BRET EASTON ELLIS'S
'AMERICAN PSYCHO'
(in red : Kate Schoppy, fellow
Temple
Column writer, founder of TUA's
film club and
freelance journalist for The
Ambler Gazette)
My take was that it was a serious and affecting piece of dualist literature. I think the constant indexing of clothing, food and lifestyle are so completely meant to be contrasted with his affection for torture and murder - and are so completely supposed to sound as unaffected as the torture and murder sequences - - that they come off as brilliant. I also like the fact that it's uttery repulsive in the way it makes it very, very clear that the murder is simply an extension of his high-living, that he has so much control over his own life, he feels the need to add more to it (control is like power, you thirst for it - you get it, you want more and more) - like an extensionon your house. And the beautiful thing is that it's a vicious cycle - he needs more power, but it gradually destroys him from the inside. It's really something to watch it happen to a first person narrator, in particular - one who recognizes it subliminally, but can't quite come right out and say to the audience : "I have a problem that will end up killing me".
And I loved the way it made me feel. Again, duality. I alternately (like you said) loved and hated myself while I was reading the book. I hated myself because I began to explore my own superiority complexes and I loved myself because, hey - let's be honest - the book has an effect on us and we feel somewhat, hmmm, we feel - - like we're in charge and self-assured and, again, like you said : self obsessed. I like being self-obsessed. At least I know plenty about my obsession.
"Can't wait to see the movie although the book is far from a classic...Christian Bale should make an interesting Pat Bateman, and Chloe Sevigny is in it. Also Jared Leto and Reese Witherspoon...it comes out April 14, and I'll be there opening night. If the film is half as violent as the book, the MPAA should have a field day."
Gear magazine had Bret Easton Ellis write a review of the film. It will be nothing like the book. The film will be straight black comedy, less violence, etc. He loved it though. That's consilation - ha!
Thursday, March 30, 2000.