Movie-a-Day Challenge: American Psycho

American psycho movie posterThis post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 238! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.

Hey friends!

So, the other night I finally got around to watching “American Psycho,” the 2000 flick directed by Mary Harron. I’d heard so much about it, but I never actually took the plunge. Wow, what a wild ride! First off, let me say, if you haven’t yet seen this film, brace yourselves. It’s a wild, unhinged journey through the mind of a yuppie psychopath, which, trust me, is as intense as it sounds. Picture a New York City drenched in neon and greed, with a side order of male-model vanity and toxic masculinity.

To kick things off, Christian Bale’s performance as Patrick Bateman is nothing short of legendary. It’s absolutely chilling. I mean, this guy doesn’t just play Bateman, he becomes Bateman. Like, seriously, there are moments when you can’t tell if he’s just acting or actually slipping into this twisted character. His chiseled jaw, piercing gaze, and unnervingly calm demeanor make for one heck of a creepy yet magnetic portrayal.

He nails the whole Wall Street yuppie vibe, with his obsession with designer labels, skincare routines, and his ridiculous business card obsession. Plus, that scene where he meticulously explains his skincare routine is both bizarrely hilarious and terrifying at the same time.

The plot, if you’re unfamiliar, revolves around Patrick Bateman, a wealthy and materialistic investment banker living in 1980s Manhattan. His days are filled with superficial socializing and his nights… well, they tend to get a bit bloody. Balance sheet by day, chainsaw by night – yes, it’s quite the dual lifestyle. The storyline meanders through his increasingly erratic behavior, leaving you wondering what’s real and what’s just another figment of his demented imagination.

Okay, so we have to talk about the violence. It’s definitely graphic, but also kind of darkly comedic. The scene where Bateman chases a naked woman with a chainsaw while “Hip to Be Square” plays in the background is both horrifying and absurd. And the way he narrates his murders in this calm, detached voice while meticulously cleaning up afterwards is just… unsettling. It’s like he’s more concerned about his apartment’s decor than the fact that he’s just dismembered someone.

Speaking of music, the 80s soundtrack is packed with all the classics from that era, like Huey Lewis and the News, Phil Collins, and Whitney Houston. But the way the music is juxtaposed with Bateman’s gruesome murders is just genius. It creates this bizarre contrast between the upbeat tunes and the utter horror of what’s happening on screen.

As for the supporting cast, Willem Dafoe as the detective, Kimball, is just perfect – the way he oscillates between charming and intimidating is pretty brilliant. Then there’s Jared Leto as Paul Allen, whose fate is sealed in one of the most iconic and twisted scenes in cinema history. You’ll never look at business cards the same way again, that’s for sure. Also, Reese Witherspoon as Bateman’s oblivious fiancée is just the cherry on top of this bizarre cake.

What hit me the most, though, was the underlying commentary on the absurdity of consumer culture and the hollowness of the yuppie lifestyle. Bateman and his Wall Street buddies are all obsessed with status, appearances, and material possessions. They’re empty shells, devoid of any real emotion or empathy. And Bateman’s violent outbursts are like a manifestation of all that repressed rage and frustration.

It’s like a grotesque mirror of the 1980s American Dream, where success is measured by the number of zeroes on your paycheck and the designer labels in your closet. And boy, does this movie have a way of making you squirm while doing it. Like, hey, can we talk about how a simple visit to a restaurant turns into a descent into madness? It’s hauntingly funny and eerily relevant, even today.

The ending is a bit ambiguous, leaving you wondering if any of the murders actually happened or if it was all in Bateman’s head. But honestly, I think that’s part of what makes the movie so interesting. It forces you to question what’s real and what’s not, and it leaves a lasting impression.

So there you have it, friends. “American Psycho” is a film that’s quirky, unsettling, and oddly thought-provoking all at once. If you’re in the mood for something that’s a smidge fancy and a tad freaky, give this one a go. Just be prepared for some seriously messed-up stuff. Oh, and maybe don’t watch it right before bed.

TTFN,
Roger

P.S. Seriously, make sure your business cards are on point – you never know who might be judging them.

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