No Country for Old Men: A bad guy flips a coin to decide life and death in a 50/50 - with Tommy Lee Jones (who does the same in Batman Forever) & Josh Brolin (who does similar as Thanos) 🤷♂️
This film is about narcissism and the whole yuppie culture in the 80s. Notice how they all look super similar, with similar suits, haircuts, glasses. They even keep mistaking each other for different people. Hell, they see Patrick doing shady stuff all the time but no one gives a shit. Everyone's lost in their own world. It's great social commentary, basically.
Yes, and notice every time he confesses or threatens harm to someone there is something keeping the person from hearing/understanding him. The bartender: Too loud Laundromat Woman: Doesn't speak/understand english Paul Allen: Drunk Evelyn: Distraught Model: Misunderstood him Lawyer: Thinks he's a joke Etc
....and because in many ways our culture has never LEFT the 80s, definitely not the corporate world, it rings as true today as it did then. (Small correction: the novel came out in the early 90s). I was working for a NYC real estate scumbag recently (is there any other kind?) and he had the EXACT same values as this shallow dummy in the movie/book.
@@TheCentralScrutinizerAgain Oh please, give me a break, you know nothing about "twitter folk" and this movie has absolutely nothing to do with social media, it has to do with corporate scumbags. Your dopey comment doesn't even make sense: what you REALLY are babbling about is people YOUNGER than you, isn't that, right? You've turned into an old man, maybe it's time you retire from the internet. F**k Hue. lol. "Twitter folk". You must watch A LOT of TV. Your whole world is talk radio and garbage cable news, ain't that right, shallow boy?
Fun Fact: When Brett Easton Ellis was writing the book of "American Psycho", which the movie is based on, he originally wrote it to be serious. To get material for the book, he hung out with a small group of yuppies. All they did was take him to the most trendy restaurants, talked about who had the best haircut, the best suit, the hottest girlfriend and who had the best house in the Hamptons. Not once did Brett see them working in their respective offices. So, from this experience, he completely rewrote his book to be a dark comedy satire, with the added twist that the main character is a serial killer. Also, during the card scene, one of the actors admitted to being a bit scared of Christian Bale because he could supposedly "sweat on command".
Interestingly, Bret Easton Ellis was immersed in that upper-class, yuppie world so it wasn't much of a stretch to do that research. I used to see him on Twitter completely conveying that whole snooty and weird persona. His "Less Than Zero" character was probably most closely related to him.
@@Tr0nzoid He had an odd trajectory. He started off as an apathetic LA youth, became a liberal arts student, then became a yuppie in New York, then abandoned the New York yuppie scene and lifestyle, and overtime became some partly pretentious, partly insightful and thoughtful amalgamation of all of that. He comes from money, but he seems to be perpetually critical of all these upper crust walks of life that he continues to be totally enamored with.
The fact that both of you watched the same movie at the exact same time and interpreted it in two completely different ways, shows you just how brilliant it really is.
The business card scene is one of the best I've ever seen. There are almost no differences in the business cards whatsoever. That's what really sells it.
Saw a video analyzing the scene, and how each one has a different company when they all work at the same place, and how theirs no watermark on Paul’s card. It’s all held together by Bale’s amazing acting
One of the most quoted scenes among my circle of friends. When someone gives us their business cards one of us will inevitably say "Let's see Paul Allen's card" and we'd all be laughing while the guy giving the card will just be confused 🤪
Hopefully nobody beat me to the punch on this fun fact. In the scene where Dafoe’s character is talking to Bateman, it’s three scenes spliced together. They did one take where he knows Bateman killed Paul Allen, one where he suspects, and one where he doesn’t think that at all. They cut all three takes together so you’re not sure what he’s supposed to be thinking
@@awesomenessmoi358 nah, was it ever banned in the US? Certain towns, school districts, etc. can ban books if they’d like but I don’t think the US government federally bans books
Bateman is the definition of an unreliable narrator. The fact that you can look at the events of the film and not know which things did or did not occur is still my favorite thing about the movie
@@ScottyDoesntKnow69 Then he became Gorr the God Butcher with that subtle off white coloring the tasteful thickness of it. Even has an axe at one point in the film
Always cracks me up at the end of that phone call he's like "so...keep your eyes open." As if if someone ever sent you that message you'd need to be reminded to remember it and keep an eye out for that person 😅
Absolutely some of the greatest acting ever in that scene. Thought the same thing when I first saw the movie. Bale's commitment to his craft is almost peerless. This is the movie that opened up his genius. Hard to imagine DiCaprio, Depp, and some of the other actors who were considered for the part going to the places that Bale went to in this movie.
It's wa great, but why do people considering being manic/hysterical considereded great acting? I thought acting was showing a range of emotion and not just one note like hysterical? Take tom Hanks when in Forrest Gump when he asked if his son was normal or like him, great subtle emotional, not just hysterical yelling and crying. Like Jesse from breaking bad, all of his best acting moments are when he is hysterical crying or yelling. Then take Christopher Walken in catch me if you can when he talks with Leo about not turning himself in and then calls Leo on his lies like where he's going next. I'm probably the minority, but I just find it interesting.
“A moment of sheer terror as it [Paul Allen’s apartment] overlooks the park, and is obviously more expensive than mine” always makes me laugh. I love seeing people react to that
Christian Bale's monologues are so captivating and unsettling. And, not just the monologues, but just the way he describes food, magazines, and other things to the people around him. It's uncanny, like an advertisement devoid of soul. By the way, it wasn't the same building with the same guy, it was the building adjacent to the first building with a different guy. It's a recurring theme throughout the movie - the corporate conformity of the places and people make everything look so similar that people often confuse each other for different people, or places for other places. Samantha's interpretation is more in line with the book, whereas Schmitt's is more in line with how the filmmakers (one of whom, Guinevere Turner, played the redhead who was murdered in Paul Allen's apartment) interpreted the book.
I saw a recent interview with Christian Bale talking about his career. Upon doing research for this film, he hung out with day traders who loved the Patrick Bateman character in the Bret Easton Ellis book. Bale was not sure if they were aware that the book was a satire or not.
You two seem confused because perhaps you missed the theme which is such thorough self absorption that everyone is completely unaware of any of their surroundings. So much so he can drag a dead body out the front lobby in front of a security guard with no issue whatsoever, with the only notice being the brand of the overnight bag he's using.
"He doesn't even need to kill anyone to be a psycho. The movie could just end right there and I'd be like yeah, that was American Psycho". You only saw like 30 minutes of it and came up with a really good analysis of the film lol
I’m sure others have commented this but fun fact: Willem Dafoe filmed his little questioning scene as neutral, suspicious, and not suspicious and then they were all cut together so the audience couldn’t get a read on him
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I watch quite a few reation channels, the two of you consistently have the best breakdowns at the end of movies. This movie was no exception, you nailed it. I still hope your channel is growing and good luck breaking 100k subscribers.
I'm reading the novel this movie is based on and as an adaptation, the spirit is still very much there. Regardless if Patrick is a serial killer or not, with his privilege, he could and can get away with it. The fact that the film and book blurs the line makes it such a great satire.
I can respect how brilliant the book is but god it bored me. Half of every single page is him describing what someone is wearing, where it’s from, how much it cost. I get that’s the point of his character but it doesn’t make for an engaging read it all
@@dr.k8610 i read the book too, based on how much i liked the movie .... that is beyond overkill in the book. calling out every single item of clothing every character is wearing at every dinner party becomes unbearable lol.
The premise is that the world they are living in is so self-absorbed and narcissistic that no one knows or remembers any other person. Not their name or how they look. People are insignificant to each other. This allows Bateman to skate by while having murdered a bunch of people. They really lean into this premise for satire and comedy. Also, there is some intentional fuzziness regarding the degree of his killing spree. He very clearly and obviously has killed people, but they want the audience to question just how many he has killed, and exactly what specific scenarios are actually occurring. I believe it is to show the audience the insanity that Bateman is experiencing in his own mind.
Its been a while since i saw this movie but the conclusion i came to at the end was all of the killings took place in his head while sitting in his office doing nothing all day. His life was so shallow and empty and he fantasized about taking out his frustrations on others. Along with all the drawings his secretary found in his desk would seem to go along with this theory. Again i haven't seen the movie in a while and definitely deserves another watch. Great reaction guys!
fun fact, they turned this book/Movie in to a major London/Broadway musical...and it turned out to be BRILLIANT. The original book writer actually liked the Musical more than the movie.
There are so few films that capture what a psychopath is actually like. The mania, confusion, lack of empathy, escalating behavior, need to fit in and appear "normal". Christian Bale is next level in this. What I also love is how people are so self absorbed and caught up in their BS they refuse to see anything out of order. So good.
Yes! The Machinist was another trippy movie for slightly different reasons. To think Christian Bale lived on an apple and a can of tuna a day to look like that, and then he goes to the beefy Batman from Batman Begins is crazy to me.
I love this film and the novel is even more disjointed. Each chapter is self-contained and not overly connected to an overall narrative. The monologues he has about Phil Collins and Whitney Houston were chapters in the book.
That was a priceless reaction guys. Christian Bale gives one of his best performances ever. The movie is amazing, hilarious, gory and a total mind fuck.🤣
I've only ever seen this movie through my eyes, so to see what clearly was a very uncomfortable reaction was priceless. But despite the sex & the violence, Christian Bale's performance was epic. Thank you TBR & Sam for an awesome reaction.
I love watching people see how this movie progresses and if they start to understand what it's doing. It's such a uniquely funny film, to me. I can't pretend I completely understand it, but I think you can definitely understand it more when you think back on various things or rewatch it. And Christian Bale does so many subtle hilarious things in his performance. His mannerisms and face while eating lunch with Willem Dafoe's character is brilliant.
This film spent close to a decade in pre-production. Brad Pitt, Ed Norton, Ewan McGregor, and Leo Dicaprio were all frontrunners at one point for the role of Patrick Bateman before Lionsgate eventually caved and hired Bale.
Y'all are my favorite movie reaction people. I'm late to the party as I just found your channel a couple of months ago, but I watch it almost every day. My wife goes to dialysis every Mon/Wed/Fri and I wait in the parking lot 5 hrs for her. In that time, I watch your movie reactions. Please keep them coming. Y'all actually reminded me of movies I haven't seen in years. The reactions are priceless.
"What past? Lady run" This is now my favorite reaction you've done. This movie is bonkers but it's so good at the same time. They really had to fight for Christian Bale for the lead the studio absolutely DID NOT want him. There is a video on youtube where he talks about the whole process of being cast then the fight with the studio.
This is exactly what I needed! Thank you! You guys are always on point with your reactions and analysis, it's so refreshing to see someone understand the humor of this movie. Thank you TBR Schmitt
Fun review! What the filmmakers have also stated is that this movie is a vicious satire of the go-go '80s. Excesses in all aspects. And, all the male characters were essentially interchangeable.
The director referred to Christian Bale as "Robo-Actor" due to ability to seemingly make his body do whatever it needed on demand. For example, when filming the business card scene, he was able to make himself SWEAT at the exact same beat in every take.
i like to think we saw his imagination and hallucinations of all the things he would draw, after the chainsaw scene you see him drawing the chainsaw scene
I love how invested you both got about scoring reservations at Dorsia AND judging the business card contest. Ha! Ha! Things like that are why you are my favorite YT reactors.💕
I remember reading the book as a teenager. The description of Bateman's violent deeds made me sick to my stomach. The movie is like the Disney version of it. ^^
Same. I love horror, and I like BEE as a writer. A lot of the book is a super entertaining read, but the torture of people and animals in it is way too graphic and realistic for me to stomach.
They filmed Willem Defoes scenes as if he knew Patrick is guilty, as if he thinks he's innocent, and as if he doesn't know and then edited them all together. It was interesting watching you guys react to those scenes cause that technique really worked.
The director said basically most of the things happened for real. The reason he could get away with so many things is because the people he works with for example could not remember each others names and would often confuse someone for someone else because they were all so similar and self obsessed. The part at the end where he went back to the apartment and the bodies were gone. It's basically saying the people selling the apartment were more bothered about reselling it because of how expensive it is then reporting what had gone on.
I always assumed (from the book) that this is how banker wankers live in their mind. But are too scared to do in real life. So they live out their fantasies legally with other people's money.
I always took it as a complete satire and commentary of capitalism, so it didn’t even matter if it happened or not. The events aren’t what’s important, its’s the fact that no one cared.
i will never understand is how many viewers only think there is only one psycho, obviously there are multiple pyschos from the wall street guys to the bartender & model, and the few who were not probably did not exist like the detective (his name was kimball)
This movie is awesome! I know that everyone loves the “I have to return some videotapes” line, but I always got a kick out of “I have a lunch meeting with Cliff Huxtable in 20 minutes” (Cliff Huxtable was Bill Cosby’s character in The Cosby Show).
I caught that zinger the first time I watched it as I was a regular viewer of the Cosby Show. I've watched about 9 or 10 reaction videos of this film and not one catches that reference. Nice to know that someone else did. Great job.
Paul Allen is like a paragon of someone who fits into society effortlessly, everyone likes him, he's charming and smooth, successful--this is Bale's character's goal, so he imagined he was him and tried to become a version of him. He likely did not kill anyone but I suppose don't really know for sure.
This is the movie that made Bale a star. He was relatively unknown at the time, and the director really had to fight to keep him in the movie over a bigger name.
This movie is a masterpiece. Christian Bale was so crazy good here. Only once every few years there is a movie with that quality. And yes, it is confusing and lets you sit disturbed and not knowing what really happened. 😊
It all happened. A big part of the story is that people in that world, around Bateman are so self-obsessed that they only see and hear what they want to. They're supposed to be friends yet most of the time they can't tell each other apart. To the point where Patrick got a fake alibi because someone was mistaken for him at a party and his Lawyer thought he was joking because he had lunch with someone who his mistook for Paul Allen while in London.
Yeah basically it is left ambiguous on purpose as to whether he did the murders or not. It seems most likely that he did some of the kills, but was also losing his mind at the end and the murder spree was most likely in his head. Also everyone is so self absorbed to notice or care. Probably a big reason why he's a psycho, cause nothing matters
American Psycho is an alternate universe of DC Comics where Bruce Wayne's parents weren't killed and he grew up to be a useless playboy Vice President of his father's company but still has the psychosis of the trauma from the bats. Bruce Wayne changed his name to Patrick Bateman (Batman) to avoid being accused of nepotism working for his father's company.
The book is a very interesting read. It doesn’t have as much of a narrative through-line as the film. It’s more just a series of scenes narrated by Patrick Bateman. There are no murders or violence of any kind until almost exactly halfway through a 400 page novel. The first half is literally almost nothing but Patrick hanging out with his social circle and describing what everybody is wearing, eating, and drinking in nauseating detail but delivered in a flat, matter-of-fact way. What makes the book unsettling is that when the absolutely horrific murder scenes start happening they are narrated in the same boring way that he narrates everything else. There is no resolution to the book either; it just ends.
He shows up in other books, as his brother is one of the characters in RULES OF ATTRACTION. Though not violent (that I recall!) Sean Bateman is nearly as much of a sociopath . . .
This movie is basically presenting this world of corporate executives who all seem to just live the exact same carbon copy of a life (fiancee, mistress, trying to get into the trendy restaurants, same title, very similar cards, haircuts, etc.). All of them are almost psychotic over their desire to both "fit in", but also be viewed as the top of this group. They are utterly and so obsessed with themselves. And now you have Bateman who is a psychotic killer who figures out that people mistake him for other people. He starts assuming bits of their lives to cover his tracks and hide his crimes. But as he does he looses control over reality, everything is about to crumble down where they catch him as the insane killer he is....but no, noone notices. In this world of phychos Bateman does 'fit in'; so much so that he and everyone else can't even tell if he is the killer Patrick Bateman any more. He got away with his crimes, but he also lost himself and possibly what remained of his mind sanity in the process (but thats okay because everyone else is probably insane too).
One thing that may help especially with older films or period pieces that take place in the past is always keeping in mind films are art imitating life. Whatever's going on in culture, what people are talking about, scared of, angry about, or celebrating, is what shows up in films, music, books, and art from that period. Bret Easton Ellis wrote the novel in 1991 as a dark satire of the ludicrous, vulgar excesses of wealth and capitalism of the 1980s, especially on Wall St. Those men in finance led a soulless, vapid existence, bragging about business cards and where they had lunch or how many women they'd been with. This film is a direct reflection of and allegory for that lifestyle.
It's the ambiguity of not really knowing what is really going on that helps make the film brilliant. It's the very meaning of mental illness, to not really know what is the real truth.
There are so many hot takes on WTF the film is about but truly the fact is that Bateman is the American Dream personfied and curdled - having an identity crisis while having everything yet having nothing. Bale s/gotten an Oscar nod - such a brilliant and darkly funny turn. It is disturbing on so many levels but ultimately it's a pitch black comedy on social mores disguised in horror movie tropes. Genius.
The story is a comment on consumerism, when everything is the desire to be the best, be somebody, where humanity dissappears and Is replaced with things (80s was the perfect time for this, Yuppie time). You become so caught in the drive of ambition etc that you start to go Insane, you see that what's around you is not good but you have to have it. Patrick went insane, his reality warped because he felt nothing, he was empty, so his humanity was replaced with graphic violence. The ending is up for debate. The Musical leans more in to the fact that it never happened.
Spoilers: The scene where he kills Jared Leto's character, Paul Allen, was on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments. The song Patrick dances to, "Hip to Be Square" by Huey Lewis, was on an American Dad episode called "The Kidney Stays In The Picture."
20:02 - when Patrick grabbed her leg and tried to bite it that's when I knew he was imagining this. That was straight from A Nightmare On Elm Street 2 that came out in 1985, a year or two before this movie was set. Probably one of those videotapes he was returning. He was seen earlier working out to Texas Chainsaw Massacre and then we see a chainsaw in his possession?
Love your reaction. I’ve talked about this film with many people and we all have our own interpretations. Definitely intended to have no definitive ending. Awesome movie
Fun fact about Willam's detective character. They filmed all his scenes 3 times, each with different levels of knowledge that Patrick was guilty, then they edited them together to make it feel sorta confusing to the watcher if he does or doesn't know, this was to simulate Patrick's innate paranoia
Its amusing that Bale's two most well known roles are *Bateman* and *Batman* 🤔🤣 In fact Chris Nolan and writer David Goyer have mentioned that it was Bale's role as Bateman that made him their number one choice for Batman ! I would also point out he's in two separate movies about Pocahontas, I' m still hoping for a third one so that I can have a proper movie marathon 😁
I read the book. Once. More than enough for me and I'm not really that squeamish. It's infinitely worse and more depraved than the film, but also genius in it's commentary and prose. Its one of those books where you both want to, and don't want to, recommend it to people. Also, there are several ways of interpreting the film. Personally, I view it as part psychosis on the part of Bateman and like half the things are 'imagined' (feeding the ATM a kitten, etc). And the other half are either missed because people are so narcissistic (confusing people for each other; disregarding what's being said; etc), self-involved (which is why nobody in that socio-economic group ever hears or sees anything; the dry cleaners do notice the blood and his assistant notices what's in his journal) or ignored (like the lady who covers up all of the murders in that apartment because it's too valuable to keep off the market or to be devalued) because of greed. Ultimately, I think we're supposed to mirror Batemen's experience and end up not really knowing what was real and what wasn't.
I almost gave up but in one later chapter Patrick goes on about some truly over-the-top act (I forget what) which would absolutely make so much noise that, for certain, the neighbours would have lodged a complaint with the concierge. That was the moment I realized the book was meant to be read as a (very dark!) satire. By contrast, since it does not work on that level, BLOOD MERIDIAN is one story I just couldn't finish - despite have journeyed down THE ROAD twice.
@@vincelang3779 I watched the film before reading the book so I knew mostly what I was getting into. But the hooker jack o' lantern was just a bit too far for me. I finished the book but that part is the only thing I remember....unfortunately. I've seen The Road but want to read it. And now I want to read Blood Meridian, as well! lul
He was actually Patrick Bateman. Everyone calling him by different names was just a device that the storyteller used to show how self-absorbed everyone else was. I saw this when it first came out and I was disappointed because I didn't get it. I went in expecting a dark thriller and it took me a long time to realize that it's actually a comedy art film. Fun fact: it was difficult getting this movie made because the book was so controversial. The director, Mary Heron, wanted Bale to play the role of Bateman because he was the only one who read for the part who thought the book was (intentionally) hilarious. The story is not about a killer; it's about the excesses of the '80s and the dandification of men. Heron and Bale were fired and (fortunately) rehired for the project. While they were fired, Billy Crudup was cast to play Bateman.
After he shoots up the police cars, he actually runs into 2 different buildings--and NOT the same one twice. The first building he enters has a recessed black marble wall with 3 time zone clocks hanging above the security guard, which he immediately shoots. Also that building has a regular front door. The 2nd building he enters has a revolving door and the wall behind the counter is beige, not recessed, and there are no clocks, plus the actor is clearly different. I just wanted to clarify that as part of your analysis. Great review and interpretation. Awesome
One of the most brilliant satires. A commentary on 80's yuppie culture. It's not to be taken literally. It's actually more hilarious than it is disturbing.
In the novel, the pills Patrick takes before killing Paul Allen are valium. Throughout the story, he pops benzos like tic-tacs, taking Xanax every half hour near the end.
I'm a fan of both the novel and the film, love your take on it, patrick is what's called an "unreliable narrator" and it is kind up to you to figure what is real and what is not
Awesome reaction. Love seeing the two of you sink into the madness with Patrick. My interpretation has always been that you're seeing things through Patrick's eyes because of the scene with the ATM and that cat. But since he doesn't know what is real, we don't either. It's all intentionally ambiguous. You are not supposed to know what is real and what isn't, you're supposed to experience the world the way Patrick does. A crazy violent world where nothing makes sense, no one knows who anyone is, or what is really going on. The plot is him progressing further into madness. At the start he has that long monologue about wearing a mask. He is meticulous about maintaining appearances and fitting in. As the movie progresses the mask slips further and further. He becomes more violent and deranged. Then at the end he realises the mask has slipped completely....and it doesn't matter: "This confession has meant nothing". He's been wearing the mask to blend in but he doesn't even know what's real so what has he blending into? The mask was pointless, he can be who he really is under the mask without consequence.
Back in 91, when the book was published, I read it as an indictment on yuppie culture and money meaning more than anything else. For example, the apartment where he stores the bodies is worth many millions so the real estate agent just had the bodies disposed of and the place cleaned ready to resell it. The book opens with an extremely detailed critique of an album (a Genesis one, I think) and then about 60 pages of a description of his morning bathroom routine...then explodes into extreme violence. The film was easier to watch as the book descriptions of all the murders is very, very graphic.
All of the scenes with Willem Dafoe were filmed 3 different way....he knew what was going on, he didn't know, and he thought he knew....then they were all mixed together for the movie. Absolute brilliance. The whole thing of the 80s with everyone being so caught up in themselves that they don't notice what's going on in front of them(dragging the body out in the bag for example) makes this more like a social commentary than a horror film.
The Green Goblin questioning Batman about killing The Joker is hilarious 😂
😂😂😂
lol
I'm Batman
No Country for Old Men:
A bad guy flips a coin to decide life and death in a 50/50 - with Tommy Lee Jones (who does the same in Batman Forever) & Josh Brolin (who does similar as Thanos) 🤷♂️
@@notgivennotgiven7776 Batman..Patrick Batman.
This film is about narcissism and the whole yuppie culture in the 80s. Notice how they all look super similar, with similar suits, haircuts, glasses. They even keep mistaking each other for different people. Hell, they see Patrick doing shady stuff all the time but no one gives a shit. Everyone's lost in their own world. It's great social commentary, basically.
Also about how they're about rugged individualism but they're all competing to the the same guy.
Yes, and notice every time he confesses or threatens harm to someone there is something keeping the person from hearing/understanding him.
The bartender: Too loud
Laundromat Woman: Doesn't speak/understand english
Paul Allen: Drunk
Evelyn: Distraught
Model: Misunderstood him
Lawyer: Thinks he's a joke
Etc
....and because in many ways our culture has never LEFT the 80s, definitely not the corporate world, it rings as true today as it did then. (Small correction: the novel came out in the early 90s). I was working for a NYC real estate scumbag recently (is there any other kind?) and he had the EXACT same values as this shallow dummy in the movie/book.
for me it reminds me of twitter folk and how they are or will be very soon. a lifetime of noone telling them `no`.
@@TheCentralScrutinizerAgain Oh please, give me a break, you know nothing about "twitter folk" and this movie has absolutely nothing to do with social media, it has to do with corporate scumbags. Your dopey comment doesn't even make sense: what you REALLY are babbling about is people YOUNGER than you, isn't that, right? You've turned into an old man, maybe it's time you retire from the internet. F**k Hue. lol. "Twitter folk". You must watch A LOT of TV. Your whole world is talk radio and garbage cable news, ain't that right, shallow boy?
Samantha's reaction to the "don't just stare at it, eat it" line is freakin' priceless. Haha.
Fun Fact: When Brett Easton Ellis was writing the book of "American Psycho", which the movie is based on, he originally wrote it to be serious. To get material for the book, he hung out with a small group of yuppies. All they did was take him to the most trendy restaurants, talked about who had the best haircut, the best suit, the hottest girlfriend and who had the best house in the Hamptons. Not once did Brett see them working in their respective offices. So, from this experience, he completely rewrote his book to be a dark comedy satire, with the added twist that the main character is a serial killer.
Also, during the card scene, one of the actors admitted to being a bit scared of Christian Bale because he could supposedly "sweat on command".
Interestingly, Bret Easton Ellis was immersed in that upper-class, yuppie world so it wasn't much of a stretch to do that research. I used to see him on Twitter completely conveying that whole snooty and weird persona. His "Less Than Zero" character was probably most closely related to him.
@@Tr0nzoid
He had an odd trajectory. He started off as an apathetic LA youth, became a liberal arts student, then became a yuppie in New York, then abandoned the New York yuppie scene and lifestyle, and overtime became some partly pretentious, partly insightful and thoughtful amalgamation of all of that. He comes from money, but he seems to be perpetually critical of all these upper crust walks of life that he continues to be totally enamored with.
@@BareBandSubscription so you're saying he won't punch down 'cuz he knows he's had an easy life
@@mikemath9508
As far as I can tell, yeah. He only ever seems to go after scenes and lifestyles he’s been a part of or partaken in.
@@mikemath9508 Excellent observation!
The fact that both of you watched the same movie at the exact same time and interpreted it in two completely different ways, shows you just how brilliant it really is.
The business card scene is one of the best I've ever seen. There are almost no differences in the business cards whatsoever. That's what really sells it.
Saw a video analyzing the scene, and how each one has a different company when they all work at the same place, and how theirs no watermark on Paul’s card. It’s all held together by Bale’s amazing acting
I prefer Van Patton’s card too.
what? what kind of pyscho would not see how different all of them were
@@stpaley Hi Patrick how are you ?
One of the most quoted scenes among my circle of friends. When someone gives us their business cards one of us will inevitably say "Let's see Paul Allen's card" and we'd all be laughing while the guy giving the card will just be confused 🤪
Hopefully nobody beat me to the punch on this fun fact. In the scene where Dafoe’s character is talking to Bateman, it’s three scenes spliced together. They did one take where he knows Bateman killed Paul Allen, one where he suspects, and one where he doesn’t think that at all. They cut all three takes together so you’re not sure what he’s supposed to be thinking
I’m already anticipating like 30 people saying this in the comments.
Yeah, it's such a brilliant move for a film like this.
Is the original book still banned in U.S. ??
@@awesomenessmoi358
Nah
@@awesomenessmoi358 nah, was it ever banned in the US? Certain towns, school districts, etc. can ban books if they’d like but I don’t think the US government federally bans books
I think the biggest question this movie raises is did he or did he not return those video tapes? 🤔
Does Bateman strike you as the type to be pleased with late fees?? He returned them on time 😂😂
@@fatboy5926 touché
I'm more concerned with whether he rewound them or not
@@bubmurphy 🤣
@@fatboy5926 You mean Davis...
"Was this whole movie nothing?"
Excellent question. 😄
"I have to return some videotapes." is my new exit-phrase. 🙃
Works every time
It won't work with young people though. "What's a videotape?"
@@dard4642 Even better then. 😁
I have used it numerous times!! I love it!! 😂
Update that to discs.
The look on Samantha’s face for the the majority of this reaction is priceless. LOL
Bateman is the definition of an unreliable narrator. The fact that you can look at the events of the film and not know which things did or did not occur is still my favorite thing about the movie
"They don't have a good bathroom to do coke in" what an opening line to a character 🤣
Gotta love that little dance walk he does on his way to grab the axe he kills Paul with. 😜
lol I just love the bullshit he says before he kills or gets close to it.
if Paul is alive than the cop wasn't real
I can never hear Huey Lewis or Phil Collins quite the same way after seeing this. This movie is hysterical and Bale is amazing.😂
Me either. Lol
Bales character Bateman, just take the E out of his name and look at what we got😮 crazy lol
@@ScottyDoesntKnow69 Then he became Gorr the God Butcher with that subtle off white coloring the tasteful thickness of it. Even has an axe at one point in the film
did you see there was a Spoof od the Huey lewis scene with huey lewis and weird al its on youtube and so funny
*Listening to music while doing something one enjoys, like flying a F15 or chopping up people, is awesome.*
That lawyer call scene is one of the greatest pieces of acting I've ever seen.
Always cracks me up at the end of that phone call he's like "so...keep your eyes open." As if if someone ever sent you that message you'd need to be reminded to remember it and keep an eye out for that person 😅
It's also similar to the Rambo First Blood finale; which is also considered to be a poignant piece of acting.
@@alexlewis699 😂😂😂 Exactly
Absolutely some of the greatest acting ever in that scene. Thought the same thing when I first saw the movie. Bale's commitment to his craft is almost peerless. This is the movie that opened up his genius. Hard to imagine DiCaprio, Depp, and some of the other actors who were considered for the part going to the places that Bale went to in this movie.
It's wa great, but why do people considering being manic/hysterical considereded great acting? I thought acting was showing a range of emotion and not just one note like hysterical? Take tom Hanks when in Forrest Gump when he asked if his son was normal or like him, great subtle emotional, not just hysterical yelling and crying. Like Jesse from breaking bad, all of his best acting moments are when he is hysterical crying or yelling. Then take Christopher Walken in catch me if you can when he talks with Leo about not turning himself in and then calls Leo on his lies like where he's going next. I'm probably the minority, but I just find it interesting.
“A moment of sheer terror as it [Paul Allen’s apartment] overlooks the park, and is obviously more expensive than mine” always makes me laugh. I love seeing people react to that
Christian Bale's monologues are so captivating and unsettling. And, not just the monologues, but just the way he describes food, magazines, and other things to the people around him. It's uncanny, like an advertisement devoid of soul.
By the way, it wasn't the same building with the same guy, it was the building adjacent to the first building with a different guy. It's a recurring theme throughout the movie - the corporate conformity of the places and people make everything look so similar that people often confuse each other for different people, or places for other places.
Samantha's interpretation is more in line with the book, whereas Schmitt's is more in line with how the filmmakers (one of whom, Guinevere Turner, played the redhead who was murdered in Paul Allen's apartment) interpreted the book.
I saw a recent interview with Christian Bale talking about his career. Upon doing research for this film, he hung out with day traders who loved the Patrick Bateman character in the Bret Easton Ellis book. Bale was not sure if they were aware that the book was a satire or not.
You two seem confused because perhaps you missed the theme which is such thorough self absorption that everyone is completely unaware of any of their surroundings. So much so he can drag a dead body out the front lobby in front of a security guard with no issue whatsoever, with the only notice being the brand of the overnight bag he's using.
"He doesn't even need to kill anyone to be a psycho. The movie could just end right there and I'd be like yeah, that was American Psycho".
You only saw like 30 minutes of it and came up with a really good analysis of the film lol
Thats all one really needs. The rest is just adding on to it. Don't get me wrong, the poster of the movie is my fridge door, I love it with a passion.
I’m sure others have commented this but fun fact: Willem Dafoe filmed his little questioning scene as neutral, suspicious, and not suspicious and then they were all cut together so the audience couldn’t get a read on him
This movie was crazy. Christian Bale is something else. You guys should also see another Bale film called Equilibrium.
Great movie i was rewatching it a few weeks ago. It still holds up well .
Equilibrium was shite! 🤣
one of the only movies i've ever dropped, and i was in the perfect age group for it
Equilibrium is awesome
and The Machinist
I love how he went from playing Bateman to playing Batman.
Who are you talking about? Lol 😆
Psychoes both
The best satire ever! Terrifying & hilarious. Christian Bale & the director did a great job bringing the book to life.
the 80's were something else
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I watch quite a few reation channels, the two of you consistently have the best breakdowns at the end of movies. This movie was no exception, you nailed it. I still hope your channel is growing and good luck breaking 100k subscribers.
They didn't even understand it.
I'm reading the novel this movie is based on and as an adaptation, the spirit is still very much there. Regardless if Patrick is a serial killer or not, with his privilege, he could and can get away with it. The fact that the film and book blurs the line makes it such a great satire.
I can respect how brilliant the book is but god it bored me. Half of every single page is him describing what someone is wearing, where it’s from, how much it cost. I get that’s the point of his character but it doesn’t make for an engaging read it all
@@dr.k8610 i read the book too, based on how much i liked the movie .... that is beyond overkill in the book. calling out every single item of clothing every character is wearing at every dinner party becomes unbearable lol.
The premise is that the world they are living in is so self-absorbed and narcissistic that no one knows or remembers any other person. Not their name or how they look. People are insignificant to each other. This allows Bateman to skate by while having murdered a bunch of people. They really lean into this premise for satire and comedy.
Also, there is some intentional fuzziness regarding the degree of his killing spree. He very clearly and obviously has killed people, but they want the audience to question just how many he has killed, and exactly what specific scenarios are actually occurring. I believe it is to show the audience the insanity that Bateman is experiencing in his own mind.
Its been a while since i saw this movie but the conclusion i came to at the end was all of the killings took place in his head while sitting in his office doing nothing all day. His life was so shallow and empty and he fantasized about taking out his frustrations on others. Along with all the drawings his secretary found in his desk would seem to go along with this theory. Again i haven't seen the movie in a while and definitely deserves another watch. Great reaction guys!
thats def one read on it ---- he wishes he was "cool" and "famous" like ed gein, dahmer, gacy etc
I love that, at 15:00, Samantha's face just freezes as we see Bateman playing with the lock of that girl's hair.
I'm stoked that you watched this movie! Almost 100K, TBR!!! You and Samantha keep at it!
fun fact, they turned this book/Movie in to a major London/Broadway musical...and it turned out to be BRILLIANT. The original book writer actually liked the Musical more than the movie.
"it was a laugh riot"
The chick Bateman killed at Paul's place, is Guinevere Turner.
She co-wrote the screenplay with the Director Mary Harron.
There are so few films that capture what a psychopath is actually like. The mania, confusion, lack of empathy, escalating behavior, need to fit in and appear "normal". Christian Bale is next level in this. What I also love is how people are so self absorbed and caught up in their BS they refuse to see anything out of order. So good.
You should also watch Christian Bale in The Machinist. He gives a fantastic performance!
Seconded.
Yes! The Machinist was another trippy movie for slightly different reasons. To think Christian Bale lived on an apple and a can of tuna a day to look like that, and then he goes to the beefy Batman from Batman Begins is crazy to me.
I love this film and the novel is even more disjointed. Each chapter is self-contained and not overly connected to an overall narrative. The monologues he has about Phil Collins and Whitney Houston were chapters in the book.
That was a priceless reaction guys. Christian Bale gives one of his best performances ever. The movie is amazing, hilarious, gory and a total mind fuck.🤣
I was gonna watch this. But I have to return some video tapes
12:09 "...eat it." 🤣🤣🤣
the look on sam's face
I've only ever seen this movie through my eyes, so to see what clearly was a very uncomfortable reaction was priceless. But despite the sex & the violence, Christian Bale's performance was epic. Thank you TBR & Sam for an awesome reaction.
His phone call admission was the best display of Bale's acting prowess in my opinion.
Maybe I need A LOT of therapy, but the book is still one of the most hilarious things I've ever read.
and the most disgusting lol
The book is just wack af
I love watching people see how this movie progresses and if they start to understand what it's doing. It's such a uniquely funny film, to me. I can't pretend I completely understand it, but I think you can definitely understand it more when you think back on various things or rewatch it.
And Christian Bale does so many subtle hilarious things in his performance. His mannerisms and face while eating lunch with Willem Dafoe's character is brilliant.
This film spent close to a decade in pre-production. Brad Pitt, Ed Norton, Ewan McGregor, and Leo Dicaprio were all frontrunners at one point for the role of Patrick Bateman before Lionsgate eventually caved and hired Bale.
I love how when he brings "Christy" to Paul Allen's apartment she says "this is a lot nicer than your other apartment"
It's really not
Y'all are my favorite movie reaction people. I'm late to the party as I just found your channel a couple of months ago, but I watch it almost every day. My wife goes to dialysis every Mon/Wed/Fri and I wait in the parking lot 5 hrs for her. In that time, I watch your movie reactions. Please keep them coming. Y'all actually reminded me of movies I haven't seen in years. The reactions are priceless.
"What past? Lady run"
This is now my favorite reaction you've done. This movie is bonkers but it's so good at the same time.
They really had to fight for Christian Bale for the lead the studio absolutely DID NOT want him. There is a video on youtube where he talks about the whole process of being cast then the fight with the studio.
This is exactly what I needed! Thank you! You guys are always on point with your reactions and analysis, it's so refreshing to see someone understand the humor of this movie. Thank you TBR Schmitt
Fun review! What the filmmakers have also stated is that this movie is a vicious satire of the go-go '80s. Excesses in all aspects. And, all the male characters were essentially interchangeable.
The business card scene is hilarious 😂
The director referred to Christian Bale as "Robo-Actor" due to ability to seemingly make his body do whatever it needed on demand. For example, when filming the business card scene, he was able to make himself SWEAT at the exact same beat in every take.
i like to think we saw his imagination and hallucinations of all the things he would draw, after the chainsaw scene you see him drawing the chainsaw scene
I love how invested you both got about scoring reservations at Dorsia AND judging the business card contest. Ha! Ha! Things like that are why you are my favorite YT reactors.💕
I remember reading the book as a teenager. The description of Bateman's violent deeds made me sick to my stomach. The movie is like the Disney version of it. ^^
Perfect description of the movie as compared to the book. The killings in the book are a nightmare.
The only book where after a certain chapter, I had to set the book down for a few days
@@lawnjart16 I think I did too if I remember correctly (It's probably been twenty years since I read it). It's a rough read.
Same. I love horror, and I like BEE as a writer. A lot of the book is a super entertaining read, but the torture of people and animals in it is way too graphic and realistic for me to stomach.
@@lawnjart16 Was it about the rat? That's a disgusting one.
They filmed Willem Defoes scenes as if he knew Patrick is guilty, as if he thinks he's innocent, and as if he doesn't know and then edited them all together. It was interesting watching you guys react to those scenes cause that technique really worked.
The director said basically most of the things happened for real. The reason he could get away with so many things is because the people he works with for example could not remember each others names and would often confuse someone for someone else because they were all so similar and self obsessed. The part at the end where he went back to the apartment and the bodies were gone. It's basically saying the people selling the apartment were more bothered about reselling it because of how expensive it is then reporting what had gone on.
I always assumed (from the book) that this is how banker wankers live in their mind. But are too scared to do in real life. So they live out their fantasies legally with other people's money.
I've also read the director wishes she'd went a different direction with that last scene because people often get it way wrong.
I always took it as a complete satire and commentary of capitalism, so it didn’t even matter if it happened or not. The events aren’t what’s important, its’s the fact that no one cared.
What about the lawyer who said he had lunch with Paul Allen in London recently?
i will never understand is how many viewers only think there is only one psycho, obviously there are multiple pyschos from the wall street guys to the bartender & model, and the few who were not probably did not exist like the detective (his name was kimball)
I love that in their initial viewing, they're taking EVERYTHING at face value.
THE INSPIRATION for BATEMAN…
Bale saw TOM CRUISE on Letterman and said “he had this very intense friendliness and nothing behind his eyes”.
This movie is awesome! I know that everyone loves the “I have to return some videotapes” line, but I always got a kick out of “I have a lunch meeting with Cliff Huxtable in 20 minutes” (Cliff Huxtable was Bill Cosby’s character in The Cosby Show).
I caught that zinger the first time I watched it as I was a regular viewer of the Cosby Show. I've watched about 9 or 10 reaction videos of this film and not one catches that reference. Nice to know that someone else did. Great job.
Paul Allen is like a paragon of someone who fits into society effortlessly, everyone likes him, he's charming and smooth, successful--this is Bale's character's goal, so he imagined he was him and tried to become a version of him. He likely did not kill anyone but I suppose don't really know for sure.
This is the movie that made Bale a star. He was relatively unknown at the time, and the director really had to fight to keep him in the movie over a bigger name.
Paul Allen: Bateman you were the American Psycho the whole time??
Patrick Bateman: Always have been.
This movie is a masterpiece. Christian Bale was so crazy good here. Only once every few years there is a movie with that quality. And yes, it is confusing and lets you sit disturbed and not knowing what really happened. 😊
It all happened. A big part of the story is that people in that world, around Bateman are so self-obsessed that they only see and hear what they want to. They're supposed to be friends yet most of the time they can't tell each other apart. To the point where Patrick got a fake alibi because someone was mistaken for him at a party and his Lawyer thought he was joking because he had lunch with someone who his mistook for Paul Allen while in London.
Cristian Bale's performance is one of my fave performances by any actor ever, so good.
Yeah basically it is left ambiguous on purpose as to whether he did the murders or not. It seems most likely that he did some of the kills, but was also losing his mind at the end and the murder spree was most likely in his head. Also everyone is so self absorbed to notice or care. Probably a big reason why he's a psycho, cause nothing matters
Reese Witherspoon stars in another crazy movie, Freeway(1996). Also starring a psychotic Kiefer Sutherland.
That film is WILD
“I can do a thousand now” “damn” 🤣🤣🤣 I had the same reaction
American Psycho is an alternate universe of DC Comics where Bruce Wayne's parents weren't killed and he grew up to be a useless playboy Vice President of his father's company but still has the psychosis of the trauma from the bats. Bruce Wayne changed his name to Patrick Bateman (Batman) to avoid being accused of nepotism working for his father's company.
The book is a very interesting read. It doesn’t have as much of a narrative through-line as the film. It’s more just a series of scenes narrated by Patrick Bateman. There are no murders or violence of any kind until almost exactly halfway through a 400 page novel. The first half is literally almost nothing but Patrick hanging out with his social circle and describing what everybody is wearing, eating, and drinking in nauseating detail but delivered in a flat, matter-of-fact way. What makes the book unsettling is that when the absolutely horrific murder scenes start happening they are narrated in the same boring way that he narrates everything else. There is no resolution to the book either; it just ends.
I tried reading the book..it's like reading the thoughts of a psycho who keeps running through a list over an over..didn't finish lol
He shows up in other books, as his brother is one of the characters in RULES OF ATTRACTION. Though not violent (that I recall!) Sean Bateman is nearly as much of a sociopath . . .
I am writing this to help out Tbr Schmitt and Samantha and this video and this channel with the algorithm ✌️❤️😚☺️
This movie is basically presenting this world of corporate executives who all seem to just live the exact same carbon copy of a life (fiancee, mistress, trying to get into the trendy restaurants, same title, very similar cards, haircuts, etc.). All of them are almost psychotic over their desire to both "fit in", but also be viewed as the top of this group. They are utterly and so obsessed with themselves. And now you have Bateman who is a psychotic killer who figures out that people mistake him for other people. He starts assuming bits of their lives to cover his tracks and hide his crimes. But as he does he looses control over reality, everything is about to crumble down where they catch him as the insane killer he is....but no, noone notices. In this world of phychos Bateman does 'fit in'; so much so that he and everyone else can't even tell if he is the killer Patrick Bateman any more. He got away with his crimes, but he also lost himself and possibly what remained of his mind sanity in the process (but thats okay because everyone else is probably insane too).
One thing that may help especially with older films or period pieces that take place in the past is always keeping in mind films are art imitating life. Whatever's going on in culture, what people are talking about, scared of, angry about, or celebrating, is what shows up in films, music, books, and art from that period. Bret Easton Ellis wrote the novel in 1991 as a dark satire of the ludicrous, vulgar excesses of wealth and capitalism of the 1980s, especially on Wall St. Those men in finance led a soulless, vapid existence, bragging about business cards and where they had lunch or how many women they'd been with. This film is a direct reflection of and allegory for that lifestyle.
Let's see Paul Allen's full length reaction!
I really liked how you were like, “oh HE got into Dorsia?” Definitely how he was feeling at the moment too 😂
It's the ambiguity of not really knowing what is really going on that helps make the film brilliant. It's the very meaning of mental illness, to not really know what is the real truth.
There are so many hot takes on WTF the film is about but truly the fact is that Bateman is the American Dream personfied and curdled - having an identity crisis while having everything yet having nothing. Bale s/gotten an Oscar nod - such a brilliant and darkly funny turn. It is disturbing on so many levels but ultimately it's a pitch black comedy on social mores disguised in horror movie tropes. Genius.
Also, I like to believe it's all real, but I believe it's a mixture of reality and fantasy.
If you watch the Rules of Attraction you will meet Patrick Batemen's younger brother, Sean Batemen played by none other than James Van Der Beek.
Cheers guys gotta go return some videotapes😁😁
The story is a comment on consumerism, when everything is the desire to be the best, be somebody, where humanity dissappears and Is replaced with things (80s was the perfect time for this, Yuppie time). You become so caught in the drive of ambition etc that you start to go Insane, you see that what's around you is not good but you have to have it. Patrick went insane, his reality warped because he felt nothing, he was empty, so his humanity was replaced with graphic violence. The ending is up for debate. The Musical leans more in to the fact that it never happened.
Honestly one of my favourite movies
One of the best channels of all of youtube; full stop, love these vids
Spoilers: The scene where he kills Jared Leto's character, Paul Allen, was on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments. The song Patrick dances to, "Hip to Be Square" by Huey Lewis, was on an American Dad episode called "The Kidney Stays In The Picture."
20:02 - when Patrick grabbed her leg and tried to bite it that's when I knew he was imagining this. That was straight from A Nightmare On Elm Street 2 that came out in 1985, a year or two before this movie was set. Probably one of those videotapes he was returning. He was seen earlier working out to Texas Chainsaw Massacre and then we see a chainsaw in his possession?
Christian Bale is such a fine actor. Please watch The Machinist, another great psychological thriller. A much less known movie, but so rewarding.
Second THE MACHINIST recommendation.
Love your reaction. I’ve talked about this film with many people and we all have our own interpretations. Definitely intended to have no definitive ending. Awesome movie
Fun fact: Bale said he based his portrayal on Tom Cruise. Said Cruise had this "very intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes"
"I need to return some videotapes." :D And yes, it was all in his head. It's a twist ending, like Fight Club.
Fun fact about Willam's detective character. They filmed all his scenes 3 times, each with different levels of knowledge that Patrick was guilty, then they edited them together to make it feel sorta confusing to the watcher if he does or doesn't know, this was to simulate Patrick's innate paranoia
Its amusing that Bale's two most well known roles are *Bateman* and *Batman* 🤔🤣 In fact Chris Nolan and writer David Goyer have mentioned that it was Bale's role as Bateman that made him their number one choice for Batman ! I would also point out he's in two separate movies about Pocahontas, I' m still hoping for a third one so that I can have a proper movie marathon 😁
I read the book. Once. More than enough for me and I'm not really that squeamish. It's infinitely worse and more depraved than the film, but also genius in it's commentary and prose. Its one of those books where you both want to, and don't want to, recommend it to people.
Also, there are several ways of interpreting the film. Personally, I view it as part psychosis on the part of Bateman and like half the things are 'imagined' (feeding the ATM a kitten, etc). And the other half are either missed because people are so narcissistic (confusing people for each other; disregarding what's being said; etc), self-involved (which is why nobody in that socio-economic group ever hears or sees anything; the dry cleaners do notice the blood and his assistant notices what's in his journal) or ignored (like the lady who covers up all of the murders in that apartment because it's too valuable to keep off the market or to be devalued) because of greed.
Ultimately, I think we're supposed to mirror Batemen's experience and end up not really knowing what was real and what wasn't.
I almost gave up but in one later chapter Patrick goes on about some truly over-the-top act (I forget what) which would absolutely make so much noise that, for certain, the neighbours would have lodged a complaint with the concierge. That was the moment I realized the book was meant to be read as a (very dark!) satire. By contrast, since it does not work on that level, BLOOD MERIDIAN is one story I just couldn't finish - despite have journeyed down THE ROAD twice.
@@vincelang3779 I watched the film before reading the book so I knew mostly what I was getting into. But the hooker jack o' lantern was just a bit too far for me. I finished the book but that part is the only thing I remember....unfortunately. I've seen The Road but want to read it. And now I want to read Blood Meridian, as well! lul
He was actually Patrick Bateman. Everyone calling him by different names was just a device that the storyteller used to show how self-absorbed everyone else was.
I saw this when it first came out and I was disappointed because I didn't get it. I went in expecting a dark thriller and it took me a long time to realize that it's actually a comedy art film.
Fun fact: it was difficult getting this movie made because the book was so controversial. The director, Mary Heron, wanted Bale to play the role of Bateman because he was the only one who read for the part who thought the book was (intentionally) hilarious. The story is not about a killer; it's about the excesses of the '80s and the dandification of men. Heron and Bale were fired and (fortunately) rehired for the project. While they were fired, Billy Crudup was cast to play Bateman.
Excellent choice. Great movie.
After he shoots up the police cars, he actually runs into 2 different buildings--and NOT the same one twice. The first building he enters has a recessed black marble wall with 3 time zone clocks hanging above the security guard, which he immediately shoots. Also that building has a regular front door. The 2nd building he enters has a revolving door and the wall behind the counter is beige, not recessed, and there are no clocks, plus the actor is clearly different. I just wanted to clarify that as part of your analysis. Great review and interpretation. Awesome
One of the most brilliant satires. A commentary on 80's yuppie culture. It's not to be taken literally. It's actually more hilarious than it is disturbing.
I don't think that you decide how people take the movie.
In the novel, the pills Patrick takes before killing Paul Allen are valium. Throughout the story, he pops benzos like tic-tacs, taking Xanax every half hour near the end.
I'm a fan of both the novel and the film, love your take on it, patrick is what's called an "unreliable narrator" and it is kind up to you to figure what is real and what is not
Awesome reaction. Love seeing the two of you sink into the madness with Patrick.
My interpretation has always been that you're seeing things through Patrick's eyes because of the scene with the ATM and that cat. But since he doesn't know what is real, we don't either. It's all intentionally ambiguous. You are not supposed to know what is real and what isn't, you're supposed to experience the world the way Patrick does. A crazy violent world where nothing makes sense, no one knows who anyone is, or what is really going on.
The plot is him progressing further into madness. At the start he has that long monologue about wearing a mask. He is meticulous about maintaining appearances and fitting in. As the movie progresses the mask slips further and further. He becomes more violent and deranged. Then at the end he realises the mask has slipped completely....and it doesn't matter: "This confession has meant nothing". He's been wearing the mask to blend in but he doesn't even know what's real so what has he blending into? The mask was pointless, he can be who he really is under the mask without consequence.
That's a great reasonable explanation. Makes sense to me. 🙂
Christian Bale is so fantastic in this movie.
Back in 91, when the book was published, I read it as an indictment on yuppie culture and money meaning more than anything else. For example, the apartment where he stores the bodies is worth many millions so the real estate agent just had the bodies disposed of and the place cleaned ready to resell it. The book opens with an extremely detailed critique of an album (a Genesis one, I think) and then about 60 pages of a description of his morning bathroom routine...then explodes into extreme violence. The film was easier to watch as the book descriptions of all the murders is very, very graphic.
All of the scenes with Willem Dafoe were filmed 3 different way....he knew what was going on, he didn't know, and he thought he knew....then they were all mixed together for the movie. Absolute brilliance. The whole thing of the 80s with everyone being so caught up in themselves that they don't notice what's going on in front of them(dragging the body out in the bag for example) makes this more like a social commentary than a horror film.