What better way to celebrate Throwback Thursday than to think back on the many great movies we watched growing up? Maybe you owned them or you rented them from Blockbuster, however you got them, they are VHS Classic’s and we are here to celebrate them.
This week’s VHS Classic is difficult to write about, mostly because the first rule is we aren’t supposed to talk about it, but people are always asking me if I know Tyler Durden…
Fight Club is a well deserved entry into our list as it is arguably the best philosophical movie about bare knuckle brawling in basements.
The film centers on Jack who is a depressed insomniac with a dead-end job. Jack’s life is simply going through the motions, buying this coffee maker, wearing those clothes, looking for the right dining room set. Jack is searching for an outlet, something to remind him of what if means to be alive or something that gives him a sense of satisfaction he can’t seem to find in his regular mundane existence.
At the height of his misery, Jack meets a strange man named Tyler Durden who enlightens him about the simplicity of life and urges him to let go of his perceptions of happiness. Tyler challenges Jack to fight as a means to let go of pent up aggression and to the limits of what they know about themselves.
Eventually, the fighting turns into an underground movement lead by Tyler and Jack. The movement quickly becomes more than just a cathartic release for its members and starts to dip into a revolution against consumerism.
Throughout the film, Fight Club explores several themes including chaos, total and utter destruction, and rebirth. Fight Club examines human desire on every level and questions what drives an individual towards those desires. Are these wants and needs real, or have we been been conditioned to think they need the newest car and the finest clothes?
Many of the hallmarks of David Fincher’s films can be seen in Fight Club, including his use of color, exceptional lighting, and a complex yet digestible script. Thanks the phenomenal cast, featuring Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, and Brad Pitt, Fight Club keeps audiences engaged with the characters and leaves us anxious as we head towards the climax of the film.
This week, take off your shoes, remove any rings, and get ready to feel alive after you watch the late 90’s masterpiece Fight Club.
NOTE:
Fight Club is a best watched with someone who has not seen it yet as they will likely have a lot to say when the credits roll.
And remember, if it’s your first night at Fight Club, you have to fight.
