When Michael Douglas’ Wall Street wanker Gordon Gekko said, “Greed… is good,” in filmmaker Oliver Stone’s 1987 triumph, Wall Street, he nail-gunned the decade’s selfish excess to the wall so hard it basically birthed Patrick Bateman.
Set two years later and released in 1991, American author Bret Easton Ellis’ gruesome third novel, American Psycho, is hung on the self-centred Bateman, a 27-year-old preening predator in a pinstripe suit.
An ambitious investment banker obsessed with horror movies, Huey Lewis, his skincare regime, business cards, restaurant reservations and one-upping the competition, Bateman is an empty shell of a man. Lurking in the darkening void where his heart should be is a far more odious truth. Worshipping “The Donald,” he shares the now-President’s malignant narcissism.
That, and he’s also a cold-blooded serial killer.
Christian Bale breathed baleful life into this slick-haired monster in Mary Harron’s menacingly marvellous 1998 film. If you pay close attention to See You Sunday’s return season production of the musical – with a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik – you’ll spot a cameo by Bale.
Wait, what? Is Christian Bale in American Psycho: A Musical Thriller?
Sort of. Directed by Mark Taylor in conjunction with musical director Aaron Robuck, See You Sunday’s spectacular production at Chapel Off Chapel stars chillingly precise Heathers bad boy Conor Beaumont as the Valentino tuxedo buttoned-up psychopath.
But in...
We've reached the pointy end of the year, which means daylight savings are here, our calendars are filling up real quick, and there are lots of exciting events in store! Halloween is less than four weeks away, which means it's basically Christmas. So, let's dive into some highlights, shall we?
October is for the fashionistas. Melbourne Fashion Week is back for another year of creativity, inclusivity, and plenty of inspiration to add to our shopping wishlists. The premium runways are always a hit and offer a sneak peak into what the commercial brands like Aje, Bianca Spender, Elka Collective and Oroton will be rolling out in stores for the upcoming seasons. There's also going to be a runway at Revs?! Kind of iconic, if you ask me (and the only time you'll catch me there, tbh).
But that's not all! Some beloved online-only Australian brands are hosting pop-ups in Melbourne this month. Tild's effortlessly cool aesthetic will be heading to Gertruse St from October 4 to November 1. If you like plaid and whimsy (who doesn't?!), Katharina Lou is taking over Fitzroy for just over a week with a pop-up shop, girl dinner, scavenger hunt and collaboration with Masses Bagels. And then we've got Itadaki, the Sydney-based brand crafting Japanese-inspired garments that are equal parts edgy and elegant – they'll also be coming to Fitzroy from October 16-25. One lucky suburb indeed.
If you're looking for something fun and free to do in Melbourne, the Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations exhibition is still going on at the State Library of Victoria. I brought my partner along with me for a cute day date. We started off at the Flinders St photobooth, then wandered up and meandered through the exhibition. Afterwards, we sat on the steps of the library and wrote each other love letters of our own. Soppy? Perhaps. But a wholesome, sentimental date indeed!
Hoping for a dose of performing arts? A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical is still going strong. Or, if you want to see the dark side of the ballet, there's Dracula: ballet at its Darkest, the centuries-old story of the world’s most famous vampire and turns it into a tragedy told through dance.
So, what are you waiting for? We'll see you out there!
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