American Psycho (2000)
DIRECTOR: Mary Harron
CAST: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas.
GENRE: Crime, Drama
RELEASE DATES:
USA - 14th April 2000
UK - 21st April 2000
BUDGET:
(est) $8,000,000
OPENING WEEKEND TAKINGS:
$5,000,000
GROSS PROFIT:
(ww) $34,200,000
PRODUCTION COMPANIES:
Am Psycho Productions,
Edward R. Pressman Film,
Lions Gate Films.
- Business Card scene: competitiveness, anxious that his card isn't the best, the sound played signifies guns being drawn out of their holsters - the moment in a Western where opponents reveal their gun/prove themselves - a showdown.
- test of endurance/initiation: replaced with capitalist approach.
- A struggle with identity - the cards can barely be differentiated by the audience & Paul Allen mistakes Patrick's name - a real issue for him in that he is just one of a collective of men/no individuality. He seems to spend so much time perfecting his 'unique' image that when he is mistaken for another man, he feels a sense of lost identity.
- Apartment/routine scene: strand of metrosexuality
- Connell might argue he is a complicit male in the sense that he shows new male values in taking of his appearance & constructing an aspirational lifestyle. This signals metrosexuality and, the way in which he looks & is shot suggest that this is acceptable and a positive thing - for he has achieved an ideal body & show home style apartment.
- he peels off face mask - reveals his insecurities possibly stemming from the work place.
- his obsessive daily routine shows that he is constantly trying to create status.
- These two scenes in particular explore the measures of success in his work environment -
- reservations at top restaurant Dorcia
- having the best business card
- to be memorable, successful, well-maintained.
- BUT, he actually looks just like the rest of the employees at his work place, who are clones of one another and this signifies an issue with them being like automatons.
- What it means for Patrick Bateman to be a man goes unrecognised.
Excellent post.
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masculinity.