To swim through a person’s brain and come out of it through a pore in his skin could be the best possible way to get into the mood for watching a psychological thriller. But what if you notice, as you come out through the pore that the person (played flawlessly by Edward Norton) whose brain you were swimming is sitting in a high rise with a gun thrust into his mouth? This guy knows Tyler Durden. He also knows that there are several buildings in the vicinity of where he is sitting that have loads of explosives planted in their basements, enough to bring them down in a matter of seconds. He also believes that all this has happened due to one woman - Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter). If you have the time maybe he can tell what this is all about.
Jack (is that his name? or is it Cornelius or is it…?) has it all, a good job with a “major automobile manufacturer”, high flying lifestyle, Ck Shirts, DKNY shoes and an apartment filled with the top brands of what money can buy.
“Hey! That shot of the apartment with all those furnishings and equipments with a super imposed catalogue is a really cool shot” I tell myself.
He: That’s more than a cool shot buddy, it is more of a slap on today’s consumerism.
I am startled by this sudden voice from next to me
I: Do I know you?
He: What do you think?
I: You look familiar
He: Ah then you might just know me
I: I am watching this movie by David Fincher and I am told it is a tough movie to understand, I would not like to miss anything that is happening on screen; maybe you should not mind when I say, I am not interested in a talk with you, just yet
He: You must be kidding, if I am right it will be you who will talk to me and want me to talk to back, that is for sure
I: Some arrogance you have got, but hey, I have already missed a lot of on-screen action, what the hell is this guy Jack doing in a support group for people with testicular cancer?
He: See you already asking me questions, well if you did not notice, “Jack” suffers from insomnia and his shrink suggested to him to be a part of a support group to be able to relieve himself of his pressure packed life.
I: But does Jack suffer from testicular cancer?
He: No he is faking it to the support group members; so that they can relate to him and its not just testicular cancer, Jack is a member of several other support groups as well, as he realized that opening up to strangers helps him sleep well.
I: Ah I see.
He: What you see is actually the magic of the cinematographer (Jeff Cronenweth), doesn’t he really set the mood for this one, dark, sleazy and distorted. The distortion is intentional and a product of some brilliant editing (James Haygood & Robert Longstreet) and though you haven’t mentioned it, let me suggest that what you hear as music (The Dust Brothers) too makes a real impact on you doesn’t it.
I: Yes it does, but all your constant rattling has meant that I have not understood who this punk lady is and why Jack is paranoid about her?
He: She is Marla Singer, another confused soul like Jack himself, who thinks “support groups are cheaper than movies and includes free coffee”, she too is a member of various support groups. The fact that she is as much a fake as Jack himself does not allow Jack to open up in the support groups anymore and that means he loses his sleep all over again.
I: Hey look its Brad Pitt sitting next to Jack in the airplane.
He: No, that is one of Brad Pitt’s most brilliantly executed on screen character, Tyler Durden.
I: Strange name...weird sense of dressing I must confess
He: That is because Tyler is not going to let Giorgio Armani or Gucci decide what he should wear? He cares two hoots for brands or image. His views are radical and his philosophy * is “what you own, eventually owns you”. He is supposedly a soap manufacturer/ seller.
I:The dialogues (screenplay by Jim Uhls, based on a novel by Chuck Palahniuk) are crisp and witty aren’t they?
He: As much as they are peppered with vulgarity, don’t tell me you did not notice that.
I: I did, I also noticed an explosion rather missed it; can you be quiet for a minute?
He: As you please.
I: Whose apartment is it that got blown up?
I: Whose apartment is it that got blown up?
He: I thought you asked me to keep quiet
I: Whose apartment is it that got blown up?
He: Jack’s
I: By whom?
He: Watch the movie mate
I: Yeah I would love to if you let me do it in peace that is…
He: Okay I will not interfere…
I: Why did Jack call up Tyler after seeing the explosion? Why not Marla? Oh I forgot, you would not answer, I guess I will have to figure that one out myself. Okay let us make a deal you talk when I ask you something or else you do not talk
He: Huh??
I: Hey look Jack is punching Tyler, weren’t they just having a pleasant conversation over a few beers? Why is punching him?
He: Coz Tyler asked him to
I: Why would anyone want to be punched?
He: You are watching one of the key moments of the movie, the Fight Club is being born, a phenomenon that will catch up all over America, outlets that will help thousands of people vent their frustrations. Yes it will work well for Jack, even better than the support groups he has been to… that is until Marla steps back into his life…
I: Hey enough do not spoil the fun for me.
He: Okay I will not
He keeps his word and I get sucked into the movie; Marla’s re-entry has indeed brought about changes in Tyler’s and Jack’s lives. Though it is Jack she wants, it is Tyler who satisfies her need. Tyler also wants to take Fight Clubs into their next stage in evolution and he sows the seeds of “Project Mayhem” something that will strike at the core of corporate America, the movie zips through to a riveting climax that leaves you with several questions each with several possible answers… as I turn to ask the first of those
I: “Hey why does every person that Jack meets in the later part of the movie call him Tyler?”
The last part of my question is almost a mumble as I realize that I am alone in the room. Where the hell did HE vanish? Or where did he come from and how did he ever step in, in the first place? Who was I talking to? Myself? A creature of my own imagination? Or my alter-ego?
Fight Club review Rule no: 8: ''Chances are you have not even begun to understand what this review is all about, feel free to rate it as you please, but do not go away without a visit to the comment section”
