Fight Club

Summary: A man's empty life explodes along with his clever little condo. Alright, I should back this up.
An insomniac man joins some support groups, which help him sleep. He meets a crazy woman, and a guy who makes soap. He moves in with the guy who makes soap after his apartment explodes. Also, the soap guy and he start fighting each other, and then other guys join. Eventually, and inevitably, it gets out of control.

See, the film is told entirely from the point of view of the narrator (Ed Norton), surprise!, and the viewer only gets to know what he knows. It's really quite sad at the beginning because he hates his job, his life, he can't sleep - he has no escape. But then they come up with Fight Club.

As for the woman, Marla, I don't even know where to begin to describe her parasitic, self-absorbed, heroin-chic character. Actually, that's a pretty good description. She's portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter, who I really don't care for, but I cannot continue to pretend that she has no talent. Darn.

Of course, the best part of the film is the wild chemistry between Brad Pitt and Norton, two of today's best leading men. I like that both of them tend to lean towards these sorts of roles rather than the run of the mill romantic comedy that many a leading man gets trapped in. To be honest, romantic comedy done often and done well is a level rarely achieved. Pitt relishes his insane, cruel, and twisted character. Norton, as usual, excels as a neurotic yes-man.

Overall, the movie is best when you recognize just how hilarious it all is. All of it. If you get caught up in revolting against the violence, the sexuality, or the amorality of the characters, then you don't get it. David Fincher, the director, and Jim Uhls, the screenwriter, don't want you to go out and start fight clubs of your own or destroy corporate art. Movies don't inspire such desires; movies give you ideas on how to bring your desires to fruition.