I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t think Bateman is capable of committing those crimes - far from it. Almost everyone in the film is a psychopath in their way (the sex workers are notable exceptions).
Nobody wants to deal with the consequences because it would upset the gravy train they’re on. The lawyer doesn’t want to hear a confession, the real estate agent doesn’t want to acknowledge that crimes took place there etc. The world is built on ignoring things that distract from money. Everyone will lie to keep things rolling.
Eta: that’s the joke in the book and movie title - Bateman is the psycho because he feels some remorse. Everyone just wants to carry on with their lives.
Possibly! A lot is left to interpretation in the film. I agree with your take though. More or less. I feel there’s enough presented after the initial twist (was he just imagining it all?!) to suggest an additional turn. That being the horror of a society built on such incredible self-absorbtion (and cocaine) is the real bogeyman.
The lack of comprehension from some reminds me of a certain type of Fight Club fan on whom the film is wasted entirely.
My framing in the previous comment is meant to highlight how Bateman’s story seems to resonate with the disaffected and media illiterate as I understand them. It seems much of the subtext intended to catch the viewer’s attention and request a critical eye fails to register with that crowd. My aim was answering the implied question “How could take seriously Bateman as peak masculinity?” of the comment I initially responded to.
I could have made that more clear in the perspective I used to convey the point. Note taken. 🙂
The film is so much clearer than the book 😄 Even Ellis said that Bateman is such an unreliable narrator that it’s not clear that any of the events happened at all. But I think you are 100% correct in that lead characters will always have a fandom that identifies with them no matter how repulsive the character is.
Up thread I made a joke about Marty Supreme. There is a character who is an unrepentant piece of shit who manipulates, steals from, and headlights every other character in the movie. I already hear people saying it’s inspirational because he followed his heart. No matter that he ruined the lives of every person around him.
I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t think Bateman is capable of committing those crimes - far from it. Almost everyone in the film is a psychopath in their way (the sex workers are notable exceptions).
Nobody wants to deal with the consequences because it would upset the gravy train they’re on. The lawyer doesn’t want to hear a confession, the real estate agent doesn’t want to acknowledge that crimes took place there etc. The world is built on ignoring things that distract from money. Everyone will lie to keep things rolling.
Eta: that’s the joke in the book and movie title - Bateman is the psycho because he feels some remorse. Everyone just wants to carry on with their lives.
Possibly! A lot is left to interpretation in the film. I agree with your take though. More or less. I feel there’s enough presented after the initial twist (was he just imagining it all?!) to suggest an additional turn. That being the horror of a society built on such incredible self-absorbtion (and cocaine) is the real bogeyman.
The lack of comprehension from some reminds me of a certain type of Fight Club fan on whom the film is wasted entirely.
My framing in the previous comment is meant to highlight how Bateman’s story seems to resonate with the disaffected and media illiterate as I understand them. It seems much of the subtext intended to catch the viewer’s attention and request a critical eye fails to register with that crowd. My aim was answering the implied question “How could take seriously Bateman as peak masculinity?” of the comment I initially responded to.
I could have made that more clear in the perspective I used to convey the point. Note taken. 🙂
The film is so much clearer than the book 😄 Even Ellis said that Bateman is such an unreliable narrator that it’s not clear that any of the events happened at all. But I think you are 100% correct in that lead characters will always have a fandom that identifies with them no matter how repulsive the character is.
Up thread I made a joke about Marty Supreme. There is a character who is an unrepentant piece of shit who manipulates, steals from, and headlights every other character in the movie. I already hear people saying it’s inspirational because he followed his heart. No matter that he ruined the lives of every person around him.