Good movie, bad philosophy

Rating: 8/10 (22 July 2000)

Unfortunately, it seems many people are attracted to the philosophy the film ends up exposing as an empty fallacy. Someone commented that "This film is the voice of disillusionment, of realising that the world we live in places unrealistic hopes and expectations on our lives and goals." Excuse me, no: WE place them. Nobody is responsible for the choices we make in our lives but us. Norton's character--and anybody like him--is trapped only by his inability to make those necessary choices in his life. And the answer isn't anarchy. While the ending is somewhat disappointing and goofy, at least the film has the intelligence to recognize that fact. Fight Club is a very well done movie, with an intoxicating visual style, compelling script, and performances that will blow your hair back. But lest anyone miss it, what Tyler espouses *is* a bad thing, for the individual and society, and that's the real moral of the movie. Unfortunately a lot of folks not only do seem to be missing that, but doing so enthusiastically, which is kind of pathetic, and a little unsettling.