The protagonist ofAmerican Psycho, Jason Bateman, is not just an anti-hero, but a downright monster who loves Whitney Houston songs as much as his murder axe.It was Johnny Deppwho first saw potentialin realizing the film of the same name. In the meantimeLeonardo DiCapriowas in discussion. But in the end itbecame Christian Bale. Heplayed his role ice-cold and mercilessly well
In the meantime, American Psycho enjoys cult status. You can enjoy the film from 2000 in the best picture quality in the 4K version
In addition to the4K version*, American Psycho is also available onBlu-ray*,DVD*. Amazon Prime also offers it onStream*. In theextensive bonus materialconsisting of numerous features, audio commentaries and deleted scenesyou can find out everything about the elaborate productionof the film.
The American Psycho director refused to work with Leonardo DiCaprio
WhenBret Easton Ellispublished his novel American Psycho in 1991, there was a huge outcry. It was labeled ascontemptuous of women and scandalous Feminists were vocal in their displeasure, but two women of all people made the film, which was to become one of the best of the millennium.
Mary Harron(director and screenwriter) andGuinevere Turner(screenwriter) recognized Ellis’ intention for the novel: it was a satire on the capitalist business world of Wall Street men and theirskewed image of masculinity, with which Ellis, as a gay man, could never identify (viaMovieMaker ). He expresses his criticism with Jason Bateman, a man who wears the smartest suits during the day andchases women through hotel corridors with chainsaws in his spare time. Harron was thrilled and only wanted one man for the lead role: Christian Bale
(American Psycho is an FSK 18 satire.)
Bale, however, had not yet landed a big hit, unlikeLeonardo DiCaprio, who had just become a worldwide heartthrob withTitanic. Lionsgate wanted him at any price. In this case for a whopping 20 million dollars, an enormous sum, especially when you consider that the production budget was only 7 million. Harron was willing to sacrifice her career for her integrityand left the director’s chair, asThe Guardianreports. Although she appreciated DiCaprio’s acting talent, she did not see him in the role.
American Psycho star Christian Bale was not afraid of his potential career end
Mary Harron was unceremoniouslyreplaced byOliver Stone(Natural Born Killers),but talks with DiCaprio fell through and the two failed to reach a common denominator. The famous women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem also advised the young actor against the role. Girls all over the world looked up to him, how could he play a brutal murderer of women afterJack Dawson?
DiCaprio finally signed on forThe Beach, Stone was replaced by Harron again and Bale got the role he had always believed in.For nine months he had turned down every request because he was sure that he and Harron would make the movie. He wasn’t afraid of damage to his image or a career break. On the contrary:
I think I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t a career suicide. I was kind of hoping that maybe it would have been and I would have had to find something else to do. (MovieMaker)
Christian Bale rose to A-list celebrity status in Hollywood and American Psycho became a cult movie. The unique mixture of satire and FSK-18 horror is still worth seeing twenty-three years later. The movie doesn’t get any older, it’s still shocking and entertaining, so bizarrethat you have to laugh even though you want to look away.
