Fight Club - 1999
If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Every word you read of this is useless fine print is another second off your life. Don't you have other things to do? Is your life so empty that you honestly can't think of a better way to spend these moments? Or are you so impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all who claim it? Do you read everything you're supposed to read? Do you think everything you're supposed to think? Buy what you're told you should want? Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex. Stop the excessive shopping and masturbation. Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you're alive. If you don't claim your humanity you will become a statistic. You have been warned... Tyler"
Uh-huh.
Official Synopsis
In this movie Edward Norton is the narrator who suffers from a lack of sleep. He tries different ways to cure this, but he does not succeed. He does get some sleep, but his conditions rebounds back into it's original state when he meets a lovely young woman, whose name is Marla. He finds out that she and he both have a lot in common and they spend a lot of time together. While touring, he meets an enigmatic young man named Tyler and after a short conversation both become fast friends. Both like to relieve their inner tensions by hitting each other. Soon word gets around about their fights, and lots of young people also get interested. Then a club is formed, which the narrator and Tyler call 'Fight Club'. Both start spending a lot of time and both also make lots of money. Then one day the narrator finds out that Tyler has been using him. You must really watch this movie and find out why the narrator feels this way about his friend
Skye's Review:
The first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about Fight Club.
I'm all about breaking group think rules, so let us discuss this movie. It took two sittings for me to view this movie in its entirety. Why? I just too frakking busy.
My first impressions of this film, and of the main characters inhabited by the actors Edward Norten and Brad Pitt, is of gratitude that I never fell for the ideology of group-think. The film itself was a visual treat for its time, dark and gritty, with the special effects enhancing the story arc and not smothering it. Splicing in nansecond images of Brad was a clever echoing of the storyline. Did you catch all the instances in this movie, I did.
Both actors were incredibly believable in their roles - you do not see Brad Pitt and Edward Norton - only Tyler Durden.
Is this an allegory for the redemption of man's self determination? Yes and...No. As Jack reflects on the begining of the tumultous relationship with Tyler, you see what the PC generation has wrought. Stripped of every drop of animus by strict adherence to political correctness, he tries to fill the gap with furniture from Ikea and attending various cancer support groups. This is the pathetic heap that calls himself Jack when he strikes up a friendship with Tyler. And yes, I do mean STRIKE. After discovering his condo blew up, he finds himself at an all-night diner with Tyler - major kung-fu occurs and the Fight Club is born.
Jack's passive agressive behavior is at odd with the world around him. - as is with any passive agressive personality. Real change is difficult and most people need a catalyst in order to change, that catalyst in this story is Tyler Durben. Tyler is everything Jack is not, but dreams of being. The change in this character was refreshing, and in a violent way he was reclaiming his lost self. As the story rolled along, the change from emancipation to yet another form of servitude became more evident. There are people in this world who do not want to be a rugged individualists (insert your favorite jab at the DNC) but seek out servitude of one kind or another. They simply WANT to be sheeple - "In Tyler We Trust". At the end of this movie, Jack finds himself back in a same predictament that instigated his rebellious rejection of his life.
How quickly emancipation can become servitude. This movie shines an unflinching light on this particular human trait and is a great source for thought on this subject.
Skyes Verdict:
Go out and add this to your movie collection - NOW.