Verdict:
Edward Norton plays an emotionally troubled guy with insomnia, who is also the narrator of the film telling his own story. It is difficult to talk about the story because everything is so good that talking about anything feels like a spoiler. One thing for sure is that the narrative is intelligent, entertaining and connects with the audience on both intellectual and animalistic levels. The believability of the plot does go down a little towards the end of the film, but who cares?
This flick comes at you with a couple of messages, with the main theme, I believe, being moderation. This is not what many viewers took away from this film and the film has divided its audiences into two opposing camps (neither of which seem to get the point), ironically the very thing this movie warns against.
Even little bits in this movie can be brilliant, in fact, especially the little bits. You blink too long and you miss them, though the movie does a real good job at keeping your attention so you should not miss things too easily. Prepare to have your eyes glued to the screen in a semi-voluntary manner.
The film looks amazing. It has a gritty and wonderfully disturbing look to it. There is a texture to everything. Even the people’s clothes, it seems, were picked to invoke a specific feeling of texture.
A lot of the film was shot at in the city at night or in locations that are dimly lit, and the film uses all those night lights to great atmospheric effect. So despite being gritty and textury, Fight Club also ends up being colourful. There are computer generated effects but they are used sparingly and to great effect.
The dialogue is straight up edible. If for nothing else, this what you should watch this movie for. Every line is sharp and sober and hangs on to your mind with a steel hook. It really pays to see this movie somewhere where you can stop and rewind it because, like with its cinematography, the lines are quick and you may miss something tasty.
This is probably also Brad Pit’s best role. The guy has never disappointed me, but this looks like his masterpiece, like he is working his hardest and having the greatest fun doing it. Edward Norton has always had a docile delivery, so he complements the insane Brad Pit very well, which is part of the point of the movie.
Perhaps my one problem is Helena Bonham Carter. It is not even her acting, but the look. It is a mystery why that actress has to have the same appearance in every movie and in real life: The kooky Burtonesque black-clad emo chick with wavy messy hair. Just…paint the hair red or blue or something! At least her look does fit the role.
Also, it may be useful to point out, as the title of the movie very explicitly suggests, this movie is largely male oriented. Its bluntness, its grossness, its violence, most of its actors and themes are catered to guys.
Fight Club is a movie for the history books. It is quite blunt in its messaging and is male oriented, which may limit its audience, but it is also brilliant in so many ways. Fight Club is quite possibly the most entertaining movie I’ve seen.