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Bale's American Psycho Inspiration: Tom Cruise

Cruise's lifeless eyes impressed Christian Bale as he studied serial killer role

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 22, 2009 8:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – To capture the "Martian-like" behavior of serial killer Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, Christian Bale studied a fellow Hollywooder with a well-publicized belief in aliens, says director Mary Harron: Tom Cruise. Bale-as-Bateman looked at the world "like somebody from another planet," she tells BlackBook."One day he called me and he had been watching 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."

4/26/99 Westwood, CA. Christian Bale at the premiere of his new movie, 'William Shakespear's A Midsummer Night's Dream.'
4/26/99 Westwood, CA. Christian Bale at the premiere of his new movie, 'William Shakespear's A Midsummer Night's Dream.'   (Getty Images)
Tom Cruise waves during a photo call to promote his movie Valkyrie in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009.
Tom Cruise waves during a photo call to promote his movie "Valkyrie" in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ricardo Moraes)
Bale looked to the right, and liked what he saw.
Bale looked to the right, and liked what he saw.   (AP Photos)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Mia
Oct 22, 2009 10:06 AM CDT
AND Narcissistic.
Mia
Oct 22, 2009 10:06 AM CDT
Tom Cruise is a sociopath.
cochiserocks
Oct 22, 2009 5:15 AM CDT
That's genius! Bale wanted a case study in someone who treated people like objects, cracking up on the inside but externally in total control - warm smiles with nothing behind the eyes - and he chose Tom - WHy did I not see it before!?! Bale is a genius!

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