A brilliant satire on image

Rating: Null/10 (7 September 2004)

Maybe its me as I took 3 watches and a read of the book to fully or think I fully understand this film . But now I finally do I think that this is one of the most cutting an important pieces of work on the society we live in today . Bateman is a parody on what we live in in this day and age whether he did it or not I don't think really matters as if he did then the film is commenting on how people around him are so self obsessed and image focused and he is so unimportant (even though he thinks by buying a new watch or suit makes him important )that nobody pays any attention and that is a comment on life in general that no matter what evil happens everybody keeps there head down and carrys on obsessed with what they have and getting every available advantage (perceived) on there fellow man. If he didn't then it shows the evil of the man and men inside ,I don't think the end is to ambiguous as the comment he makes at the end of "Inside doesn't matter" sums up the whole movie in one sentence that Image is the most important thing .The movie itself is practically a comedy there are parts that have me in tears of laughter one minute ,but equally I could be in fits of revulsion the next ,all I can say is that it is just a brilliant satire on Image and life and everyone should watch it it is that important it will go down as a cult classic .As for the acting Christian Bale is excellent as the yuppie serial killer who wants to fit in I think he is absolutely perfect for the role ,Dafoe does a good turn playing on Batemans paranoia as you never no if Dafoe is setting the trap for him or is it just his mask of sanity finally slipping .A final comment on the gore if you have ever read the book then you would understand that you could not put that in celluloid it would be too much Mary Harron has balanced it perfectly the hints at murder and gore are far more powerful then just having some kind of slasher flick which are usually terrible anyway my score 8/10