Bale IS Bateman

Rating: 8/10 (1 July 2009)

I recently got this on DVD and felt that it was worth reviewing as, although I had seen the film before, it was a long time ago and I feel that I basically missed the point of the whole thing, concentrating on the serial killer aspect and not fully appreciating the more sophisticated vein of black comedy beneath it.
Don't get me wrong, the film is gloriously bloody and violent, with several scenes of brutal and shocking murder, but in actuality this is a far more complex film, mixing elements of social satire, pitch black comedy and existential drama.
Set in the latter years of the 80s, the film follows Patrick Bateman, a handsome, successful and intelligent 20 something, who is nevertheless a thoroughly unpleasant individual. Bateman is a yuppie who has pretty much everything that most people (not me, but as far as I'm aware the average person) aspire for: lots of money, a nice apartment and a beautiful, if a little dim, fiancé (played by the delightful Reese Witherspoon as charmingly stupid), yet he is ultimately a totally shallow, empty individual, with no real taste or passion, living an utterly unfulfilling life which he is only able to fill by committing horrendous murders. His only passions are incredibly inane, and though he offers opinions on politics, morality etc, he ultimately cares only about having the most stylish business card or eating at the best restaurant.
What is fascinating about the film is that while Bateman is initially utterly unlikeable, coming across from the outset as narcissistic, shallow and hypocritical, he is no simple Gordon Gecko style monster and, strange as it seems, as Bateman goes off the rails and slides into homicidal insanity, he becomes more likable and more human, until we are almost on his side. Of course, crucial to the success of the film is that Bateman is a comic creation as well as a horrific one, often trying to confess his murders to those who don't listen ("I like to dissect girls, Do you know I'm utterly insane?" he offers to one disinterested character) and giving lengthy monologues on 80s music shortly before committing his crimes.
Of course, much of the praise for making Bateman such a fascinating figure should rest at the feet of Christian Bale, and despite a fantastic supporting cast, it is ultimately his film. Interestingly, his Bateman, a slick popular businessman who is all carefully constructed image, but in reality is violent and disturbed, seems to eerily predict his reading of Bruce Wayne in Chris Nolan's Batman films, though of course, Bateman channels his angst and wrath in much less healthy ways Visually, the film is extremely impressive, a world of clinical, immaculate apartments, affluent nightclubs and soulless offices presented in stunning blandness, while the murders are colourful and shockingly choreographed, often the only scenes of intrigue or vibrancy. The problem with this is that it leaves the film open to accusations of 'style over substance', and initially the film appears to mirror its protagonist; great to look at, and extremely cool, but ultimately soulless. However, this is all flipped in a final act which has us questioning all we have seen so far.
Comparisons have been made with "Fight Club", but these are wide of the mark as it is neither as subversive, nor as effective as Fincher's movie. Bateman doesn't really change or learn anything as the film goes on and he film doesn't have the rich subtext of "Fight Club", often falling back on just laughing at the idiocy of yuppies. However, the emphasis on murder as something to bring emotion and meaning to life is fascinating, and in some ways echoes Camus' "The Outsider", and while not entirely successful or clear in its message, it is still a funny, shocking and intelligent film, anchored by an amazing central performance from Christian Bale.