The first rule is not to not talk about it, but for the sake of covering all our bases, we’re gonna talk about it.
Fight Club is a movie that is filled to the brim with philosophical roadblocks, moral grey area, and offers a unique view on nihilistic story telling. Using unique angles, and different story lines to push this “Jekyll & Hyde”-esk character to the max.
Narrator, the main character in this movie who has never been named, suffers from insomnia, and a chronic case of middle-management-harassment. He starts breaking down.
Buying things on impulse, making his apartment exactly how he wants it, and even starting going to random support groups to help jumpstart his emotions and stimuli, to finally fall asleep.
But then, on a work trip, he meets Tyler Durden.
After an unfortunate explosion at Narrator’s apartment, on a whim, he calls Tyler Durden; the soap seller, and they meet up at a random bar in a back street part of town.
Then the magic happens. After their drinks, Tyler asks Narrator to punch him, that he’s never been in a fight, and wants to feel the impact. Narrator strikes Tyler, and they begin a small, consensual fight.
Soon after this became a routine, drinks then scrap, people start watching, then they start joining, and from there on; Fight Club starts.
People from all demographics join. Taxi drivers, waiters, garbage men, you name it. If they weren’t in upper management, and sympathized with the normal, everyday, average Joe, they could join.
There are eight rules, but the most important are the first, second, third, and eighth.
- You do not talk about fight club.
- You DO NOT talk about fight club.
- If someone says “stop” or goes limp, taps out, the fight is over.
- If it is your first night at Fight Club, you have to fight.
But… it gets out of hand. Tyler turns Fight Club, effectively into a domestic terrorist organization, focused on tearing down the hierarchy in their city. Bombing credit card buildings to wipe the slate clean for millions of people.
Narrator tries his hardest to stop this from happening, but is unsuccessful in his attempt.
The bombings go through, and he watches them in their blaze of self-righteous glory.
This movie has so many themes, and is so deep, I was genuinely awestruck when I was lucky enough to see this in theaters. The experience of seeing it with a friend was also special.
But the praise this movie has earned is warranted, and is a masterclass in filming the darker side of sensitive topics.
