Vintage

Sometimes, after (and even during) a long and frustrating day of on the job I feel like I could just snap. I think about people I interacted with throughout the day and (one hundred percent jokingly) say “man, I coulda killed that jagoff. Fortunately, unlike Christian Bale’s character, Patrick Bateman, in the classic, or at least cult classic, film American Psycho, I never really go too crazy opting to rather relax by, I don’t know, taking in a movie or something. Before I know it, I end up feeling much better, and would you look at that, no one gets hurt or chased by a naked guy with a chainsaw. If only I could explain this technique to Mr. Bateman a lot of trouble could have been avoided. The again, if I did that we would all be robbed of a kick ass “King” of a movie.

Sounds pretty goofy, right? Well, believe it or not, despite all of the outlandish behavior that takes place in American Psycho there is still some semblance of a plot. The main plot-related action of the film is centered on the mysterious disappearance of Batemans colleague Paul Allen who is played by Jared Leto. Of course Bateman has killed Allen but no one seems to know but him. Even Detective Donald Kimball is unable to find any serious evidence against Bateman and when our murderous protagonist breaks down and confesses to the murder of Allen as well as about forty other people his lawyer laughs in disbelief. In the end Bateman tells us that his “punishment continues to elude him” and that “his confession has meant nothing.”

So that basically sums it up, crazy guy kills people and pretty much gets away with it. I know, I know there are a lot of better movies with far more intricate plot lines half the fun of this movie is the sheer ridiculousness of the main character seen best through some of his, what I consider, unforgettable quotes. Whether he’s fulfilling sexual fantasies with unaware partners telling one of two females present “don’t just stare at it, eat it” or subtly hinting at his psychopathic behavior by slipping in quick lines like “I like to dissect girls. Did you know I'm utterly insane?” Bateman’s behavior alone is worth the price of admission. Of course, and this means you impressionable young children out there in Internet-land, I would advise not aping our lovable lead characters behavior, but next time you’ve had a bad day at work and can’t seem to keep it at the office and not at home just think of American Psycho and say “at least I’m not that crazy.” You’ll feel better, trust me.