David Fincher's Magnum Opus

Rating: Null/10 (17 July 2006)

I take a very middle-of-the-road stance on this movie, despite the high rating. To me, those who call it genius, unprecedented, etc. are misunderstanding it just as much as those who think of it as lowbrow horror and violence (which makes no sense by the way, as there is almost no violence shown the entire movie, part of what makes it more effective). The goal as I see it was to take the detective genre and turn it inside-out. Use every convention they could and somehow make it original while mixing in the pessimism and cynicism Fincher is deservedly famous for. Thus, by definition it can't be "unprecedented." But to me, doing one simple thing nearly perfect is a great deal more satisfying than trying to do something genius badly. One of the best films since its release by far, and I'm sorry but Fight Club just can't match it. To see the work of the most talented directors of our generation, look no further.