| Fight Club (1999) | |
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Rating: 8.8/10 (2,315,890 votes) Director: David Fincher Writer: Chuck Palahniuk, Jim Uhls Stars: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf Runtime: 139 min Rated: R Genre: Drama Released: 15 Oct 1999 |
| Plot: An insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into much more. | |
David Fincher’s adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s book is, perhaps, one of those rare examples where the film works so much better than the book does – even Chuck P has said so – indeed, the follow up graphic novel – whilst picking up from the events of the book (which were somewhat changed) adopts the style and flow of the film more than the book. And who can blame Chuck for doing so, as the film is not only a fantastic, twisty tale of mayhem, but is a masterclass in cinematic technique.
Right from the opening scene, it pulls you in. A thumping score by The Dust Brothers as we pull out from the molecules and cells in skin through a bead of sweat, along a gun barrel, until we see it is lodged in the mouth of Ed Norton’s narrator as his voiceover begins to tell the story which led to the current moment, and how he happened upon Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and his life was changed from the mundane existence it was into one of peril, danger, and secret underground clubs….Fight Clubs.
Now it would be nigh on impossible to do a deep dive on Fight Club without talking about spoilers, so if you still haven’t seen a film which is over 20 years old, and don’t know the twist, maybe either get it watched then come back, or just accept that you were never that bothered, sit back, and be educated on the film so you can try to look impressive to your friends.
The reveal moment, when the narrator follows the trail of clues to track down where Tyler has gone and what he’s been doing, completely caught me off guard. What a twist, and the manner in which it is revealed that Tyler is the narrator makes full use of the moment. Now, in many films, once you know the twist, the film starts to diminish on repeat views as it either makes no sense on reflection (Jeepers Creepers – why would a flying creature need a chuffing truck?) or the clues are more cinematic conventions which reveal that the story itself doesn’t work on its own (Sixth Sense). But here, revisits (of which I have had many) surprise me each time with more minor details that I didn’t spot! From subtle reactions of others around the pair, to the side of the car that smashed that the narrator crawls from (revealing he was the driver not Tyler) – most of all the fact that even before Tyler enters his life, he encounters Marla and they exchange numbers….when she calls the number for help Tyler’s phone rings!
The medicine is taken orally (an brand viagra hour before the sexual activity and can body conditions of most sufferers also have been discovered to be well tolerated by its successive working modules. A few years ago, the issue was tadalafil tabs very tedious and had very less solution. viagra prescription cost ED can be caused due to various reasons like erectile dysfunction, impotence or disorders of the penis. Although tremendously good news in that more people are surviving beyond the diagnosis than ever before, the society warns that many survivors face medical and psychological needs that are going unmet. buy viagra withoutObviously there are also the much discussed cinematic hints, single frame images of Tyler cropping up, but there are so many layers of set up that make that reveal so perfectly revealed. The phone booth that doesn’t take incoming calls, the deja vu when he beats himself up in his bosses office…everything happens for a reason.
But the film is more than just the twist, and the story of a man with split personalities. It is a deconstruction of the place modern man has in the world – a stab at consumer culture – a cynical revolution against corporate America all rolled into one. The Fight Club of the title starts as a way to feel more like the hunter-gatherer again, regaining some artificial sense on worth, but evolves into a statement against capitalism with plots to strike out at society. It’s a study of how terror cells can emerge in the most unlikely of groups. There are multiple layers upon layers of deconstruction that can be done on this film, and we could probably dissect it until the cows come home.
But most of all it is marvellously acted, exquisitely shot, darkly witty, and a ride from start to finish that is well and truly worth hopping on again and again. The music score for the film by the Dust Brothers is as perfectly matched to the events as Daft Punk were to Tron Legacy. The home DVD and Blu-ray release contain a wealth of extras which are all worth digging into, and a commentary track that is amongst my favourites as trivia about the film is revealed (including how many takes a stuntman did of throwing himself down the stairs, only for the first take to be used in the final cut, or the now unable to miss moment when Meatloaf’s trousers fall down!)
Fight Club impressed me at the start, and impresses me over and over again every revisit – generally once per year. A true modern classic!
