I'm sorry, what were you saying?

Rating: Null/10 (6 June 2002)

I watched this film the first time, on video, without reading any reviews on it whatsoever spare an article in "Entertainment Weekly" which gave it an "A". While some parts of it were fairly good, most of it was either somewhat boring or really, really boring. By the time the end rolled around, I was thankful that I could stand up, walk around, exercise my legs, and return this to Blockbuster. It was confusing, weird, and I couldn't see anything beyond that because I was so bored watching it. Then I read the reviews on it. To my utter surprise, everyone liked it, like a lot. Compliments were given to the writing, directing, themes, and plot. So I thought I had overlooked something. I rented it again. Nope. It was no more entertaining, no less boring, and no more good, period. So all of this was supposed to be in Bateman's head? Where did that come from? Call me stupid, but I really don't like movies that make you think beyond the point of interpreting the entire ending more than once. The only good parts in the movie WERE the parts where Bateman was killing people, then I learn it's all supposed to be imagined? Wow, that's entertainment!? A lot of references are made to the '80s culture and materialism, which serves as sort of a satire/joke, but let's face it, do we care? The attempt to manifest something in the movie that you can't see on screen is a good attempt by the director. In fact, it might have even worked if the movie had not been such a terrible bore. It's supposed to be understood that Bateman is what all of us are inside. You can take that trip into the dark recesses of the human mind if you want to, but do you have a high tolerance for confusing stories, slow pacing, and one too many inside jokes dealing with the yuppie culture? I appreciate what the film tried to do, and it is very technically well made. The camera movement and angles are very good, the acting is excellent, and the weird style it has is pulled off well, it remains weird without getting too serious. However, I can't sit on my butt for two hours watching something like this without getting up out of my chair every five minutes. Now if there were a few more murders, maybe a little more suspense, and more logic added into this, then I guess I could manage. Otherwise, I'll spend the time I use to sit on my butt watching something else. At least I tried.