions Gate Films
Rating: R
Reviews
The New York Times
Watching American Psycho is like witnessing a bravura sleight-of-hand feat. In adapting Bret Easton Ellis's turgid, gory 1991 novel to the screen, the director Mary Harron has boiled a bloated stew of brand names and butchery into a lean and mean horror comedy classic. The transformation is so surprising that when the movie's over, it feels as if you've just seen a magician pull a dancing rabbit out of a top hat.IndieWIRE
"It's 1987 Manhattan. Christian Bale plays the deranged, reservations-coveting New York mergers and acquisitions VP Patrick Bateman, working a sideline of "murders and executions" against women who trouble his cool surfaces and, notably, one of his brethren. Bateman tells us "greed and disgust" are the only emotions he feels: he gets no joy in the contemplation of his blank, feral greed. The intermittent voice-overs work less to implicate us in his mania than to underscore his perpetual narcissism."Filmcritic.com
"AMERICAN PSYCHO vibrates between being deliriously funny and just plain delirious."Ain't It Cool News
"It’s as soulless as its main character."
Want to Know More?
IndieWIRE's interview with Mary Harron
The director discusses the controversy, the press reactions, rescuing misunderstood subjects,and delivering a baby the same time as her movie.Pyscho Gets an R rating
The film gets the desired rating; some scenes get cut.
