Anna’s Top 50 Films of the Decade
18. American Psycho (2000; dir. Mary Harron)
Scathing, explicitly violent and sexual, and hilariously nightmarish, Mary Harron’s film adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel of the same name is equally engrossing and gross. Christian Bale — one of the most talented working actors in the business today — gives now-legendary performance with a very interesting inspirational source; as the narcissistic Wall Street investment banker and closet serial killer Patrick Bateman, Bale is nothing short of brilliant. I read Ellis’ book once on a whim and was so repulsed by it that I actually ripped out some of the pages; fortunately, Harron’s adaptation is less about the graphic acts of violence (although there’s still plenty of gore, make no mistake) and more about the rage and contempt that fuel said acts. Harron also plays up the dark humor in the novel to great effect. American Psycho is a fascinating and grotesque black comedy, and there’s no other movie quite like it.
dope review, kudos from deadlydarts
