Rating: 
Summary: Sterile adaptation of a wonderfully twisted novel
Review: Having been blown away by Brett Easton-Ellis' novel some ten years ago, I finally got around to watching this (at least partly inspired by the positive reviews here); I have got to say, I found it a pretty flat, disappointing adaptation.
Fair play to Mary Harron for her noble efforts to bring this most unfilmable of novels to the silver screen. I have enjoyed her other stuff eg. 'I Shot Andy Warhol', which is definitely a much better film than this one.
'American Psycho' ultimately lacks a certain spark, though it is hard to say why - possibly because of the fact that Harron has dispensed for the most part with the gore of the book. But there are more subtle things - for example, Bateman's constant internal dialogue is only really hinted at here, I felt - particularly his endless comments on his and others clothing.
While the book features a vast smorgasbord of toe-curlingly violent scenes, the only point in the film which was remotely reminiscent of this unpleasantness was when Bateman holds a nail-gun to his secretary's head in his penthouse apartment.
Of course, the violence in 'American Psycho' is metaphorical, used to underline Bateman's yuppie-scum inhumanity rather than define it outright. But by pussy-footing with it, the film becomes toothless - reminiscent of that other slightly painful adaptation of a classic Me-Generation novel 'Bonfire of the Vanities' (shiver).
2 1/2 stars overall, because it remains broadly faithful to the book. But it is hard to recommend a film that seems so flat - especially when compared with the vivid, unsettling hyper-reality of Brett Easton-Ellis' original novel.
Rating: 
Summary: MY GOD. THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: "Do you like Genesis? I have been a huge Genesis fan since their 1980 album, DUKE", states batemen. AWESOME. I would put American Psycho along with Office Space as the two most underrated movies of all time.
Christian Bale is absolutely brilliant as Patrick Batemen. How did this guy not get nominated for an Oscar from this role? The movie's ending kinda wrap's up if the violence is real or imagined. The movie showed just enough restraint to keep you guessing though. Amazing cast. Hilarious dialogue. This film is black comedy, not a horror film at all. The UNRATED version has longer threesome sex scene and some subtly changed dialogue.
This girl I went out with described me as being similar to Patrick Batemen. Must be my Phillippe Starck themed living room and my fondness for 30 dollar facial products. Anyway...GET THIS MOVIE. IT IS A MUST TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION.
Rating: 
Summary: 80's personified
Review: "American Psycho" is a tale of '80s excess. It's anti-hero is Patrick Bateman, a rich punk in a three piece suit. He is also a serial killer that New York City has apperently never noticed (odd, don't you think?). He has done everything, drugs, sex, money, and so what else is lefty to do? Murder. To him it's just a way of bucking the establishment and to aleviate bordom. Christain Bale dose well as Greed and Deviance in the flesh. It is a good, if somewhat extream, example of '80s excessive lifestyle.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling
Review: "American Psycho" is deinitely NOT for the faint of heart. With tons of sex, violence, and drug references, this is one OUTRAGEOUS movie... This isn't to say that it's not good... it's just... sadistic. BUT... I have to say, that the black humour was well appreciated... kind of lightening up the disgusting subject matter of the movie. This was a very chilling and twisted movie... see it!
Rating:
Summary: Hits and misses
Review: "American Psycho" is not a great film, but it has enough style and gloss to make you virtually disregard it's array of weaknesses. The only solid reason why it should be seen is for Christian Bale's performance as Patrick Bateman. He captures the character's dual personalities; the plastic-faced ladykiller and the chainsaw wielding maniac, and performs with enough dynamic charisma to keep you diverted even when the film misfires, which it does quite often. I was also quite impressed with film's flamboyant visualization of upper-crust Manhattan during the 80's, watching those nightclub scenes evoke strong memories of a time when excess and campiness were in vogue. But even with these assets, "American Psycho" suffers from a lack of visceral impact (the book, admittedly, did have that) and a screenplay which can't seem to make up it's mind. Is it a satire on yuppie materialism or a thriller about a man's increasing bloodlust? If it was intended to be both, the results were confused, especially during the final 20 minutes. There are indeed moments of insight into the connection between then emptiness of society's values and Patrick Bateman's absence of a soul (some of them funny, others disturbing) but the film fails to get right inside the character's head. Overall, "American Psycho" is nothing to brag about, but it will still keep you interested, and Christian Bale gives a terrific performance as well.
Rating:
Summary: A disturbing satire of the 1980's......
Review: "American Psycho" is one of the most disturbing films I have seen all year. Christian Bale is frightening yet hilarious as the titular character Patrick Bateman, a Wall Street hot shot who indulges in his sick pleasures by night. He murders homeless people, prostitutes and even his own friends. Bateman is a character who feels nothing and cares about nothing save his own material possessions and outward appearance. "American Psycho" is much less gory than the novel on which it is based. Instead of being a straight horror film "American Psycho" wisely opted to be an original satire on the materialism of the 1980's. The film opens with a bang and possesses the same sick and funny energy until the end when it begins to lag a bit. But for the most part of the film I was interested in Patrick Bateman's tale. If you enjoy dark humor and have a strong stomach, I strongly suggest this film. It's not a film I would want to watch over and over again. It's not a classic, but it is still a good film.
Rating: 
Summary: American Psycho - OVERKILL
Review: 'American Psycho' is about a man who thinks his 'mask of sanity is about to slip'. He has a tendency to go crazy and kill guests at his home. He uses chainsaws, axes, knives. Lots of unpleasent things to make sure his innocent victims stay DEAD. You don't see him killing anyone. Just the dead bodies, but that is not the point. With such talented actress's like Reese Witherspoon and Samantha Mathis, it is extreamely disappointing to find that they are totally wasted in this movie. They deserve a lot better. They are not even in the sex scenes, that aren't even very good. Hopefully with such small parts, people will forget that these two women are in this shocking movie and not hire it. This movie should have stayed as a book.
Rating:
Summary: Murderous Misanthrope
Review: (My following comments may give away essential plot points.) The movie puts us in the mind of a mad man, Patrick Bateman, who's telling us his story. Identity is a hard thing to come by in his Wall Street world, even for his male colleagues, with their unexplained misogynism. Work, living address, clothes, restaurants frequented and particularly the design of one's business card are vital means for providing this. Attempting to explain the point of everything to his fiancee, Bateman says in his careful pronunciation, "Because I want to fit in." Bateman's story is complicated by his increasing insanity. He tells us that he's very aware that he's not what he pretends to be. But he's unaware in his storytelling that much if not all of his overpowering, murderous mental state is not really acted out. We know this because of the completely outrageous and careless way his crimes are committed. And secondly his desperate point blank confessions lack supporting physical evidence or response from the listener. These confessions and Bateman's efforts to maintain composure produce a degree of pathos for a wretched and despicable character. There are dark humorous touches in the movie. One is Bateman's smooth, practiced critique of the profundity of the pop music that he plays during some of his crimes. Above all the movie is not a gore fest.
Rating:
Summary: Mr. Dahmer Goes to Wall Street...
Review: ....this world is so sterile that mebbe, just mebbe, one could be a mass murdering conspicuous consumer. See it for Bale's great performance, compare with "Fight Club", "The Talented Mr. Ripley" "Rope" and any Pee Wee Herman tape...why use a hammer gun when a ball peen would do nicely...?
Rating:
Summary: I WAS REALLY SURPRISED
Review: ...at how funny I found this movie. I do have the book, and I think it is too drawn out. It is definately crude and crass. I love the way it makes fun of the "I have this and you don't---Mine is better than yours" society. I have worked with this kind of a crowd-----who has the most expensive shoes, who can use verbage with big words. It is definately not one to watch with the kids around. If you have an open mind and a twisted sense of humor. You will like this movie.
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