Very Real

Rating: Null/10 (8 May 2000)

I've read many of the other comments concerning this movie and those that hated it complain about the film's lack of conventional structure (ie, a plot) and lack of a clear-cut ending. Well, that is the point of this story. Like real life, there isn't necessarily rising action, a climax and a conclusion. Like the book, there is no exit for Patrick Bateman, nor is there one for us. We simply enter his life for a period of time, watch him operate, then move on.
Nevertheless, I was not 100% satisfied with the translation from novel to film. I think Mary Harron copped out - trying to create a hip, satirical, self-aware, ironic version of this story. Pity. The book was far more sadistic, vicious, funny, disgusting, and it did a better job of charting Bateman's descent into madness.
While the film did capture the superficiality of the "me" decade, it appears very weak since the 90s were even more greedy and superficial. The film also failed to capture Bateman's habit of describing people via their wardrobe - he knows EVERY label of every item that his male and female peers are wearing. In the book, it is hilarious and aptly illustrates how superficial the character and the decade are.
See this movie. But, read the book first.