I like books that leave you thinking or even a little confused and american psycho does both. I was so disappointed in that book that i gave it to the library for their friends sale. American psycho, bret easton ellis american psycho is a novel, by bret easton ellis, published in 1991. American psycho by bret easton ellis first published. American psycho summary from litcharts the creators of. But ellis also had trouble with american psychos violence while writing it. Bret easton elliss controversial novel american psycho turns 20 this year. Patrick bateman is twentysix and he works on wall street, he is handsome, sophisticated, charming and intelligent. I still think american psycho should be in my top ten books of all time. Analysing american psycho book vs film bret easton ellis controversial postmodern gothic novel and director mary harrons film adaptation, the story of american psycho is set in the wall street boom of the reagan 80s, describing modern consumerism and human aimlessness through the narration of psychopath patrick bateman. Patrick batemans allwhite bedroom, with its giant vase. The american psycho quotes below are all either spoken by jean or refer to jean.
The film is a pitchblack comedy of manners about male narcissism official site archived here david ansen critic. It may seem like one of the cheaper ways to end a story, a cliche finale used so often it practically has a spot on the hollywood walk of fame. What are some similar books if i enjoyed american psycho. He wants desperately to fit in with the other yuppies, but also wants to be an intelligent freethinking individual. Apr 14, 2000 watching american psycho is like witnessing a bravura sleightofhand feat. A wealthy new york city investment banking executive, patrick bateman, hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his coworkers and friends as he. I just finished reading an online text of american psycho by bret easton ellis and, while i was happy with the book, the format i had did not have graphics, just text.
Jul 08, 2016 american psycho is a satirical novel written by bret easton ellis and published in 1991. Other novels that fall under what i would call the literature of depravity. The story is set in new york amongst the 1980s wall street boom. American psycho is a film about a man who is unsure about his identity. I think its a failure of mine in the final scene because i just got the emphasis wrong. Patrick bateman is a fictional character, protagonist and narrator of the novel american psycho by bret easton ellis, and its film adaptation. American psycho is a 2000 satirical psychological horror film cowritten and directed by mary harron, based on bret easton elliss 1991 novel of the same name. American psycho 2000 frequently asked questions imdb. The ugliest violence in american psycho usually chases the pettiest itch, like bateman getting the worst of an old weststyle businesscard quickdraw and taking it out on a homeless man, or his.
Sep 02, 2017 much like the book its based on, american psycho isnt really about patrick bateman. The value would nosedive if it was discovered that horrid. Is american psycho profound, artistic nihilism or stupid. It is an extremely controversial novel, given its depiction of increasingly brutal violence against women. Once you have finished you can not say for certain if patrick is an out of control serial killer or if he is still hiding in plain sight and simply imagining all the ways he would act on his violent impulses. Jan 17, 2019 american psycho was released nineteen years ago ten years after publication. It makes it look like it was all in his head, and as far as im concerned, its.
Watching american psycho is like witnessing a bravura sleightofhand feat. If you have yet to read bret easton ellis 1991 masterpiece, american psycho well, as the saying goes. Jul 02, 2010 american psycho begins with the words at the entrance to dantes hell, scrawled in blood red lettering on the side of the chemical bank near the corner of eleventh and first. American psycho designer gideon ponte on patrick batemans. Nov 18, 2018 american psycho paul allens apartment realtor scene hd 1080p. Carnes goes on to say that bateman was understandably dumped by evelyn and could barely even pick up a call girl, let alone mutilate one. The film, like a painful zit on ones lower lip, pops.
Bateman has also briefly appeared in other ellis novels and their film and theater adaptations. Bateman, who relays the action of the novel, as well as his innermost thoughts. To this day the slick minimalist look of patrick batemans apartment from american psycho continues to inspire with replicate furnishings still finding favour nearly two decades later. I killed bethany, my old girlfriend, with a nail gun, and some man uh some old faggot with a. American psycho is a satire that is both entertaining and frightening, opening readers eyes to the consequences of apathy in society. Because bateman is a rich, white, wellmannered, educated young man with a.
In hindsight, an american psycho looks a lot like us. Patrick bateman, american psycho seen today, a mere decade after its release, the 1999 film adaptation of bret easton ellis american psycho looks quaint for a provocation. The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan investment banker. The movie, american psycho, is taken from the book of the same name that is written by bret easton ellis. American psycho paul allens apartment realtor scene hd. Even in his quasiautobiographical novel, lunar park, published almost fifteen years later, the character bret easton ellis is haunted by guilt over patrick bateman, the massmurdering character he created. Like the bret easton ellis book that its based on, the ending of mary harrons american psycho is rather ambiguous, and has been a source of debate amongst fans for a long time. The reader is introduced to the novels narrator, patrick bateman, a 27yearold wall street investment banker.
The novel features some exceptionally graphic violence. Based on bret easton ellis novel of the same name, the mary harron directorial has, over the years, become a cult film. A controversial 1991 novel written by american author bret easton ellis. Everyone hated the book, especially those who never read it. Ive been known to be both a picky reader and a finicky film critic, and even i think the movie version of bret easton ellis novel, published in 1991, is faithful to the text its based on. And if you like american psycho, try tom wolfes bonfire of the vanities also a pretty bad movie, but the two books together kind of plumb the depths of the 80s. Along with nearly all of his readers, bret easton ellis had trouble with the violence in american psycho. American psycho, a novel by bret easton ellis, satirizes the apathy, narcissism, and emotional void of modern consumerist culture, through the metaphor of the psychopathic killer, patrick bateman, whom no one will believe is a killer, despite his repeated confessions. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of american psycho by bret easton ellis. Jul 21, 2012 the world of american psycho is not our world, it exists within the novel and although there are similarities between our 1980s and the 1980s of patrick bateman, they are not synonymous. A virtual look into patrick batemans american psycho. A virtual look into patrick batemans american psycho apartment. This study guide consists of approximately 41 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of american psycho.
The 2000 film american psycho tells the story of investmentbankerslashseria. The movie dissects the 80s culture of materialism, narcissism and greed quoted here. The character of jean in american psycho from litcharts the. Patrick batemans apartment from american psycho is one of the most iconic locations in recent film history his bonewhite business card writ large. Patrick bateman moves among the young and trendy in. In her american psycho, dire comedy mixes with grand guignol. In adapting bret easton elliss turgid, gory 1991 novel to the screen, the director mary harron has boiled a bloated. American psycho is a satirical novel written by bret easton ellis and published in 1991. Yet it is still regarded as a touchstone for onscreen decors. Just be forewarned that the book is written from the first person perspective. Much like the book its based on, american psycho isnt really about patrick bateman. Some girls in the apartment uptown uh, some homeless people maybe 5 or 10 um an nyu girl i met in central park.
Set in manhattan during the wall street boom of the late 1980s, american psycho follows the life of wealthy young investment banker patrick. American psycho begins with the words at the entrance to dantes hell, scrawled in blood red lettering on the side of the chemical bank near the corner of eleventh and first. American psycho is a novel that makes a statement about modern society. Patrick bateman and his friend, tim price, are on their way to dinner at evelyns, batemans girlfriend, house. American psycho is a novel by bret easton ellis, published in 1991. American psycho paul allens apartment realtor scene hd 1080p. Bateman realizes hell have to confront him about the crazed confessional voicemail he left during the night of the car chase, and he grabs a martini to help with his confidence. I did write american psycho in that apartment, he added.
Eventually his internal conflict becomes so troubling that he finds catharsis by murdering people. Mar 04, 2014 analysing american psycho book vs film bret easton ellis controversial postmodern gothic novel and director mary harrons film adaptation, the story of american psycho is set in the wall street boom of the reagan 80s, describing modern consumerism and human aimlessness through the narration of psychopath patrick bateman. Patrick batemans apartment from american psycho scene therapy. It is therefore, entirely possible that within this version of reality all of these things happen and for whatever reason they do not have comparable. American psycho literary brat packer bret easton ellis controversial 1991 tome arguably one of the mostloathed and leastread novels in recent memory undergoes a rather startling. American psycho 2000 christian bale as patrick bateman.
Apr 15, 2015 patrick batemans allwhite bedroom, with its giant vase. As film adaptations of books go, the movie american psycho released in 2000 is fairly spoton. Rather, the film aims to portray the selfindulgent and hedonistic wall street elite of 1980s new york in a. Across the room he spots his lawyer, harold carnes. Addressing who paul allen is difficult because the perspective of american psycho is told from the viewpoint of patrick bateman, so what we know about paul allen is what bateman tells us and batemans reliability as a narrator is questionable as b. In adapting bret easton elliss turgid, gory 1991 novel to the screen, the director mary harron has boiled a bloated stew of brand names and butchery into a lean and mean horror comedy classic. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
Apr 14, 2020 the ugliest violence in american psycho usually chases the pettiest itch, like bateman getting the worst of an old weststyle businesscard quickdraw and taking it out on a homeless man, or his. It stars christian bale, willem dafoe, jared leto, josh lucas, chloe sevigny, samantha mathis, cara seymour, justin theroux, guinevere turner and reese witherspoon. I keep hoping for one of his books to grab ahold of me. With christian bale, justin theroux, josh lucas, bill sage. American psycho by bret easton ellis books the guardian. Set in the boom and bust 1980s, the book centres around 26 year old wall street businessman patrick bateman and his dark psychotic journey of mental unstability as he tries to solve the conflict between his need to fit in and his battle against anonymity. Carnes tells him that this is entirely impossible, as he had lunch with paul owen twice in.
He is a wealthy, materialistic wall street investment banker who leads a double life as a serial killer. Thats right american psycho has one of those classic twist endings where most of the action of the movie and the book was a fantasy. American psycho 2000 christian bale as patrick bateman imdb. Its many shocks short of the likes of new cult canon entries like audition or irreversible, and more genteel than the torture porn of the saw and hostel. The art in american psycho was a particular focal point for ponte, who had worked in art galleries in new york during the time period of. American psycho designer gideon ponte on patrick bateman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. He is a wealthy, materialistic wall street investment banker who exhibits a double life as a serial killer. You probably thought patrick batemans apartment was one to skip, but a 3d virtual tour is a very different story. Patrick batemans apartment from american psycho is one of the most iconic locations in recent film history his bonewhite business card. The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan businessman. I was disappointed with imperial bedrooms and bought the first edition not waiting for the paperback. It makes it look like it was all in his head, and as far as im concerned, its not the complete interview can be found here.
The point is that bateman is an actual psychopath who lives in a society thats somehow even more crazy than he is. The landlord of the apartment cleaned up all of the bodies and gore that bateman left behind in order to protect the property value. Its been a very unstable week for bateman, and he finds himself at a party at a new club. Patrick batemans apartment from american psycho scene. I would hold off on the movie until youve read the book the movie isnt completely horrendous, but its focus is solely on the psycho part. Patrick attends a dinner party at his girlfriend evelyns apartment, along with his colleague tim price, his secret mistress courtney, and a bohemian couple named vanden and stash. Live in the loft where bret easton ellis wrote american. To this day the slick minimalist look of patrick batemans apartment from american psycho continues to inspire with replicate furnishings still finding favour. All i wanted was to be ambiguous in the way that the book was. In american psycho, bret easton ellis imaginatively explores the incomprehensible depths of madness and captures the insanity of violence in our time or any other. Released in 2000, american psycho is in parts hilarious, in parts surreal and in the remaining parts plays out like a horror flick. Apr 14, 2000 everyone hated the book, especially those who never read it. A wealthy new york city investment banking executive, patrick bateman, hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his coworkers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent, hedonistic fantasies.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Alison kelly of the observer notes that while some countries deem it so potentially disturbing that it can only be sold shrinkwrapped, critics rave about it and academics revel in its transgressive and postmodern. In american psycho, bret easton ellis explores the incomprehensible depths of madness and captures the insanity of violence in our time or another. Patrick bateman is a fictional character and the protagonist, as well as the narrator, of the novel american psycho by bret easton ellis, and its film adaptation.
I thought it was kinda odd, since my theory isnt very. American psycho, a novel by bret easton ellis, satirizes the apathy. American psycho was released nineteen years ago ten years after publication. Carnes tries to walk away, but bateman explodes, admitting that he chopped paul owen s head off. I killed bethany, my old girlfriend, with a nail gun, and some man uh some old faggot with a dog last week. To have the american psycho explained, one must know the plot first.