Fight Club [R]

Jack is a chronic insomniac with an excruciatingly boring and material life that he is desperate to escape from. That’s when Jack meets a charismatic, clever, soap salesman named Tyler Durden. The two become inseparable friends and one night, through Tyler’s twisted philosophy that self-destruction is the true path to happiness, they engage in a fistfight that gives them a liberating and masculine high. Soon their little fistfights attract the attention of other men and Jack and Tyler become leaders of Fight Club; a club where men can enjoy the simple thrills of physical violence. But, as the Fight Club gets bigger, so too does Tyler’s philosophies about the world and there is a shocking surprise waiting for Jack that will change everything. 

Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club has to be one of the greatest, grittiest psychological thrillers to come out of the 90s. It’s a fantastic story backed by memorable performances and astonishing camera and special effects work, and altogether thrilling, chilling, mind-blowing, dramatic, violent, gritty, raw, and harshly funny. This movie is absolutely brilliant. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! 

Jack is a chronic insomniac with an excruciatingly boring and material life that he is desperate to escape from. To cope with his insomnia, he attends support meetings to see people in real pain and empathise with them. But this little vice is ruined when he meets Marla, a harsh woman who is doing the same thing as him. After his nightly intrigues are tarnished by the presence of Marla, Jack meets a charismatic, clever, soap salesman named Tyler Durden. The two become inseparable friends and one night, through Tyler’s twisted philosophy that self-destruction is the true path to happiness, they engage in a fistfight that gives them a liberating and masculine high. Soon their little fistfights attract the attention of other men and Jack and Tyler become leaders of Fight Club; a club where men can enjoy the simple thrills of physical violence. But, as the Fight Club gets bigger, so too does Tyler’s philosophies about the world, and there is a shocking surprise waiting for Jack that will change everything. 

Edward Norton stars as Jack and delivers a truly fantastic performance. His voice over narration is both menacing and sarcastic with smatterings of droll black comedy to lighten the mood occasionally. I particularly liked the way that he never gave anything away; that is to say that you could never see the cogs working in his brain as he’s processing dialogue and information. You never know with this character, never know if he’s going to hug you or punch you, and Edward’s performance was spot on! 

Brad Pitt stars as Tyler Duren, another performance that deserves an accolade. Even when he’s being charming and relatable, there is something incredibly harsh and menacing about him, his was a character that you wanted to be on the good side of and Brad played that role perfectly. 

I tell you, I’m going to have to run out and grab a copy of the book because the story is just so good! It’s a wonderful psychological thriller that’s packed with terrorism, violence, psychological intrigue, and a strong, if brutally warped friendship. Unfortunately I can’t rave as much as I’d like to about the story without giving the end away so, everyone, WATCH THE MOVIE! 

The camera work and special effects were equally as memorable as the story and the performances, bringing to the film quite a bit of humour as well as that sinister edge to the more dramatic scenes. Fan-fucking-tastic! 

Starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Zach Grenier, Ezra Buzzington, and Meat Loaf, Fight Club is a bloody fantastic film that’s packed with action, violence, sex, explosions, terrorism, mayhem, soap, suspense, drama, and black comedy. Earning its place in The Book, it’s a wholly remarkable, raw, and gritty film that will definitely stay with you. 

The first rule about Fight Club is that you don't talk about Fight Club,

The second rule about Fight Club is that you don't talk about Fight Club