american psycho (2000). directed by mary harron.

i watched this movie when i was studying in sydney. it gained notoriety for being graphically violent, the novel itself is violent coupled with brett easton ellis' penchant for long sentences that stretch pages. if not for mary harron's tasteful direction, this movie would go straight to B grade. i read the book before watching it - it is about a soulless yuppie who went on a killing spree to gain some meaning or insights of a person who is just not there. he has a shell of a human being, but inside he is vacant. the backdrop was the wealthy 1980's - where excesses were just everywhere - the rich are bored and money is a poor substitute for genuine human connection, women are just playthings for men and nothing more than sex slaves. i guess the story could be told in a less shocking manner - but that's the point - that decade in the 80's - it was a decade of shameless decadence. 

oh yeah - that was christian bale, who later on becomes the morally adamant dark knight.