American Psycho

Mi primera "experiencia" con Christian Bale: loca, horrible, aterradora, chocante, repugnante, retorcida, escalofriante, pero a la vez fascinante. Nunca antes me había parecido tan genial como en esta adaptación de la famosa novela de Easton Elise. (14.04.2007)

Una crítica a la superficialidad del estilo de vida y a los valores deformados de los hombres de negocios de Wall Street, cortada en un entretenido slasher thriller con tintes de comedia negra cínica. La interpretación de Bale como sociópata encaja a la perfección, la película se ve bien y está montada con brío, pero resulta superficial y fría como el sujeto de la crítica. Por ejemplo, las escenas de sexo son sorprendentemente francas, pero no son tan personales y definitorias del personaje como en Shame. Más bien, lo que quieren es sorprender y escandalizar en el mainstream de las estrellas. (30.06.2021)

A probe into the mind of a member of a certain animal species from Wall Street who revels in expensive formal suits and designer goods, slaps on all sorts of menthol, moisturizing and peeling masks, regularly visits tanning salons, blathers about nothing in his circle of friends passing it off as serious deep musings. His measure of success is, among other things, the appearance of his business card, which he likes to compare with his equally afflicted friends, and to be free and cool, he goes to parties to snort coke. In fact, he is so bored with his emotional emptiness that he entertains himself in a quite "original" way, he kills. Those empty-minded suits sometimes make you so sick that the murders aren't even that disgusting in comparison. And to be honest, the murders are the least interesting thing about the whole movie. (14.07.2003)

American Psycho is from a group of movies that can be rated from one to five stars. From a technical standpoint, it is a decently executed piece with good camerawork, editing, and especially strong acting. Most of the actors are giving their all, and it is almost a pity that these performances cannot be seen in a stronger film. Even in small roles, quality actors appear, such as Chloë Sevigny in the role of a secretary. However, the problem lies with the content, which is superficially impressive but internally empty and decadent. Typical scenes take place in high society environments, nightclubs, where glamorous beauties mingle with yuppie elites in elegant frames. All in all, it is a kitschy affair that fairly faithfully corresponds to the style of Ellis's literary source, but for me, it is quite indigestible. Overall impression: 40%. (16.06.2006)

An intentionally controversial thriller. Do I mind? Not at all. Bale is fantastically convincing in the role of the psychotic financier Bat(e)man and so is the portrayal of that high society world. Of course, I’ve no idea how realistic it is, but I know that I don’t have even the slightest desire to live it first hand. (23.12.2009)