150 Greatest Movie Performances Of All Time

Part one (150-121)

By Total FilmDec 8th 2008

4. 148. Christian Bale - Patrick Bateman, American Psycho (2000)

Three months in the gym, Bret Easton Ellis’ deadpan novel plus a dose of Hitchcock and Polanski films were all it took for Christian Bale to disappear into the role of soulsick Wall Street yuppie turned misogynist killer Patrick Bateman.

But is there something deeper? The actor seems to share a funny, frightening affinity with Bateman’s fear and loathing. “I certainly liked performing him,” he admitted.

“But it was because he thinks he’s so fucking cool and just the shit, but is really such a cheesy dork.” A cheesy dork with a big fucking axe.

Greatest Moment:  That ‘Hip To Be Square’ axe murder: “Do you like jazz, Paul?”

Also See: Bruce Wayne (Batman Begins), Trevor Reznik (The Machinist).

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