The First Rule of Fight Club

I’m a child of the 80’s. John Hughes’ films are the voice of my generation- as a teenager. But as I grew into adulthood in my chaotic 20’s, with so many choices before me and nearly as many regrets behind me, what song/film/person could be considered the new voice of my generation?
For me, much of that answer is FIGHT CLUB. This brilliant film, based on the equally ingenius book by Chuck Palahniuk, made the transition to celluloid via the capable hands of director David Fincher. Bringing the characters to life skillfully was achieved by Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham-Carter, Meatloaf, and Jared Leto.

In addition to the entertainment value, of which Fight Club fires on all cylinders, the film speaks to the unspoken angst within the psyche of the male Gen-Xer. A generation told by society we would all be rock stars, sports stars, movie stars- and pissed when that didn’t happen. We had no great war, no depression era- nothing to test our mettle or bring us together as a generation.

Confused and let down at every turn, some were beaten down, while others rose above adversity. Fight Club captures the essence of that struggle & frustration, that tangible feeling of Doing Something About It. It’s our generation’s way of shouting to the world, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!”

No film in my memory appeals both to my baser male instincts of violence, as well as my intellectual nature. The film is neither an action movie, nor a drama, nor a dark comedy. In fact, it is all three. Fight Club pulls the mask off the male psyche and holds it up to the light- for better or worse.

I recommend seeing the movie first, then read the book. In this rare case, both mediums are equally powerful and equally entertaining.

p.s. What film speaks to my generation now that we’re around 40? PARENTHOOD or maybe BYE, BYE, LOVE. Definitely not COCCOON… yet. Hehehe!