Excellent on every level.

Rating: 10/10 (23 October 2002)

I guess enough has been said in previous comments about the brilliance of David Fincher's "Fight Club". I don't want to give yet another insight into the movie, but rather my personal feelings.
I think it's the best movie of 1999 and one of the best of the decade. Even more so, it's the most watchable. I might consider "Star Wars" a better film. Or "Schindler's List" - but I never like watching them the way I like watching "Fight Club". If I wouldn't be such a movie fan and feel the urge to see at least 10 new movies a week, I'd watch "Fight Club" every day. It belongs to a group of movies that never stop to amaze me and that I can watch again and again and again. Other movies in that list would be "Starship Troopers", "The Empire Strikes Back", "First Contact", "South Park", "Aliens". There's more, but I should get back to "Fight Club".
What probably makes the movie so watchable for me is that I connect with it and perfectly well know that there are a lot that don't. I have the satisfying feeling of getting along with Fincher on his ride. That he made this movie just for me. I can admire the performances, I can inhale the incredible style, I can laugh out loud about the satire and the satire behind the satire, I can melt at the sight of Brad Pitt's abs or I can be amazed at how incredibly daring the film is. That all I can - and that all I don't while watching it. Because I'm way too engaged. I'm much more involved than with other movies. Involved in the overall excitement, not any particular component. In the perfection of the movie. And after it's over, I feel satisfied. Well, yes, that does sound a lot like sex - but I don't want to explore *that* discussion any further ...
Has it any flaws? Every movie has. I think it drags a little bit in the second half. So what. I don't care. I don't want to care. Because I love that movie so much, I forget about the flaws. I feel good that there still are movies being made that I can put my emotions into. That I can love. Yes, I said it before, one can love a movie. The ability to do so separates the film goer from the film fan. Or addict. "Fight Club" is why I love movies (I stole that line from Ebert's "Fargo"-review but it really applies here). And not related to everything I've written before: I'd love to have a fight with Brad. Just a thought. "You have a kind of sick desperation in your laugh." Just a line I like to insert here. Ok, the review starts falling apart, it's time to end it ... Rating? Well, I guess you already know...
10/10