Fight Club

Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Jim Uhls
Based On A Novel By: Chuck Palahniuk
Producers: Art Linson, Cean Chaffin, Ross Grayson Bell
Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Meatloaf, Jared Leto
Year: 1999
Country: USA
BBFC Certification: 18
Duration: 139 min

Directed By: David Fincher
Written By: Jim Uhls (Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk)
Produced By: Art Linson, Cean Chaffin, Ross Grayson Bell

Plot: An unnamed narrator forms an unusual group with an equally unusual soap maker, that changes his whole perspective on himself, and the life we lead.

Since it’s release, Fight Club has become both influential and controversial in many ways. It’s scenes of violence inspired many young men around the world to start their own Fight Clubs, and sparked off several individuals into creating havoc in their local neighborhoods, mirroring some of the acts seen in the film. It has been described as ‘visceral’ and ‘eye opening’. The film is rather stylised, making it look quite dark and grimy, giving us an insight to what the narrator feels his life is like.

Edward Norton portrays the unnamed narrator in his bland world, and his performance is superb. It can be narrowed down to three sections; the first part is where we see how sad and lonely he is, and how he feels that his life has no purpose. The second is how he learns to change, and become something more, to give his life a purpose. And the final part sees him fulfill this, but taking into account his experiences. Norton is able to make these three parts slip together with ease.

Brad Pitt’s performance as the pyschotic, but intelligently philosophical Tyler Durden is astounding. He comes across as a charismatic, mysterious character. We as the audience aren’t quite sure what he has done or been through, but he comes across as a substitute father-figure for our narrator. This is because he tells him things and teaches him certain lessons that the narrators absent father should have. This in fact becomes a regular theme throughout the film, as Tyler becomes a father figure and an idol for many young men throughout the country due to ‘Project Mayhem’.

Helena Bonham Carter’s portrayal of Marla Singer is a rather interesting one. She can flip between smart, kind, caring crazed within a matter of seconds, a rather impressive feat. If a little typical of Carter’s performances. The final twist in the plot will leave your brain reeling trying to work it out. The way in which David Fincher unveils the big reveal is visually impressive and very intelligent.
Fight Club is one of the most astounding, cunning, inspiring films ever to have been created, and is a work of art.

Written By Eammon Jacobs