“‘Fight Club’ pulls you in, challenges your prejudices, rocks your world and leaves you laughing” (Rolling Stone). Brad Pitt (“12 Monkeys”, “Seven”), Edward Norton (“Primal Fear,” “American History X”) and Helena Bonham Carter (“Mighty Aphrodite,” “A Room With A View”) turn in powerful “performances of which movie legends are made” (Chicago Tribune) in this action-packed hit. A ticking-time-bomb insomniac (Norton) and a slippery soap salesman (Pitt) channel primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy. Their concept catches on, with underground “fight clubs” forming in every town, until a sensuous eccentric (Bonham Carter) gets in the way and ignites an out-of control spiral toward oblivion.All films take a certain suspension of disbelief. Fight Club takes perhaps more than others, but if you’re willing to let yourself get caught up in the anarchy, this film, based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, is a modern-day morality play warning of the decay of society. Edward Norton is the unnamed protagonist, a man going through life on cruise control, feeling nothing. To fill his hours, he begins attending support groups and 12-step meetings. True, he isn’t actually afflicted with the problems, but he finds solace in the groups. This is destroyed, however, when he meets Marla (Helena Bonham Carter), also faking her way through groups. Spiraling back into insomnia, Norton finds his life is changed once again, by a chance encounter with Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), whose forthright style and no-nonsense way of taking what he wants appeal to our narrator. Tyler and the protagonist find a new way to feel release: they fight. They fight each other, and then as others are attracted to their ways, they fight the men who come to join their newly formed Fight Club. Marla begins a destructive affair with Tyler, and things fly out of control, as Fight Club grows into a nationwide fascist group that escapes the protagonist’s control.
Fight Club, directed by David Fincher (Seven), is not for the faint of heart; the violence is no holds barred. But the film is captivating and beautifully shot, with some thought-provoking ideas. Pitt and Norton are an unbeatable duo, and the film has some surprisingly humorous moments. The film leaves you with a sense of profound discomfort and a desire to see it again, if for no other reason than to just to take it all in. –Jenny Brown
Stills of Fight Club [Blu-ray] packaging (Click for larger image)
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March 24, 2006
#1
If you consider wasted talent and high expectations, Fight Club is the worst film of the year. People have been discussing the ‘satire’ involved. That’s funny, I didn’t see any. We get spoon-fed a ‘fight the power’ ethos that isn’t fleshed out in the slightest. Add a final plot twist that makes no sense and there you have it.
I understand the point of violence in the film. One needs to see what the human body is capable of, but this was overkill. Another tasteless film from the director of ‘Seven’. No redeeming qualities whatsoever. I’d rather strike myself in the head repeatedly than watch the film again. Maybe that’s the point?
March 24, 2006
#2
First of all…I truly hated it and yet liked it. Okay, I know you are wondering what kind of rating is that, but it is true. While I hated the film for it’s violent content, I liked the quality of the story and the outstanding performances by Brad Pitt, Ed Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. Any film that makes “Natural Born Killers” look like a Disney movie is a film that is truly not for everyone. My immediate reaction after seeing this film was that I would not encourage anyone to see this film, nor would I even want to review it for fear that it might spark someone to want to see it. I don’t think I have ever seen a more violent movie nor do I ever want to see one. “Fight Club” is truly in a class by itself. It is a film that you would not want to take a date to, nor is it a film that will entertain you…I can’t imagine someone running down to the local Blockbuster and picking it up for a quiet evening at home. I am not one for censorship nor am I one for banning a film, but I would seriously question the judgement of someone who viewed this film and considered it entertainment. The story centers around the relationship of two people, Pitt and Norton, and the enjoyment they get from beating the “heck” out of each other. They fight not for sport, but for the pure enjoyment they feel from the pain they inflict upon others and in return have inflicted upon them. Bottom line…I feel it’s time we add another rating to our rating scale…”NRQ”…”No Redeeming Quality”. This film has no redeeming qualities, is not entertaining, nor should anyone see it…but it definitely is one film like no other.
March 24, 2006
#3
Naturally, there are the people that will hate the movie for its violent content. I tend not to discriminate when it comes to violent content in movies. For example, Saving Private Ryan used violence to send a sincere message. Unfortunately, I cannot right-mindedly suggest that Fight Club had the same purposes in mind. The violence seemed quite sensationalized and the movie seemed not to emphasize the negative aspect of the ‘Fight Club’. One example of this sensationalization is when they are destroying the businesses of various people through mischief. The music says, “Laugh, this is funny!” but it is obviously not. Perhaps the director went astray from what the author of the book had in mind, because I saw little seriousness in the subject with which “Fight Club” supposedly grapples with.
March 24, 2006
#4
Fight club is one of the most over hyped movies that I have ever seem.
Stupid plot. Stupid plot. Stupid plot. Stupid plot. Stupid plot.
Pass on this movie. Don’t waste your money.
March 24, 2006
#5
edward norton is in it. and so is brad pit. and little shots of penises here and there. i mean COME ON! soap made of fat? a secret “fight club?”
i’ve heard that this was a book before this was a movie – which is good, cause i don’t want to read ANY book that’s as bad as this movie was.