Love the book, love the movie

Rating: 9/10 (13 February 2007)

American Psycho was always a book that I wanted to see made into a movie. I thought it would be amazing to see Bret Easton Ellis's masterpiece (in my opinion) make it on to the screen. I wasn't so sure, however, of how Christian Bale would do as Patrick Bateman. I didn't see him in the role at all. I don't know whom I thought would be better, but it wasn't him.
I was stupid. Bale is fantastic, and rises to what is quite a challenge, extremely well. For me, his portrayal of Bateman is bang on the money. His self-obsessed, emotionally detached nut-job is every bit as unhinged and chilling as Ellis's creation.
The movie itself is good, and does something very clever. It takes Ellis's gore factor away slightly, not much, but slightly, and puts a little more suggestion in.
What's also in there, is the dark, dark humour of the book, which can be lost when some novels get the Hollywood treatment.
All in all, a very good movie. Thumbs up for a job well done!