Comments on: Reel Reviews – American Psycho

By: film dude

film dude — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:56:10 +0000

i love the enigmatic nature of this flick, gotta watch it a few times to catch everything

By: Valerie

Valerie — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:42:24 +0000

After watching American Psycho for the second time, first one 4 years ago, I believe most of Bateman’s murders take place in his mind only.

The film begins with him meticulously taking a shower and applying multiple face and body creams, masks, lotions and skin exfoliates. Bateman admits that he does not exist and is only a façade. His murderous rampages are too numerous and bloody to be real since there is no evidence of his crimes once committed.

His madness excels and he doesn’t know if he is really Bateman or another person.

By: Ryan Faulkner

Ryan Faulkner — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 23:35:25 +0000

I think you nailed this movie. Not only did you make me revisit it–and I’m glad you did–but you also gave me a greater appreciation of the movie’s themes, and its subtleties. I must say that I believe anyone who thinks this is a bad movie doesn’t quite understand what is happening in the subtext here.

Your quote from it is well-chosen in your synopsis above, too. A personal favorite I’ve been quoting all week?
“I think their undisputed masterpiece is “Hip to be Square”, a song so catchy, most people probably don’t listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it’s not just about the pleasures of conformity, and the importance of trends, it’s also a personal statement about the band itself.”

I particularly like that he so seamlessly ends that statement and goes right into smacking an axe into Paul Allen’s face. Well done.

By: nolf

nolf — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 13:18:18 +0000

This film was a complete mess. If you had never read the book, you came out of the theater with no idea what the point of the film was. You had the fealing that at one point there was something great and then the directer just completly botched it. It is a real shame to because it could have been a great film . Maby in ten years they will remake it and do it right but I wouldn’t hold my breath. A real shame.

By: nolf

nolf — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 13:10:10 +0000

I can’t believe your doing a real review of this film it was a disaster. American pysco is the perfect example of a book which has been baddly attapted into a movie unlike fight club which was a perfect ataptation of the book.

Shame on You

By: mav

mav — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 12:37:44 +0000

You forgot to mention that Christian Bale was also in the 1980′s Spielberg film “The Empire of the Sun”.
I have always been listening to your podcast and consider it to be among my top 5 best podcasts…as a matter of fact, it was your recomendation that convinced me to get my own copy of “Raging Bull”. It was the first time I saw it, and I’m a big fan of De Niro’s work…after watching the film, then I realized what I have been missing.
In the future, I hope that you get to review the movies of Director Phillip Noyce (“Dead Calm” in particular) and the 1991 Scorcese version of Cape Fear.
Thank you very much and more power to your show!

By: moze

moze — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 03:39:50 +0000

i got some info on that diet of his can’O tuna and apple. ….thats it. … beat that southbeach

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 03:40:24 +0000

The Machinist was good. However, you are really struck by the physical condition he put himself in. I remember reading that he lost 15-20 lbs more then his doctor had said was safe.

By: moze

moze — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 21:29:24 +0000

What facinating is that Bale’s celebrity has brought this film back into the new release shelves. The Guy is on fire right now. Whats the verdict on the machinist?

By: drucifer

drucifer — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 18:54:54 +0000

This is actually a film that I wrote a paper on in my first year of university. It was a comparison piece between the film and book. I agree that the film is the superior, due at least in part to the trimming of the notorious ‘excess’. As Michael said in his review, as well, a female director also probably contributed to this. Plus, I love Christian Bale; definately the definitive Batman.

By: mandrake

mandrake — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:28:31 +0000

I found the book to be tedious, instead of shocking. But within the context of the movie….I got it. Another great movie, given the proper perspective….Christian Bale has made amazing choices and he’s almost too committed. I first saw him in “Empire of the Sun”…kinda overlooked, possibly deservedly. Anyway, another great review, dude! Sometimes the movie makes you understand the book. Sometimes the review makes you understand the movie….good times.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 17:14:17 +0000

Hey Michael,

Great podcast you have here. I’ve been listening since the “Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia” review (which was a great movie btw). Now American Psycho was one of those mouthful movies, I felt way over my head with it. But I believe that’s what the director strived for. I left with the message of the cliche, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. Which is a valid statement to this movie, I will always wonder was he just dreaming this? American Psycho reminded me of one of my favorite movies which is Fight Club. The two movies have the same kind of ideas, but Fight Club actually solves the mystery. I don’t like the left hanging movies like the ending in American Psycho but it was an ok movie after all, thanks for the review or I would never of saw it .

-mspinelli

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 14:35:36 +0000

JR,

I hope you like it the second time around. Remember, this is not a serial killer movie in the vein of “Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer.” This film, due to its literary background is also using it as a bit of a metaphor. This is one, that you can sit and have a good cup of coffee talking with your friends trying to figure out.

MIchael

By: JR

JR — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 11:59:35 +0000

Hey there Mike, amazing timing. I just purchased American Psycho on DVD a couple of days ago. When I first saw this movie several years ago, I hated it. Being a bit of a ‘serial killer’ buff, I felt that the movie just ‘did not get it’. In reality, I think it was me who didn’t get it. So with recent interest in Christian Bale rekindled (how good was he as Batman?) and another amazing performance in ‘Equilibrium’ and ‘The Machinist’ – I decided to give ‘American Psycho’ one more chance. I haven’t had a chance to re-watch it (or listen to your podcast yet) but I will tackle both duties when time permits in the next couple of days. I am sure your Podcast is gonna be a great companion. Cheers bro! JR!