No Matter How Weird It Gets, Don't Bail Before The Conclusion!

Rating: 10/10 (9 March 2017)

I am not usually a fan of "weird" movies, and "Fight Club" definitely qualifies under that distinction. I'm also not overly fond of movies that throw out sociological themes by the dozen just to "see what sticks", which "Fight Club" also does quite a bit of. Yet, in an exception to my personal "rule", this movie is so incredibly well-made that it easily vaults onto my "favorite movies ever" list.
For a basic plot summary, "Fight Club" sees a down-and-out business man (Edward Norton) who is completely burnt out emotional, to the point where he actually goes to support groups for diseases he does not have just so he can emote. One day, however, this man meets the mysterious Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), who takes charge of his life and completely transforms his personality from utterly passive to overly aggressive. When things get out of hand, however, the pair are at odds over which way their future is headed.
Minor Spoiler Alert: This is a movie with a "twist" ending. As such, I won't really say anything more about the plot. Suffice it to say, though, that "Fight Club" covers so much ground that it will feel like you've watched five movies in its time-span. If you have seen "The Mechanic" with Christian Bale, this is a very similar experience.
The hallmark of the whole "Fight Club" experience, though, is how director David Fincher seamlessly weaves the movie's far-reaching plot themes into something coherent, surprising, & exciting. At no point in the experience will you feel as if you have this movie "figured out"...but in this case that is a good thing! The film is so deep on a sociological, physical, and emotional level that you'll almost feel a little "wiped off" from thought after viewing.
The acting in "Fight Club" also very much suits the overall "weird" tone of the movie. Norton & Pitt provide a nice compliment to each other, while Helena Bonham Carter is interesting in a role that actually has much more significance to the film than one might originally perceive.
Simply put, the first time I saw "Fight Club" I was completely blown away by the whole concept. Years later, I watched it again (this time from the "knowing" perspective) and was still blown away by its deep themes and interesting concepts. I could probably watch it again and still catch new things. So, no matter how weird this movie gets, please DO NOT bail out before the end, where everything finally comes together and begins to make a bit more sense. Fincher will not fail you if you stick with him!