American Psycho

Starring: Christian Bale
Directed by: Mary Harron
Rating: I Liked It

Bale has done lots of extreme roles before he was selected to play Batman.  This is one of those roles.  If you check this movie out and like Bale in it, I'd be sure to check out The Machinist or Reign of Fire to see him in a couple of other strange characters.

Beyond Bale himself, the movie overall is kind of weird.  I won't spoil anything, but the ending definitely leaves you to do some interpretation.  It's a really weird path down which the movie takes you.  It makes you wonder about the "ordinary" people you interact with every day and the things they do in the privacy of their own homes.  Not that I'm suggesting your co-workers are serial killers...

The Good:

• The first thing that I picked up on was Bateman's  (Bale's) ramblings about music.  He's a music lover, and he more than once in the film goes on rants about artists or albums.  Particularly, his rant about Huey Lewis and the News is memorable.  
• Bale overall does a great job making you think he's absolutely insane crazy.  He plays the part of the psycho very well, from the way he enunciates to the nitpicking he does of the people with which he interacts.  He doesn't understand the human condition or human emotions.  
• There are two scenes that are so well written I have to mention them.  One is the scene in which Bateman goes over his morning routine with the view.  While it might seem mundane, it's showing us the crazy level of detail with which he's obsessed.  The other scene is the one where all his coworkers are discussing his new business card.  We see the same thing displayed here, obsession with detail, but we also get to see his psycho coming out a little more.  
• I'm not a big Willem Dafoe fan, but he plays well opposite Bale, as the officer investigating the case.  It's obvious that he is very suspicious of Bateman.  
• I usually complain when things aren't explained in a movie, but that's not the case here.  I actually like that there is a lot left up to the viewer to decide.  It works for a movie about a psycho.  

The Bad: 

• I thought the portrayals of the Wall Street playboys was a little over the top.  People like Jared Leto, Matt Ross, and Josh Lucas all did a little too much to try and convince the audience that they were snooty and high class.  
• I didn't think Reese Witherspoon was a good choice to play Bateman's "love interest".  She didn't fit the rest of the film.  

The Ugly: 

• I wouldn't say there was anything ugly about this one.