Fight Club (1999)

Directed by: David Fincher | 139 minutes | drama, thriller, crime | Actors: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf, Zack Grenier, Richmond Arquette, David Andrews, George Maguire, Eugenie Bondurant, Christina Cabot, Rachel Singer, Christie Cronenweth, Jared Leto, Edward Kowalczyk

‘Fight Club’ is a film of which opinions differ widely. Enthusiasts praise the film to heaven, opponents have nothing good to say about it. It’s not often that the reviews of a film are so diverse. The makers of ‘Fight Club’ seem to be proud of this.

Director David Fincher has a very recognizable style of filming. This can be found in the films ‘Se7en’ (1995), ‘The Game’ (1997) and ‘Panic Room’ (2002). For example, there are the beautiful shots from ‘Panic Room’ in which the camera seems to move through keyholes and walls in a smooth movement. Also the use of one different frame during a scene to show the viewer something without it being clearly in the picture, as was used in the denouement in ‘Se7en’, is typical Fincher. The latter is also used a number of times at ‘Fight Club’, so keep an eye out if you want to catch a glimpse of Brad Pitt.

The message of the film is already clear after ten minutes. The commercialized world is going to hell because no one knows what to value anymore. Talkgroup addict Jack (Edward Norton) fits right into this world but feels something is missing. When he meets his opposite, Tyler (Brad Pitt), a man who makes soap from human fat, Fight Club is born. The absurd activities of the friends are credibly told, which keeps the film captivating until the end. As the story progresses, tension develops as the protagonist loses control of the anarchy he himself started. The final climax also contains the greatest strength of the film and makes you want to watch the film again, with foreknowledge about the denouement you experience the film differently and everything turns out to be better than it is initially clear.

In addition to Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter also delivers an excellent acting performance. The well-developed characters are given extra power by the protagonists. Meat Loaf mainly provides a comic note.

‘Fight Club’ is original, disturbing and beautifully shot, a film that you must see (twice).