highly original, bale is terrific

Rating: 6/10 (30 April 2000)

Sometimes it's hard for movie reviewers to adequately discuss heavily artistic movies. With so many metaphors and imagery, the films become almost impressionistic in that viewers interpret the meaning so differently.
"American Psycho" fits the description well. The movie is so heavily dosed with abnormal scenes, viewers have to decide for themselves the message being sent.
Christian Bale plays a successful businessman in the 1980s with an insatiable appetite for killing. The movie is more of a confession than it is a story, with Bale's character becoming more insane with each passing scene.
"American Psycho" is a bit like "American Beauty" in its overwhelming artistic endeavors. What "American Beauty" did for suburbia in the 1990s, "American Psycho" tries to do for yuppie life in the 1980s. Both try to act as examples of what actually happens behind the facades of those who are rich and successful.
The movie also has a pretty remarkable, although underused, cast. Reese Witherspoon, Chloë Sevigny (nominated for an Oscar in "Boys Don't Cry") and Willem Dafoe all make appearances in the film, but really not much more than that.
However, Bale is spectacular as both a stuck-up yuppie and a psychopathic killer. What makes his performance - and the movie, for that matter - so disturbing is how believable Bale is at playing both parts at the same time, as well as being able to make the transition from one character to another.
Another disturbing element of the film is the haunting mixture of comedy with horror. One of the most amusing scenes in the film shows Bale's character becoming angry because of the impressive embossing of his co-workers' business cards. It's humorous, yes, but sickening when combined with the fact that he plans on killing one of the men because of the business card.
In spite of some troubling scenes in the film, "American Psycho" still has the ability to be a rewarding film for viewers. If for nothing else, it should be praised for stunning originality and terrific acting.