Pitt, Norton, Fincher win this fight

Rating: 8/10 (26 October 1999)

This film is NOT the best of the decade, people (Note Schindler's List, Pulp Fiction, Shawshank Redemption), but it is really darn good. The visuals are the best depiction of surreal, gritty darkness since Dark City. The acting is superlative for both Norton and Pitt. Both HAVE done better work (American History X & 12 Monkeys, respectively), but each is energetic and very believable in their roles. I could have done without Helena Bonham Carter completely, though it was exciting to see her playing against Edwardian type... The Dust Brothers soundtrack works very nicely.

To dispell a myth, this movie is NOT the most ultraviolent ever. The homosexual rape of Pulp Fiction, the surreal psycho-sexual assaults and torture of Clockwork Orange and of course the martial carnage of Saving Pvt. Ryan all exceed the batterings of Fight Club, in both graphic detail and the overall ability to disturb the viewer.
The "twist" at the end of the film is sort of old hat material to anyone with any sort of experience with philosophy (read Descartes, Twain's "Mysterious Stranger," or even watch the Matrix), but is nonetheless quite unpredictable. The rebellion against corporate cubicle-generated consumeristic furniture catalogue materialism springs from the same frustration that fueled Falling Down and even Dilbert comics. This is just far more visceral.
A great film of the 90's and worth seeing for anyone 18-30 who has by this time become quite innured to cinematic violence. :)