“Fight Club”: How the Movie Surpassed the Book and Became a Legend

Context. 25 years ago, in October 1999, the world saw the cult film directed by David Fincher "Fight Club", based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. This is a story about the struggle with inner demons, identity crisis and protest against consumer society, which is revealed through the image of two central characters - an unnamed narrator (Edward Norton) and his charismatic friend Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt).

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the film “Fight Club” (its official release date was October 15, 1999). And it would be possible to remember him only for this reason. But there is another. In my opinion, this is an absolute masterpiece and one of the best films that commercial Hollywood has created.

Therefore, violating the first two rules of the club, I would like to say a few words.

"The Boy Club" is based on the book of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk, just three years after its release. And this is the rare case when the film turned out to be much better than the book.

I don't know who to thank more. Either written by Jim Uhls or directed by David Fincher, but for me, the film is almost perfect. 

In the story of a nameless office worker in a deep depression, every frame, every word is in its place. 

In addition, a magnificent cast that coped with 100 percent – Edward Northnon, handsome Brad Pitt, gorgeous Elena Bonham Carter, as well as Jared Leto and Meat Loaf (also a singer, who didn't know).

But when Fincher finished his creation in 1999, the producers were dissatisfied. So much so that they even immediately reduced the cost of promotion in order to reduce losses.

And indeed, the film was not a success at the box office and received controversial criticism. 

But, as a good wine, over the years it gained more and more fans. 

As a result, in the 2000s, many reputable magazines included "Fight Club" in the list of the best films in the history of cinema, and Tyler Durden's phrase "The first rule of fight club is you do not talk about fight club" among the best ever said from the screen.

What is the film about and why does it not lose its relevance after twenty-five years?

If you haven't watched it, then it's worth stopping here, because there will be spoilers later. 

So, the main character is an ordinary representative of the office plankton, who sees no point in his work and life except for buying exclusive interior items, and also suffers from insomnia. 

He finds salvation in attending support groups for those suffering from all sorts of incurable ailments, although he himself is healthy. Feeding on someone else's despair, he finds an outlet for his unspoken pain. 

Until another pretender appears - a girl named Marla, who spoils everything.

Forced to look for a new solution that would allow him to come to terms with the world around him and his aimless life, the narrator (he is nameless in the film) meets a friend - his complete opposite. A confident alpha male, Tyler Durden. 

And together they open the very first fight club, where parking attendants, pizza delivery men, insurance agents, financiers and restaurant workers can fight each other.

The search for a way out of running in circles in a squirrel wheel gradually turns into a search for real masculinity. 

Should a man go to the office, store and home? To be an obedient and predictable member of society?

Or should he beat his knuckles on his fists in short and wear bruises and abrasions from the fight last night?

"We're a generation of men raised by women," Tyler says.

Developing, the fight club is transformed into the "Defeat" project. The participants in this project do not seem to be enough protest to muzzle each other. They start their own war. 

A war with the ordinariness, predictability and sweetness of the Western world. 

A clear hierarchy, shaved heads, discipline and a very specific plan on how to plunge the greedy society into primordial chaos.

After all, it is there, getting rid of social conventions and norms dictated by society, that a man can become a man, Tyler believes. 

It is this self-realization that becomes the goal of the project, which justifies any means. The soldiers of Durden are even ready to die for her. Consciously and in formation.

Who needs this instinct of self-preservation when "even the Mona Lisa is falling apart"?

Life acquires meaning. 

A great cause replaces all doubts...

The story ends with a puzzling twist and the explosion of several skyscrapers.

The characters stand, embracing, and watch how the floors of glass and concrete collapse on each other. And it's so nice, it doesn't look like a standard Hollywood happy ending.

And, if you don't have enough reasons to rewatch the classics, here are some more fun facts about this movie.

Brad Pitt ruined his teeth to better fit the role of a bully and a fighter.

In the scene of the protagonist's first fight with Tyler Durden, Pitt's reactions are real. According to the script, Edward Norton was supposed to hit in the shoulder, but accidentally hit the ear. But the actors played the scene to the end and it was this take that was included in the film.

Tyler Durden appears in the frame five times before the main character meets him.

The scene where the drunk friends are playing golf is as realistic as possible, since Norton and Pitt were really drunk.

And finally, both actors really learned how to fight and, of course, how to make soap. Even if not from fat pumped out of rich asses.