When Patrick says, “Let’s see Paul Allen’s card” and everyone else takes theirs off the table because they know they can’t compete with the completely identical card
*_Evil never looked so damn good. .... "PAUL ALLEN! I killed Paul Allen with an axe! In the face! His body is dissolving in a bathtub in Hell's Kitchen!"_* lol 😂🐺
Everything about this is so good. The fact that there's basically no objective difference in quality between the cards, yet Patrick is devastated by each of them. The way it seems at first like no one else really cares as much as he does. But then when it comes to Paul Allen's card, Bryce's sense of humor and relaxed body language fades away and he seems hesitant to reveal it, as if it's something so beyond him that he's ashamed to show it or something dangerous he wants to protect the others from seeing. The tense sound design straight out of a psychological horror film. And then the final dramatic reveal that it's.... almost the exact same card as all the others. Genius.
Exactly, what this film entails is a society is so deprived of unique identification, and this scene nails that theme perfectly, from nearly identical cards and how everyone is narcissistic in their own ways yet being so irrelevant in a world of copy and paste
@@andrewsullivan2369 Paul Allen's card is tastefully thick.. you can't exactly say the same for the others. Especially bone white ? The hell was Bateman even thinking about when he made that decision ? Ludacris !
The reason Bryce seems reluctant is he knew what Bateman's reaction would be - he is his closest colleague. They're toleratant with Bateman because his father owns a large portion of the company they all work for. They know he's odd and don't particularly like being around him.
I love this bit. He forgets to breathe before "impressive, very nice" because he's that enraged, and struggles to get the "let's see Paul Allan's card" out. Amazing acting (by everyone in this scene)
I also love how there’s very little actual difference between anyone’s haircut; aside from minor things like thickness or length, all of their hairstyles are just generically slicked back, maybe with a side part?
This scene is so classic. I love the subtle sound effect when a card is being presented. And Bale’s voice breaking when he says, “Very nice. Let’s see Paul Allen’s card.” This scene encompasses entire movie.
What I find funniest about this scene is every card is _slightly_ better than the previous in some way. Even though they're all the same, from a design standpoint, Van Patten's name is in bold and the corner details are pushed out more, which draws your attention right to his name, and _then_ Bryce's card has a better texture, and _then_ Allen's card has a better font and looks slightly classier. You can tell the design team put effort into making their business cards just different enough to indicate the way they all compete with each other.
All of the actors in this scene play the hotshot businessman perfectly. I like how Halberstram walks into the meeting room looking all serious with his notes in hand, like you might expect a boss to do, but then smiles when he realizes the room is just filled with his VP buddies.
@@thesuperintendent4290 has mistaken me for this dickhead Marcus Halberstram. It seems logical, since he also has a RU-vid account, and in fact watches the exact same videos that I do. We even leave similar replies and comments; though my opinions are slightly more nuanced.
I love how Patrick's mental state and instability is subtly shown in the scene with his personal card, with the type that set off-center far to the left edge and also set too low, out of balance with a much larger top margin compared the other cards and also the subtle lack of space between the '&' and the ''Pierce'' in the company name at the top right. As a bonus, of course he had to chose the color 'bone' for his card. Genius details that add alot to the character.
Damn great comment, I've never noticed any of that and I've watched this movie and scene so many times lol The amount of thought put into details like that is incredible and really adds a lot of non-verbal storytelling. Bateman's card is essentially like the others but has these little speculation differences that show he's not like them and just trying to fit the mold
when you realize that all cards have "acquisition" spelled wrong, this scene is like 10x better. They are all MBAs with top grades, so interested in futile things like the color of the card or the font, that they don't even realize that what they are doing is written wrong.
@nobbynobbs8182 mind the fact that movie have been 3 psycho superhero characters: the Dark Knight, the Joker (from Suicide Squad), the Green Goblin. They would've showed their comics cards lol 🦇🤡👺
The fact that everyone is Vice President is an absolutely genius little detail. It really digs into the main theme of the film, that all of these men are the exact same
Not really. In wall street M&A investment banks, positions that would be called "manager" in other companies are called Vice President because the clients they handle are usually CEOs of corporations. It's just a formality, the rank above would be Director/Senior VP, then managing director/partner.
@@miguelpereira9859 they are "slightly" different. Different shades of white, different form and colour of letters, different places of addresses, etc.
But can we take a moment to talk about the sound design of this scene? Listen to the subtle card flicks and metal cases, and the deeper tapping and low voices. The tasteful thickness of the wind and suspenseful notes. Oh my god, it even has a watermark.
The Common Cold I’m an open book. Ask away. Spent almost four years in mergers and acquisitions, so many of these scenes are relatable (minus the killings). Casual drug use...check Strippers and call girls...check Overpriced restaurants...check Long hours w/ high income potential....check Happy to elaborate further. What would you like to know?
Lifebeam87 I’m an open book. Ask away. Spent four years in mergers and acquisitions in both junior level positions and Director/VP positions. I have plenty of war stories lol
@@snakeplissken7671 Sorry Mate but the Junkie is right Price is asking "is that a gram?" because he is a coke-head throughout the movie (and the book) you can read it up in the script. They slightly changed it from the original reaction that is "PRICE (Suddenly enthused) What's that, a gram?", to this though.
Love this scene, at first glance you may think "whats the big deal, its just business cards.." but its something more. Its a battle of pride. The way each man takes out their card and it makes a blade sound was a cool touch. The way the paul comes in and not only establishes himself as top dog...but hes so coy and eh about it, like being in the spotlight was nothing new to him, taking Batemans thunder in such a short time. I like how this scene was filmed and it tells a whole story about power dynamics and status and Batemans character and need to be on top and what he will do when its taken away. Also the way when paul leaves the room patrick tries to pull attention back on him by displaying his card, but then the attention is placed back on paul everyone envying him...and hes not even in the room. Great Scene!
I love that. Bale did an amazing job at conveying how he is just a hairs width away from losing it. You can just hear the words struggling to come out of his throat.
Fun fact, he used a Tom Cruise interview as inspiration for the character. He then went to lunch with the writer in character, who then asked him to stop playing the character because he was getting so uncomfortable.
That's the thing I really love about this scene. Bryce never said he preferred Van Patten's card. He only said he really liked it, but Bateman takes it personally.
Great catch After all, psychopaths are narcissistic ego maniacs. Also it’s hinted that Bateman is delusional, unless the ATM really did say “feed me a stray cat” Or Maybe it was a Lehman brothers ATM
It's such a well-done scene because it depicts a pissing contest about meaningless shit that they all take so seriously. I love how Paul Allen says "got an eight-thirty res' at Dorsia" intentionally loud enough for the whole room to hear, and when he does say it, the whole room stops talking and looks at him, even Halberstram and the other guys by the wall. So subtle that you'd probably only catch it on your second or third viewing but it just depicts how they're ALL obsessed with this bullshit.
@@tangocash7304 The top accounts are always the biggest assholes. We used to call them Key Accounts. So never envy the Key Accounts Manager. He or she always deals with the biggest assholes in the world. The Fisher Account is such an account.
@@MySerpentine Only person who recognizes Bateman. Only male peer who calls him Patrick. Even introduces him to the Asian girl as his "very good friend Patrick Bateman," as Bateman is loading Allen's body into the trunk. He does want the D from Bateman, but he is the only sincere person in the movie, along with Jean .
@@digitalintent he is not really sincere tho, if louis would he would recognize bateman as the superficial little hearted man that he is and would not be his friend. I know because i am that type of psycho bateman is and would secretely mock a guy such as louis calling me his "very good friend". Btw i dont want to contribute, i simply enjoy.
Its a fairly large company. I work in a company of 20 people, and I don't have everyone's phone numbers. This is set in the late 80s before smart phones so a rolodex of business cards is the best way to keep an associate's number on file.
@@dr.ludwig8189 Man it’s like you guys didn’t even watch the scene. Did you not see Paul Allen hand his card over? It’s a satire movie it’s not supposed to make sense stop trying to make it
@@kudude12many there's a fax and telex number at the bottom of the card. Not exactly a phone number per say but I suppose it's pretty close to what you're looking for.
@@osasuvhnvxtgbvddheds1601 they’re all good actors doing a great job (I’m particularly partial to Justin Theroux myself), but “taking the script seriously” was a weird of way of wording it.
@@carolfromhr9900 I wonder how Christian Bale managed to nail this character. At the time the movie was being made, his co-stars thought he wasn’t a good actor. But Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman acting the way he was, was intentional and Bale managed to have the confidence and precise know-how to play him that particular way. It’s “impressive. Very nice” ;)
I love how Bateman’s voice flutters nervously when saying “very nice, let’s see Paul Allen’s card”. The nervousness really shows, like he’s about to lose it. Great acting!
@@TheGhostScorpion because it's so superficial, of course who cares its just a card, but to these yuppies everything is a competition. That's the point, so you can laugh at it& enjoy the masterclass in acting. Or not..
@@TheGhostScorpion Just like the suits or the restaurant reservation, everything Bateman cares about is meaningless. But it's not just him, it's all of them. The fact that Paul Allen mistakes him for another guy with the same job, same suits, same glasses and same barber so shows they are carbon copies of each other. They all fawn over the restaurant and cards. Nothing of them accomplishes anything. Whatever meeting this is, no work is discussed.
But WHY does he nearly lose it? It's just a business card... Or maybe he wants the contact details of his next victim? He IS a psycho, after all. An American psycho, to be specific.
Their over the top dramatic behaviors here is so hilarious when you see all 3 cards are basically the exact same design and color scheme, with only the slightest variations a total psychopath would care about.
The ominous music when they show Paul Allen's card is funny too, cause like you said, looks exactly like the others but they decided to add the music, little touches like that to movies I really appreciate.
Every scene looks like a Chris Van Allsberg drawing. Not only is it thoroughly of its time, it makes this feel like its within the confines of a picture frame, further emphasizing the claustrophobic and dark mind of Bateman.
I can't get over the fact that this scene feels like something outta horror movie despite happening during a day at a well-lit office. Probably the eery music is what does the job.
Amazing how a scene that should feel fairly relaxed and jovial (a group of colleagues sat in an office making small talk), can be given such palpable tension, simply by the sense of petty competitiveness between the characters!
The slightly nervous way that he says "Let's see Paul Allen's card" is just brilliant acting.. not overdone.. although the whole scene is just so well acted by Christian. Let's see Paul Allen's acting.
Jared Leto is an amazing actor, but sadly because of his role as Joker and now Morbius people don't realize it. He's absolutely GODLIKE in Mr. Nobody and Dallas Buyer's Club, and he's great in Lord Of War.
@@andmillions What I meant is he never passes the line. He's never hammy, he always feels right, even when he laughing like maniac and killing people in the movie.
What’s really funny is that Paul Allen gives the guy his business card and tells him to call him, but all their business cards have the same phone number on them.
@@ericklajara8641 So that when Bryce looks at the card later that day, he is reminded that he met Paul Allen earlier. In this business, you can meet many different people in a day. The business card is a reminder of whom you had met.
Strangely enough on the set for this movie, all the other actors thought he was terrible. This was his breakthrough role, so maybe they were just jealous the new kid got the lead role
I just now read (and it's the reason I'm here, because I remembered that detail when I read it) that it's the sound of a sword being drawn slowed down. Even more genius now, huh? Hope you're well.
i didnt even know he was British until I watched a recent film where he was this brilliant driver/mechanic. i was like dannggg his British accent is good XD
"Although I have a slightly better haircut" love how quickly he says that, showing how insecure he is about being the exact same as someone else and how he needs to be better than everyone
I think it actually goes to show how little he consideres himself to be a actual person. "we are essentially the same but for a tiny difference in hairstyle" is absolutely insane, he understands and accepts that he can be mistaken for someone else.
No guys you dont get it, what this scene is showing that he's trying to tell the audience that he's been holding his shit for the past 3 hours and that he really needs to go to the restroom
the sfx are so comedic, that eerie sound haunting Patrick as the cards are passed around, then it nearly breaks into song as Patrick finally sees Paul Allens card, along with a subtle, throbbing heartbeat 😆
That's part of the joke - in the late 90's it became trendy to hand out "Vice President" as a title, which of course made the title practically meaningless. Like the business cards & the haircuts, it was a superficial sign of success that, in reality, meant very little.
@Zephyr Still i think it's insecurity, he's got an inner conflict between narcism and insecurity and that's also the reason why he almost gets a panic attack whenever somebody prefers another card to his card
@Zephyr its because the other guy basically has the exact same life as patrick, meaning patrick is the same as someone and not better than them which of course he doesnt like, so him saying to himself that he has a better hair cut is him trying to reassure himself that hes better than everyone else.
I seriously thought Christian Bale accidentally put too much emphasis on the word to make Bateman sound like he's boasting, like he's struggling to get his foot in the door of this uber-exclusive big-dick club. Still, even if he didn't ACTUALLY mean to put that much force into the word, it just makes the scene even more hilarious because the audience is surprised that his simple word has set them up for the dick swinging to begin and then Bateman gets beaten down by the other business cards, LOL...
@Mosaab نعم هو mmm well it’s not insane to gently ask people not to touch you ,but wanting to hurt people it’s a Nono because our society stands by rules that prevent chaos, not being touched it’s just a perk of mine ,are u ok?im not good at reading human emotions but the feelings you are talking about don’t seem healthy
