Fight Club - Review

BY ANDREW PALIK

In 8th grade, I was suspended for being in a fight club. Like me and my middle school friends, many fight clubs appearing in the United States were inspired by the 90s cultural giant– “Fight Club”. “Fight Club” is classic because of its brutal tone, acting, and relevant themes. “Fight Club” is narrated by an unnamed insomniac protagonist, played by Edward Norton. The narrator works a miserable job and attends anonymous support groups to find meaning in his life. The story jumpstarts after introducing Marla Singer, played by Helena Carter, and Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt. The unhinged Tyler Durden helps the narrator feel alive by starting a fight club. Over time, that fight club snowballs into an underground anti-consumer terrorist group. I know, shit gets crazy. The craziness is methodically built with a gritty and realistic tone. Every scene features a grimy wet basement, poorly lit street, or dull white corporate space. A tense soundtrack matches the movie’s brutal action, highlighted by ‘Where Is My Mind’ by The Pixies playing over an ending scene I’ll never forget. The absurdity is unified by Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, who were born for “Fight Club”, with both performances matching the story’s intensity. Overall, “Fight Club” is about insecure men joining a hyper-masculine movement, consumerism causing a lack of identity, and feeling powerless in a society that tells us how we are supposed to live our lives. These themes are relevant today and make “Fight Club” worth a watch in 2023.