American Psycho (2000)

Director:

Mary Harron

Writers (WGA):

Bret Easton Ellis (novel)
Mary Harron (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

No Introduction Necessary.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Fear | Violence | Materialism | Restroom | Urination

Awards:

4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Christian Bale	...	Patrick Bateman
Justin Theroux	...	Timothy Bryce
Josh Lucas	...	Craig McDermott
Bill Sage	...	David Van Patten
Chloë Sevigny	...	Jean
Reese Witherspoon	...	Evelyn Williams
Samantha Mathis	...	Courtney Rawlinson
Matt Ross	...	Luis Carruthers
Jared Leto	...	Paul Allen
Willem Dafoe	...	Det. Donald Kimball
Cara Seymour	...	Christie
Guinevere Turner	...	Elizabeth
Stephen Bogaert	...	Harold Carnes
Monika Meier	...	Daisy
Reg E. Cathey	...	Al, the Derelict

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexuality, drug use and language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English | Spanish | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Brazil:18 | USA:NC-17 (original cut) | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R (Certificate #37205) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | USA:Unrated (uncut DVD version)

Filming Locations:

Boston Club - 4 Front Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Am Psycho Productions

Trivia:

To block the three-way sex scene with two prostitutes, Mary Harron and Christian Bale watched x-rated tapes. In her commentary, Herron says Bale made stick-figure drawings of the positions he thought would work best.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Bateman is using the pay phone on Park Avenue, the skyscraper in the background says "Met Life", when it should say "Pan Am". Although the building was sold by Pan Am to Met Life in the 1980s, the name displayed on the building wasn't changed until the early 1990s.

Quotes:

Craig McDermott: Cheer up, Bateman. What's the matter? No shiatsu this morning?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in American Psycho: From Book to Screen (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Simply Irresistible

A must see

Having read the novel by Easton-Ellis a year ago I was intrigued to find out how it could be made into a movie.

Whilst turned off by the totally uneccesary details of Batemans crimes in the book, I felt that Easton's insight into superficial 80's yuppie culture made it a classic.

Who could play a credible Bateman? Leonardo Di Caprio? I think not.

How would Mary Harron deal with those controversial torture scenes?

What we got was one of the finest movies I have seen for some time. Of course, those of closed minds will slate this film without even bothering to see it, simply because of the book's notoriety.

I was impressed to see how closely Harron followed the book, replacing the un-filmable seens with suggestion, aka ear-cutting scene from resevior dogs, so that you believe you have seen more than you have. There are more parallels with Tarantino, such as the use of classic (& non classic ) 80's pop to create a stylised feel to the movie, that has not been seen since Pulp Fiction.

Casting was superb, with Cristian Bale giving the performance of a lifetime, We, the audience, saw the souless monster within, Batemans superficial aquaintences, saw another faceless human being.

Just like the book, you are never sure wether Batemans crimes are real, or just imaginary, but his slide into insanity is clearly real and paced expertly by Bale.

Rheese Witherspoon as Evelyn was disappointing, "Election" showed what a great actress she is and although this role called for an airhead performance, it was clear that she was cruising.

Mary Harron deserves the credit for creating an excellent film, that could have so easily been just another slasher movie.