Better than excellent

Rating: 10/10 (24 August 2007)

I have read many comments and I have to say that many (here) just analyze this masterpiece from a reductive point of view : the first degree. I do believe you cannot fully appreciate "American psycho" if you only see a man in Bateman. Indeed, in this story, every character represents a symbol.
One, in a previous comment, has said that Patrick represents the American Dream. This is interesting. To my point of view, he represents the most ugly face of America. Not the one who helps the poor, not the one who respects women, not the one who will be able able to love somebody else than himself. He is America when there is no human dimension anymore.
Bateman then can kill this poor guy in the street, some whores. As well, he cannot love his girlfriend. On the contrary, he will consider himself as a kind of God and will respect nobody else. Then this scene at the restaurant when he is among friends and talk about social progress is so funny.
Watch the movie and ask yourself : "What character is an exception to Bateman's insanity?" "Which person is offered to him but not killed?" Then you will see that this person is the secretary. The America of the 80's was very racist (the Reagan's years), don't we forget it. This young wasp-typed lady is the only one to escape safely to Patrick's madness.
It is not by simple chance that the movie finishes with Ronald Reagan on TV and Patrick's partners commenting his speech. All is here. Nothing has happened even if Bateman's nightmare was real. The craziness of the 80's (the money decade) is illustrated by Bateman. This is some kind of fable and allegory. This is how I understand it. "There has been no reason for me to tell you any of this. This confession has meant nothing..." are the last words and a the author denies, in a last ironic eruption, the quality of his superb work.
Mary Harron has done a great job
Christian Bale is amazing
Bret Easton Ellis is a genius. Still I have to read the book ;)