If I have a friend that is closest to Ed Norton's character at the beginning of FIGHT CLUB, it's Johnny Wad. He's one of those guys that works in one of them sterile universes of computer labyrinths... the type where they install flourescent life-sapping tubes that flicker at a hypnotic rate. Johnny Wad seems constantly drained.. but never quite ready for sleep. So... I figured he was ripe for the fire that is FIGHT CLUB. Would it drive him insane? Would he start beating me up or asking for me to hit him? So, when he told me he had to write about the film, I said... sure. So... here's Johnny Wad... may god watch over each and every one of you...

When I go to see a movie, I always hope that it will be able to fully and completely draw me into its world. FIGHT CLUB had me there by the end of the opening titles. It started off as a pitch black comedy and then went on from there to get still darker. And I mean both literally and figuratively dark. The image on the screen was so black at some points that I felt sure that there must be something amiss in the projection booth. What this movie did was pummel me with a sensory overload of ideas, images, sounds, and humor for virtually every second from start to finish. It was all done with a carefully measured pace that never left me behind but always challenged me to keep up. I can't say that I assimilated all of the detail in every frame of this movie because there is so much going on that I don't think that it can be taken in with one viewing. This density of information is so great that you have no choice but to open your eyes and ears and let it all pour into you. You must submit to FIGHT CLUB to fully experience it. I can't recall anything quite like it. Perhaps THE MATRIX, but that looks like a kiddie matinee by comparison.

The more I like a movie, the less I want give away its secrets, so you won't be getting any kind of plot synopsis from me. Going into FIGHT CLUB I had heard a lot of hype and I had a case of dangerously high expectations, but I had fortunately managed to avoid any kind of spoilers. You deserve the chance to have the same thrill of discovery that I got to experience. Without giving away too much, I'll now try to give credit where it is due.

Edward Norton turns in a seemingly effortless performance as the film's lead, playing a timid, loser corporate droid so perfectly that I am unable to see any hints of an actor in his performance. Because Norton's character is the most complete in the movie, we have more opportunity to see what goes on in his character's head; we get to see what drives him. His performance may seem a bit understated, but it's a perfect characterization. Norton won't get the recognition that he deserves because he makes it all look too easy.

Brad Pitt's explosive performance is every bit an equal to Norton's, though he gave me a bit of a cringe at first. In the scene where Norton and Pitt's characters first meet, Pitt's mushmouth delivery makes it sound like he already has a fat lip. My fears of a mediocre performance had vanished by the time he and Norton have their first duel in the street, however. From this point on, Pitt always projects a powerful blend of charisma and menace. He's never been better.

Helena Bonham Carter provides excellent support in her key role as Marla Singer, a rather disquieting character that spends much of her screen time making caustic remarks and burning cigarettes. Marla Singer is the type of dysfunctional, Goth girl that lot of guys will possibly admit to having "dated" for a while, later moving on when the wild sex was not enough to justify their suffering. Maybe there's not enough of her character in the movie, but Bonham Carter makes the most out of what she is asked to do.

Director David Fincher is truly the star of this movie. It seems that he really does his homework in choosing material that is a good match for his stunning visual technique. I can't imagine a better match of script and director than this movie has. Fincher renders every frame of this film with so much attention to detail that it makes his earlier works look almost amateurish. You can sense that he had his hands on every aspect of this film's production to insure the quality that results. It's a true tour de force.

I should also mention that the Dust Brothers' score acts as an extremely effective mood enhancer. At times it is more sound effect than music, seemingly generated inside your own head. There are also numerous special effect shots that perfectly complement the live action images on the screen. It's good to see computer graphics used with imagination for a change.

You must be warned that the numerous fist-fights in this movie are depicted in the most authentic manner possible. These are not your standard Hollywood brawls, but real fights where people lose their teeth, eyes, and lots of blood. Do you remember how it felt when you were a kid and you fell off your bike and busted your head on the concrete? You'll remember it better than you want to when you're watching some of these fights. It's a safe bet that certain defective units will be inspired to emulate scenes from the movie, but rest assured that the violence isn't shown in a way that makes it look remotely attractive to any person who is halfway balanced.

This is also the kind of movie that will tend to polarize audiences. Some viewers will feel indicted because the social commentary strikes a little too close to home, while others may feel that they can find no sympathy for the characters. Some will feel that it has more style than substance, though I feel that the style alone is substantial enough to make this an incredibly entertaining experience. If it fails you for any reason, you will most likely view it as a hateful, violent, negative experience. If you are to see where the characters in FIGHT CLUB are coming from, you must not be afraid to have your own materialist way of life questioned.

This movie is about much more than fighting, if it's about that at all. It's similar to THE MATRIX in that it offers lots of ideas and questions, but it leaves it up to you to sort out the answers. Don't worry about what kind of meanings people try to hang on this movie. It's really just pure entertainment, and that's all that it ever attempts to be. It's possible that people are not quite ready for this film now, but I believe that it will someday be seen as a classic reflection of its time.

Johnny Wad