My mind goes blank (spoiler warning!)

Rating: 5/10 (30 May 2000)

I didn't feel anything when I saw this film. The book made me disgusted, furious, had me laughing and nodding in consent with the clever insights into the idiotic life of Patrick Bateman. This film had nothing of it, and it although it was a good movie, it's far from being anything more than average.
I won't say that I miss the endless torture-scenes of the book, it was clear right away that those were not possible to show to ANY extent. The mere suggestion of them and the notebook that Jean flips through near the end are enough to make one understand just how sick this person is. And Bates' performance is just excellent, perfect - he masters this role like none other. Just look at him phoning his lawyer: "I just have to kill a lot of people!" Brilliant.
But the blandness of this film is on another level: the director just fails to convey the sentiment of total detachment that Bateman feels. He interacts with people, talks to them and even feels something for them, as in the case of his girlfriend, whom he dumps so that he won't harm her. All this is okay, for he wouldn't pass for a normal human being if he didn't. He leads two lives. His "normal" life is okay, well portrayed, and the moments where his second life, that of the blood-thirsty maniac, tries to grab hold of his sanity, are well made.
But there is still something missing. And I can't really tell what. All I can say is that this film didn't make me feel what I thought I would feel: these people exist. There are people like Bateman, surely - but the film makes him unique.
So go see it, for all that it matters. But I'd much rather read the book.