Review: Fight Club

 

Table of Contents

           “You don’t talk about the fight club”                                                  3

           “You don’t ask questions”                                                                 4

           Cited Works                                                                                      5

 

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Review: Fight Club

“You don’t talk about the fight club”

           David Fincher’s adaptation of the Chuck Palahnuik novel, Fight Club (1999), has been reviewed with praises and criticisms, especially as to how the movie would result into a graphically violent piece, in Anthony Leong’s words, “glorifying violence, desensitizing readers to the ugly consequences of his nihilistic philosophy”.  As far as film adaptation goes, Fight Club can be regarded as “faithful to the book”, with the resolution of the movie strongly echoes as to how Palahnuik would end his novel.  Although this further validates the significant character of the whole novel, which is also rained with praise and criticisms, Fight Club --- in text and in film, can be regarded as a rather dark and humorous approach when it comes to depicting meaningless existence in the midst of consumerism and the search for something meaningful that brings about some savage truth about man.

           In summary, the film starts with the depiction of the life of an Everyman, Jack, played by the highly talented Edward Norton; the film is also told through Jack’s narration.  Due to his disillusionment paired the lack of will to change, he suffers from insomnia and restlessness.  He solves this by attending a support group in order to understand the real meaning of pain and suffering.  Although he only fakes his diseases in order to have an excuse to attend these meetings, he also meets another faker, Marla (Helena Bonham Carter).

           Jack then eventually meets Tyler (Brad Pitt), a soap salesman, and from there, his life changes.  Jack’s house is destroyed by an explosion, and he ends up living in Tyler’s house.  Eventually, the two creates a bond, and Tyler introduces his fight club in which the whole purpose of the club is to provide a physical and violent emotional outlet for men where they fight each other to the pulp, according to the rules of the fight club.  Project Mayhem is also introduced, which is the club’s rebellious activities against the social system.  The film ends bringing up a potential identity crisis between Jack and Tyler in which it turns out that the two are the same person.  This strong ending, with the buildings exploding around Jack and Marla, somehow conveys a romantic element through a gruesome redemption and realization for the story’s main character.

“You don’t ask questions”

           The strength of the film can be seen in the powerful storyline (as adapted by Jim Uhls into script), the visuals adapted by Fincher, and the acting delivered by Norton, Pitt, Bonham Carter, and even Meatloaf.  The degree of violence can somehow bring a concern to those who do not have a taste for its graphic depiction, although interestingly, Fincher has managed to infuse an artistic aesthetic to the gore.  Although Fight Club can be already praised in its novel form, the film also manages to gain its own distinction in terms of the styles adapted by the director which would eventually lead to the climax and the ending of the film.  There is a strong mood-driven aspect in every scene, with visuals and sounds producing a gritty effect, thereby complementing the essence of the story, and further captured by the strength of the acting. 

 

Cited Works

Fight Club.  Dir. David Fincher.  Perf. Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter,          Meatloaf.  Art Linson Productions and Fox 2000 Pictures, 1999.

Leong, Anthony.  1999.  “Fight Club Movie Review”.   29 July 2007.          <http://members.aol.com/aleong1631/fightclub.html>