Fight club

1999

Directed by David Fincher

Staring: Brad Pitt and Edward Norton

By Axel

The other night while my family was watching Sunday night football I was in the other room watching the 1999 David Fincher film Fight Club. Now I think genuinely everybody and their mother has seen this film but i hadn’t, till sunday. I had kind of put off watching this film because in the film world it’s often revered as the best film ever by all the annoying film bros. I just find that often when film bros who love movies like The Godfather like movies I don’t typically enjoy them. I can not say that I felt that way with this one even remotely, I in fact felt the exact opposite. This was truly an incredible experience, It felt authentic, it felt real and it felt fake and inauthentic all in one. I was wowed and now I will get into what I loved about it, this review will not contain giant spoilers.

Plot (Story Arc and Plausibility): 10 out of 10 

Wow, wow, wow. One of the most enticing movies I have ever seen in my 17 years of living. This plot took me on a rollercoaster of hurt, insanity, of clarity and of true melancholy. I just feel like the way that this plot unfolds in a sense feels like you the watcher are unfolding and finding new revelations yourself. When a movie can pull the viewer in, that is how you know that the movie is fantastic. Truthfully from start to finish the lens the story is told through is so nostalgic, depressing and full of yearning for sanity. I just feel like the lens of an insomniac is such an interesting and tantalizing point of view. I love how it makes you almost feel like an insomniac.

Attraction (Premise & Entertainment Value): 10 out of 10

I mean do I really even have to explain why there is a high entertainment value. For starters, this movie stars a young Brad Pitt during his rise to stardom and during what some people might refer to as his “prime”. Second off this movie is critically acclaimed up the freaking wazooh. It is often revered as one of the most amazing movies in history so I would say the premise is large. While it lost its only Oscar nomination to The Matrix it is acclaimed in many movie reviews as better than The Matrix. 

Theme (Identity & Depth): 11 out of 10

The deep themes in this movie are so interesting and just amazing to watch and indulge in as a viewer. I think the whole ideology of Tyler’s and the start of this club relating to toxic masculinity  within young men and how vulnerable young insecure men are to cults is so interesting. This movie also has a lot of anti consumerist themes that I find engrossing, while anticonsumerism is not the main theme it is weaseled in through these memorable one liners. I think the Director’s purpose is focused more on these themes of toxic masculinity within males looking up to a persuading leader. We hear Tyler’s speech about how men are the most persecuted species on earth hunkered down by the capitalistic harsh realness of America instead of these unrealistic dreams. These men practically surrender themselves to a man they find to be inspirational and powerful and it is truly embarrassing to watch them lose identity.

Acting (Characters & Performance): 10 out of 10

I have only ever seen Edward Norton in A Complete Unknown. He did an okay job in that movie; he definitely was not the standout compared to Timothee Chalamet. But wow was i blown away by his outstanding performance in this movie. It was just a pure masterclass of acting and I could feel him connected to the character. I have surprisingly only seen Brad Pitt in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and he was a full on powerhouse in that movie and I know he is a great actor. I liked this performance ten times more than him in Once Upon a Time In Hollywood; it just felt raw and real even though technically he isn’t. Helen obanum carter also transcended in this role, I love her aesthetic and character.

Dialogue (Storytelling & Context): 9 out of 10

I think that this movie is equally as confusing as it is perfectly explained. I genuinely think that the storytelling is so interesting and enticing; the way that the story unfolds keeps the viewers so interested. There is honestly great context for what the actual story is and I love the fact that the narrator is also the main character, it makes it interesting. Overall I think the story was told in the right order for it to make sense and was well executed by the directors.

Cinematography (Visual Language & Lighting, Setting, and Wardrobe): 10 out of 10

Wow. Just like in La La Land the lighting in this movie is completely unbelievable.The ending scene is genuinely so unbelievably beautiful. The dim vibe throughout the whole movie is so melancholy; it makes it feel almost sad and alluding. The fight scenes while stressful are also made beautiful by the lighting and the way the lights work with the action is so good. Overall it was just a great representation of great work with lighting and camera angles.

Editing (Pace & Effects): 9 out of 10

I would say that the effects for the time were equally as good as the rest of the movie. There were scenes in this movie where there are flashes of Tyler shown before the Narrator meets him, and I think that foreshadowing is so good. Also not to spoil but the seamless way the buildings blew up in the final scene was very impressive for the time it was made. The pace of the movie was so perfect, it felt rushed yet slow and tiring in the best way. The beginning of the movie starts off extremely slow which pulls the audience in. Then near the middle of the movie it speeds up as the narrator starts to feel more crazy.

Soundtrack (Sound Design & Film Score): 10 out of 10

I don’t have a lot to say about the actual score of the movie to be honest. The score was pretty good; it added to the kind of built up stress of the movie. There was one song played,  it was in the final scene of the movie, ” Where is my mind by The Pixies. The fact that the song is talking about someone losing their mind right at the climax of The Narrator’s breakdown is so perfect. The fading out of the song as the buildings explode and collapse adds to the cinematography of it all. I already loved this song and I think that it was used so beautifully in this movie.

The “It” Factor (One-of-a-Kind & Transcendent):10 out of 10

I would say that the “It factor” of this movie is honestly just the plot and actual writing. I think the adaptation from the book was done well from what I have heard about the book. There was a clear amount of precision and thought that went into this plot and it reflected so well in the outcome. I think that every single detail added to the script was so meticulous and interesting, so kudos to the screenwriters. I love film and this is one of those films that reminds you why you love film. When everything is in a film for a reason it stands out and this movie showed that.

Final thoughts+ Final rating: 9.5 out of 10

In conclusion I just think that this is one of the greats, I was so happy and rejuvenated after watching this. It was a great remembrance of what film is and why it is important in society. I love when a movie can make a societal comment slyly and smartly and this movie did it well. This was a great movie. There were few things that I would actually change and I really recommend watching it.