One man's self destruction of a tipped mind

Rating: 8/10 (11 December 2013)

American Psycho is not the film you expect it to be when judging it by it's cover. It's one psychologically jarring experience, a study of one man's struggle who must conform to fit in, and even then he doesn't get respect. Patrick Bateman is the psychologically disturbed, and successful executive who's mind has slowly tipped, into carrying cruel acts of murder on numerous people, strangers, workmates, etc. Though we are to question, whether it's fantasy or reality, the corrupt and sick thoughts, violently imagined images of an unbalanced mind. This is Bale's movie, 'his trying to keep his mind together, and not slipping into murderous urges moments', scary and totally believable, despite all the other good performances, from a great assemblage of actors. They fit the roles completely, although Witherspoon as Bale's fiancée, got on my nerves, overacting the s..t out of her, almost mirroring her real self, off screen I guess. I almost wanted to take an axe to her. Although we identity with Bale's character, and feel a smidgen sorry for him, we detest him, especially with me, being a dog lover. AP has class, and is entertaining as from the interaction of characters, but also on the grounds of being different. Yes... and it's bloody, the Jared Leto scene, with him being chopped up by axe at the murderous hand of Bateman, the standout one. It has humour, too, thanks to some of it's female cast, who really deliver (Sevingy and Mathias). In the end, AP, will have you pondering as to the fantasy and reality element of the film. The gaunt Dafoe adds spark, as a detective, probably, slightly envious of Bateman, who's investigating the disappearance of one of Bateman's colleague. I must say it before finishing tis review- Leto is one of the most impressive actors I've ever seen it for my life. I've heard the book's better, but honestly I wouldn't touch it with a nine foot pole. And if you're smart, you'd leave AP 2 where it belongs- on the video shelf.