By Josh Bate
“Hey, Paul!”
The lines uttered by Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman have become iconic in the years since the release of American Psycho, the genre blending title that has only increased in popularity as years have gone by.
Bale’s character is a commentary on modern men in the ultra-capitalistic world of finance, as Bateman displays worrying signs of narcissism and a complete lack of empathy for those around him. American Psycho serves as one of the best looks at modern western society in the 21st century, with Christian Bale giving one of the best performances in his career.
Oddly enough, American Psycho opened to mixed reviews from critics and audiences, yet its cult status continues to grow today, as does the iconic nature of the film. Looking back, an all star cast was assembled for the movie, as Jared Leto, Chloë Sevigny, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, and more all joined Bale.
One of the most discussed aspects of the film is the ending, which was as haunting as it was surprising. Bateman’s killing spree throughout was revealed to be nothing but his imagination, despite the fact that he was convinced he committed these crimes. Bale’s character is meant to represent the underbelly of society and the frightening amount of people who lack empathy, and the film’s ending highlights this brilliantly.