Tom Cruise is a global superstar with a wealth of films under his belt. The actor’s impact on Hollywood cannot be overstated, and neither can his contribution to the film industry be quantified. Unsurprisingly, Cruise has also been an inspiration to innumerable artists, and one of them happens to be Christian Bale.
Like Cruise, Bale too is an incredible actor, with an Oscar to his name. The English actor made a name for himself by undergoing extreme transformations in his roles. He has starred in several critically acclaimed films in his career, pushing the limits of his skills each time.
However, one role that stands out in Bale’s immaculate filmography is that of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. And who was the inspiration behind it? The Mission: Impossible actor, of course.
How did Tom Cruise inspire Christian Bale to play a murderer in American Psycho?
Both Tom Cruise and Christian Bale are Hollywood veterans who have been the faces of notable franchises over the years. They have been part of projects whose relevance has not diminished in the years since.
American Psycho is one such film, and it can be argued that it is even more relevant now than ever before. Helmed by Mary Harron, the film came out in 2000 and it was adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel of the same name. The book caused a big scandal at the time of its publication, due to some of the graphic themes it dealt with.
Harron’s film revolves around Bateman, an investment banker moonlighting as a serial killer. While his life looks seemingly put together, the film chronicles his descent into eventual madness. In addition to Bale, the film’s cast also included Jared Leto and Willem Dafoe.
The actor expertly immersed himself in the mind of the character, even though he was fairly unknown at the time. The result was glorious since he managed to portray Bateman so well, masking his madness while trying to fit in.
In 2009, in an interview with BlackBook, the director opened up about her protagonist’s portrayal. She revealed how Bale studied Cruise, particularly his appearance in an episode of the Late Show with David Letterman, and inculcated his mannerisms into his performance.
“One day he called me and he had been watching Tom Cruise on David Letterman, and he just had this very intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes, and he was really taken with this energy,” she said (via Huff Post).
The film revolves around heavy subjects that Harron and Bale handled quite tactfully. It ended up boosting the actor’s career, and he took it on while being fully aware of how twisted the role was.
Christian Bale’s American Psycho is still relevant
In the two decades since its release, Bale’s film has become a cult favorite among film buffs. Moreover, it is still relevant due to the core themes depicted in the film.
Bateman’s tendency to murder innocents is believed to be a representation of capitalist greed. He is also a narcissist, but he thrives on validation from his peers, a characteristic that has been on the rise.
On the flip side, its popularity has also seen men hail the murderous Bateman as a bit of an icon to look up to. The protagonist has been hailed as an idol for not conforming to the standard of toxic masculinity. Many have come to refer to him as a ‘Sigma male’—the most dominant in a group.
Given the rise of incels in online spaces of late, this is, sadly, unsurprising. Men struggle with wanting to dominate, which creates an ecosystem breeding misogyny and homophobia. Bale’s Bateman, unfortunately, does just that.
