ORIGINAL FIGHT CLUB IS A WINNER

Rating: Null/10 (27 November 1999)

The less you know about this highly compelling movie going in, the more enjoyable it is, so stay away from your big mouth friends who love to give every little detail. Fight Club is a totally wicked satire about male bonding, self-expectations and our inability to deal with the so-called "system". Before this movie even came out, it was being blasted for its violence and possibility of encouraging such "fight clubs"; total nonsense. The movie does not give so much to these actions, as does the publicity generated by an irresponsible media and the so-called "watch dogs" that actually plant the notion into people's heads.
Fight Club is based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk and I could not think of a better novel to be adapted for the screen to show the angst toward the inhuman society that we have created and let run rampant. Edward Norton is the unnamed narrator who is a totally disillusioned worker bee who suffers from insomnia. To deal with his situation he seeks out support groups that deal with terminal illnesses. Still not finding any type of release, he meets Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt, sporting an amazing set of six packs) and his life will never be the same. The two form not only a strange bond, but also an underground club where men do battle with each other to unleash their everyday frustrations with the world and themselves. Now if the film was only about the violence and fighting, it would succumb to boredom very quickly, but this is a highly intelligent film that has much to say about men and the society that men have created and have to deal with.
Director David Fincher displays a very visual knack and handles the back and forth time element with ease. The fight scenes, stunningly staged, are amazing to watch, but not for the faint of heart, they are brutal and bloody. The dialogue is intelligent, faced-paced and quite funny, while the acting is top notch. In Pitt and Norton, you have two of today's finest young actors, not to mention the biggest risk takers on the "movie star" list. These two, especially Pitt, take chances that other actors of their caliber would not even think of, only Johnny Depp and Nicholas Cage comes to mind. Add Tyler Durden to the top of Brad Pitt's off-kilter characters and Edward Norton continues to astonish with his characterizations. In a major supporting role, Helena Bonham Carter creates an intense, memorable performance as the hard-edged gal who has entered the life of Norton and Pitt.
"Being John Malkovich" is being touted as the original film this year and although I have not seen it, I would rank "Fight Club" up there in originality. This film is one of the best this year, not too mention a cult hit in the making. As far as the media condemning it as a reason for young men to act out, I'm sorry but this film is too highly evolved, sophisticated and intelligent for your average male teenager raised on Adam Sandler movies and ultra non-hip Saturday Night Live episodes to endure. Come to think of it, Fight Club is not for your average moviegoer and that is a good thing. Highly Recommend.