American Psycho (2000)

Director:

Mary Harron

Writers (WGA):

Bret Easton Ellis (novel)
Mary Harron (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

No Introduction Necessary.

Plot:

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.

Plot Keywords:

Fear | Violence | Materialism | Restroom | Urination

Awards:

4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Christian Bale	...	Patrick Bateman
Justin Theroux	...	Timothy Bryce
Josh Lucas	...	Craig McDermott
Bill Sage	...	David Van Patten
Chloë Sevigny	...	Jean
Reese Witherspoon	...	Evelyn Williams
Samantha Mathis	...	Courtney Rawlinson
Matt Ross	...	Luis Carruthers
Jared Leto	...	Paul Allen
Willem Dafoe	...	Det. Donald Kimball
Cara Seymour	...	Christie
Guinevere Turner	...	Elizabeth
Stephen Bogaert	...	Harold Carnes
Monika Meier	...	Daisy
Reg E. Cathey	...	Al, the Derelict

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexuality, drug use and language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English | Spanish | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Brazil:18 | USA:NC-17 (original cut) | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R (Certificate #37205) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | USA:Unrated (uncut DVD version)

Filming Locations:

Boston Club - 4 Front Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Am Psycho Productions

Trivia:

All of the business cards read "Vice President".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Patrick Bateman is packing a suitcase in Paul Allen's apartment, the light is switched off in the bathroom behind him. But as he stands up and heads for the door the light is now switched on.

Quotes:

Evelyn Williams: What about the past?
Patrick Bateman: We never really shared one.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bottoms Up (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

True Faith

Two Chainsaws Up

Without a doubt the most underrated movie of the past decade, "American Psycho" is a piece of American cinema that shouldn't be missed by anyone, regardless if they do not like the violence (which does have its reasons).

Christian Bale gives a flawless performance as the troubled, deep down wannabe Yuppie who has psychotic, violent impulses. This is true acting here, folks. Not phoned in Tom Crooze acting. Some people object to Patrick Bateman narrating the movie [always a weak sign in a movie] and not letting us figure his motives out on our own, but if you watch closely, Bale shows us Bateman's vulnerablity through every minute of every day of his life. The movie is at times hysterical, as his character uses dominant Alpha Monkey behavior around the opposite sex. But again, it's all for good reason.

If not for Bale's performance, see it for the knife twisting satire of the '80's -- from the clothes, to the hairdos, to the music [I'll never be able to hear Phil Collins in the same way again!] The production value is rich in '80's nostalgia from the "Black and White" set designs to the enormous cellphones [how could we forget those?].

This is a movie that major studios are too afraid to touch. This is film making. Remember film making? When films took you on a ride in someone's life and you would walk away with a piece of their mind? American Psycho doesn't have any real morals or answers, but it shows the deep psychological insecurities some men suffer everyday. Oh yeah, and it was directed by a woman, so all you feminists shut up!