Earlier
this year, I got a chance to see this controversial satire at the Sundance Film
Festival. Easily one of the most talked about films at the festival, this adaptation
of the novel also emerged as one of the most disappointing.
Mary
Harron (I Shot Andy Warhol) directs this tale of an arrogant stockbroker who has
a most unusual hobby. It seems that in his spare time, he likes to kill people.
The stockbroker is played by a mesmerizing Christian Bale (Empire of the Sun).
First
and foremost, American Psycho has been attacked for it's violent content even
though it's obviously meant to be comical. Like David Fincher's Fight Club from
last year, this film has been totally misunderstood. The problem is, much of this
film doesn't work because it tries to be a little too sly and many of the pop
culture references (mostly 80's songs) become quite tiresome.
Harron
has a keen eye and Bale is strong but the movie seems to run out of steam as it
progresses, and only manages to show hints of brilliance. If you want to see a
serious and truly disturbing film about a psychopath and the American Dream, rent
David McNaughton's Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.
