Finite Focus: End of a Century (Fight Club)
What a strange and prophetic thing that Fight Club would have an airplane crash, terrorism (albeit of the domestic kind) and bomb-making on its mind. While the film was somewhat dismissed critically, failed commercially, and had only a small by loyal cult loving it upon its 1999 release despite an avalanche of column inches and publicity, by the time it came out on DVD is a luscious 2 Disc special edition (a rarity at the time) and in the wake of September 11, 2001, the world was ready for this film to fully enter the pop culture mainstream.
David Fincher’s third film is scored with a gritty Dust Brothers score (that almost does to film scoring the same thing that the Seven opening credits sequence did to opening credits sequences), it is The Pixies “Where is My Mind” coupled with the collapse of a dozen or so skyscrapers (the result of domestic terrorism) that seals the deal. Throw in a graphically ugly frame of the male penis (another form of mischief propagated throughout the film - not only in anarchist Tyler Durden splicing in explicit nudity into family films, but also in the director inserting frames of Tyler himself in the early reels prior to the character’s introduction) and the connection of sex, “contemporary manhood” and violence is underscored (and shot at with sharp satirical barbs). Not so simple, it is also a moment of tenderness between two characters who have been at odds with each other (at least in the context of the viewer’s viewpoint) for most of the film.
Truly one of the best individual scenes in the 1990s from a film that captures a snapshot of the decade whilst being prescient on what is to come. Until seeing the ad campaign for The Dark Knight, which featured very explicit 9/11 imagery on a very mainstream piece of pop entertainment, I would have said that Fight Club could not have been made in this century, but now I am not so sure. Nonetheless, Fincher’s film is still relevant, sharp and very, very funny.
Comment by Henrik — August 24, 2008 @ 9:05 pm
That’s kinda the joke with Fight Club and Palanuik in general, he thrives on this sort of satire. Far too many folks missed the joke. I dunno if it is due to American stereotypes, American earnestness or what not, critically the boat was mostly missed on Fight Club’s first time around, and I wouldn’t be surprised if in many foreign countries there was a condescending superiority thinking that Americans aren’t smart enough to make that sort of satire. Nope, Fight Club is a black comedy with sharp talons. American Cinema needs more satirical films like this one and less dopey “we totally didn’t see the joke” films like WANTED. (I’m blaming the American screenwriters on WANTED, not the Russian director)
Comment by kurt — August 24, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
Comment by Jonathan B. — August 24, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
Also on the pain/relief thing. It’s fabulously spoofed in I Heart Huckabees.
Comment by kurt — August 24, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
I prefer John McTiernans satire when he has the gun-show-pornography type sequence where people are firing massive guns, but they’re firing them at nothing. If Fight Club is saying that violence is not the answer, it’s speaking in the wrong way, to the wrong audience. With the wrong actionstar in the leading role. And the wrong imagery gloryfying terrorism with a cool “this is rebellion!” song playing in the background.
Comment by Henrik — August 24, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
I’m not saying the film won’t be interpreted the wrong way by some people, but for the rest of us, I’d like to see more satires made this sharply with this level of visual flair and witty irony.
Comment by Kurt — August 25, 2008 @ 6:20 am
No, the worst BSG episode is easily “The Woman King”
Comment by Goon — August 25, 2008 @ 9:45 am
Comment by Kurt — August 25, 2008 @ 11:15 am
I have to say I lean towards Kurt’s point of view on this one. What you said, Kurt, was spot on, that it doesn’t take itself seriously it just plays it all with as straight a face possible. I will admit I didn’t get the satire thing when I watched it years ago, and I guess I just latched onto the macho stuff that’s on the surface. But having grown up a bit (both literally (:P) and my taste in movies) I can’t believe I missed the satirical mentality it has. “Tell him the liberator who destroyed my property has realigned my perception.” — The way Pitt says this line (and all of his actually) just strikes the perfect….tone, if you get what I mean. I find Fight Club to be a perfect film for what it SHOULD have been. There aren’t many films out there that acheieve what Fight Club does (despite strong efforts on their parts).
Comment by Ross Miller — August 25, 2008 @ 11:16 am
Comment by Ross Miller — August 25, 2008 @ 11:20 am
Comment by Goon — August 25, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
Of course you hated it. It was filled with actual character development and a cohesive storyline without resorting to cliches or ripped from the headlines stylized plots.
It looks to plot driven and not enough ‘US allegory’ driven now.
I’m fucking clairvoyant I is.
Comment by Matt Gamble — August 25, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
Comment by Goon — August 25, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
Comment by murph — August 25, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
Comment by murph — August 25, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
You’re certifiable if you mean this. However, if you mean it’s freeing when you get to punch them back, you’re not only certifiable, but more or less dangerous.
Comment by Henrik — August 25, 2008 @ 4:10 pm