One of the modern classics

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 2008)

When I saw this classic movie 7 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised and saw it every time it came in TV. That was one of the most special things about this movie - the replay value which many other movies didn't have. Every time I watched the movie, I noticed something new - a small joke or a subtle hint that I might have missed the first time. It is not an action movie as the title suggests, but a somewhat dark comedy which can "realign your perceptions"(as Tyler puts it).
The main character is a nameless narrator who is having problems of insomnia. He goes to doctors about his problem and asks for medication. One of the doctors tells him to visit a testicular cancer support group when the narrator tells him that he is in pain.
He starts going to many such groups in which he talks about his "problem" (even though he doesn't have it) and so he is able to sleep well. In the midst of all this, he meets Marla who also visits support groups for the same reasons as the narrator.
He meets Tyler Durden on a plane. They become friends when the narrator's house is damaged in an accident. He then lives with Tyler. Tyler asks the narrator to punch him and that's how Fight club was started.
The first thing that viewers may notice about the movie is the colour. The whole movie has a dark blue/green tinge which gives the movie the classic David Fincher look.
The characters are mostly unlikeable. They are raw and as close to reality as possible. Almost all the characters have troubled lives and troubled relationships with parents. They are mostly aimless people with nothing to live for.
The humor in this movie may be unpalatable to some viewers because of the jokes regarding testicular cancer and so on.
The camera-work in this movie is brilliant. The scene where Tyler Durden crashes his car is an example of the exquisite camera-work in this movie. There are also subtle hints to the way the movie is going in the earlier frames. These hints most probably would be noticed only on the second viewing. Fincher doesn't insult the intelligence of the viewer and instead gives him enough hints to figure out the plot.
As far as the performances are concerned, Edward Norton gives a great performance as the narrator who is aimless and dissatisfied with his life. Brad Pitt, as Tyler Durden, is my personal favourite as the sexual magnetism glows from the screen whenever he arrives. He was definitely the right choice for the role. Helena Bonham Carter is perfect as Marla, the confused woman who is as unhinged as the narrator himself. Meatloaf also gives a memorable performance as Robert Paulson (I didn't know he could act).
It might not be a movie for all tastes but if you have a taste for dark stylish movies with unusual story lines and great performances, then this movie is perfect for you. It has become one of my favourite films of all time and I have also become a big fan of David Fincher.