Actor Quote by Bret Easton Ellis
““In the movie I was played by an actor who actually looked more like me than the character the author portrayed in the book: I wasn't blond, I wasn't tan, and neither was the actor. I also suddenly became the movie's moral compass, spouting AA jargon, castigating everyone's drug use and trying to save Julian. (I'll sell my car," I warn the actor playing Julian's dealer. "Whatever it takes.") This was slightly less true of Blair's character, played by a girl who actually seemed like she belonged in our group-- jittery, sexually available, easily wounded. Julian became the sentimentalized version of himself, acted by a talented, sad-faced clown, who has an affair with Blair and then realizes he has to let her go because I was his best bud. "Be good to her," Julian tells Clay. "She really deserves it." The sheer hypocrisy of this scene must have made the author blanch. Smiling secretly to myself with perverse satisfaction when the actor delivered that line, I then glanced at Blair in the darkness of the screening room.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, 1991
The narrator reflects on how film adaptations can misrepresent characters, highlighting personal identification and moral positioning within the story.
In simple terms: Film changes can clash with original character traits, causing personal dissonance.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how adaptations alter perception of characters.
Themes
identity
media adaptation
morality
discrepancy
Mood
reflective
critical
analytical
Type
literary
media critique
When to use this quote
- film criticism
- personal reflection
- character analysis
Key Concepts
character fidelity
narrative voice
ethical conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- How do adaptations shape our understanding of original works?
- What responsibilities do filmmakers have to source material?
A Different Perspective
Adaptations may simplify complex characters, losing nuance.
