Review of Fight Club (1999) by Gimly M — 25 Nov 2013

I could probably sum Fight Club up in one sentence. I'll go further than that, but I would like to start you off with that sentence: David Fincher is a fucking genius.

I've seen eight of Fincher's nine films, and I fucking dig every bloody one of them. Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds, Troy, Burn After Reading, Interview with the Vampire, Se7en, Snatch, Megamind) was never appreciated by me until I saw Fight Club (though more recently I have gone on to find other work of his great). Fight Club brought Edward Norton to my attention (American History X, Red Dragon, The Illusionist, Kingdom of Heaven, The Incredible Hulk, Pride and Glory) whom I've never been let down by.

There's practically nothing that Fight Club doesn't have going for it. Believable cast, great story, intriguing sound, BAMF visuals, crazy mind-fuckery, life lessons, everything you need and more. Though it's not 100% unique (as it's based on the book of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk; I recommend you read it, it's just as good as the film) it was truly the only one of its kind back in 1999 when it was released.

Even if you cannot stand violence (and in the aptly named film, there's an awful lot of it) I still recommend you try to suffer through it, for if a Statue of Jeff Winger Doin' it to a Brain could be awarded to any film, it'd be Fight Club. Twists aside, ultimately this movie fucks with your mind by virtue of making you question your society. No matter the culture, there's something here for every person, and everything here for some people. Counter-culture has probably never been so epically captured, and may not be again.

Plus it's got Meat Loaf.

This gritty, straight-up fucking masterpiece should be a part of every damn movie collection out there. If you do not own it, fuck you, get it. Support it. Watch it. Immediately watch it again. Continue to watch it once every month or so. Your life just got less shit. You're welcome.

96%.

-Gimly.