I never looked at soap the same after this movie…
Well, we’ve reached hump day. The middle of the week where we’re dragging out feet to the weekend. It’s a day of recharging and reorienting, and what better way to do that than with a bit of Netflix therapy?
And so, next up in our series of Executive Decisions (you know, the weekly column where we make the streaming choice to get you through hump day) we have the David Fincher classic Fight Club starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. Told from the viewpoint of Edward Norton’s Narrator, the film sees Norton discover another part of himself through Brad Pitt’s Tyler Durden (spoiler alert: they’re the same person). By the end however you’re so shook into oblivion that all you can do is hold on for dear life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtRKdVHc-cE
And so, we’ve made an executive decision. You’re popping on Netflix and watching the existential mindfuck Fight Club tonight. No ifs, no buts. If you’re still not convinced, here are five reasons that’ll definitely change your mind.
Fun Facts About Soap
Maybe ‘fun’ isn’t the best word for this. More ‘eye-opening’ or ‘mind-boggling.’ ‘Intriguing’ even. But still, who the hell knew how many functions soap had before this film dropped in 1999? Like the ability to be a sanitary product, explosive and burning agent is just wild. The fact that soap incorporates human fat and so on however was one fact I definitely didn’t need to know.
The Fashion
Okay, aside from being a psychopathic hallucination, Brad Pitt’s Tyler Durden is one stylish dude in this flick. From red leather jackets to retro sunnies and an outrageous fur coat (that only Pitt could pull off), it’s essentially a tapestry of the best of 90s fashion. Well, for the most part, the Edward Norton’s Narrator dresses like your average suit, but everyone around him is decked out to the nines which more than makes up for him. A little fashion inspo for hump day:
The ‘Fight Club’ Speech
Who else was hyped up beyond all belief after watching this for the first time? Not gonna lie, I was half-trying to convince my mate to punch on with me behind the shed after first viewing. I mean, Pitt’s Tyler Durden somehow makes a bunch of middle aged dudes fighting in a basement sound like a Roman epic with his infamous monologue (which is no mean feat). Needless to say, if you’re looking for some motivation this Wednesday arvo, shirtless Brad Pitt has you covered below:
Fights (Obviously)
I mean, this is kind of a given. Any film with the word ‘Fight’ in the title that has shitty fights should honestly be erased from cinematic history, but thankfully Fight Club delivers in this area and then some. Don’t get me wrong, these aren’t beautifully choreographed or Matrix-quality punch ons, but they have the grittiness you want from a film of this tone. David Fincher makes you feel like every punch is reaching through the screen and socking you in the face too, adding to the immersion that is Fight Club.
Helena Bonham Carter’s Infamous ‘Grade School’ line
I must admit, the first time I saw this as a youngster I was quite taken aback by Helena Bonham Carter’s “I haven’t been fucked like that since grade school” line. Like the implications of that quote are just ridiculous (where on Earth did she go to graded school?!). But it fits perfectly with the character of Marla and the overall grunginess of the film, and judging by how popular that section is in the below clip (1:50 to save you time), we’re guessing everyone agrees. Fun fact: the line was meant to be “I wanna have your abortion,” which is equally as cooked.
