D.J. Haza presents the next entry in his series of films to watch before you die…
Fight Club, 1999.
Directed by David Fincher.
Starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf and Jared Leto.
So in writing this article I am immediately breaking rules one and two of Fight Club, but here it goes. David Fincher’s magnificent story of the boredom of monotonous life driving it’s main character to the bring of sanity is a such a great film. It oozes with style, class and a dark, but strangely empathetic story that will keep you puzzled, intrigued and blow your mind to the point where you have to watch it again.
The story follows an unnamed lead character and narrator of the story (Ed Norton) who is fed up with his white-collar life and seeks some sort of validation for himself. In a chance encounter with soap maker Tyler Durden (Pitt) he finds himself a friend and later becoming the founding member of Fight Club as the two of them brawl outside of a seedy bar one night. As they continue the fight night after night more and more people watch on until others want to fight.
As Fight Club grows and grows into a secret underground society the actions and desires of Durden become more extreme. As the club transforms into an almost militant group seeking revenge on those at the forefront of advertising and commercialism our lead character realises he must put a stop to it, but it isn’t that simple.
Fight Club is the story of a generation convinced that working day after day in order to afford the luxuries shoved in their faces by big corporations and advertising is what life is all about. However, many of this generation feel used, abused and worthless as they wander aimlessly through their life acquiring as much flat pack furniture as they possibly can in order to fill their otherwise empty and soulless homes.
The film earned back its production cost at the worldwide box office, but it was at first debated strongly by critics as to whether it was great or terrible. Whether it was seen to be good or bad it was definitely controversial and not since the release of A Clockwork Orange has a film been so fiercely debated on its morals and portrayal of a society. Since then it has earned itself cult status and is now widely regarded as a great film.
Fight Club is a film you must see before you die because the end twist will make you want to watch the entire film all over again just see if you can spot a flaw.
“How much can you know about yourself if you’ve never been in a fight?”
D.J. Haza
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Originally published December 21, 2011. Updated April 10, 2018.
