Fight Club

Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club is the story of a troubled white-collar corporate worker who meets a mysterious man where the two form a fight club as an outlet for their rage. Directed by David Fincher and screenplay by Jim Uhls, the film is a study of a man becoming discontent with his world as he turns to violence as a way to act out only for things to get more complicated. Starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Jared Leto, and Meat Loaf Aday. Fight Club is a gripping and intense film from David Fincher.

The film is an exploration of a man whose life as a white-collar corporate worker has made him unhappy until he meets a mysterious man where they form a secret fight club where the two and several other men engaging in fights under a bar. There, they live this life in secrecy where it would eventually morph into something bigger that would make the film’s unnamed protagonist (Edward Norton) uneasy. It’s a film that isn’t just about this growing discontent with a world that has become corporate but also filled with ads and the need to consume products where this man who is also its narrator. It’s also about a man’s reaction where he would get the help of this mysterious man named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) who is this very odd yet intelligent figure that represents this idea of anarchy and nihilism that the narrator needs in a world that has stifled him.

Jim Uhls’ screenplay has this unique approach to not just the narration in how the narrator doesn’t just react to his situation but also deal with the fact that he lives in this ultra-consumerist world which is nearly soul-crushing and also unsatisfying. The first act is about the narrator’s life and how he got himself into these group meetings with people suffering cancer and all sorts of disease where he would also see this woman named Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter) doing the same as the two reluctantly make a deal. Singer would be this character that would pop up in the narrator’s life as she would later be integral to the film’s second act as she sleeps around with Durden and then wonder what these two guys are doing. The second act isn’t just about the formation of fight club but also its evolution into something that becomes this haven for men who are disgusted with this ultra-corporate and ultra-consumerist world where they fight as well as antagonize the status quo.

There is also a lot of ambiguity that occurs as it relates to the narrator’s friendship with Durden where it does start off as two men dissatisfied with the ways of the world but Durden is the one who is doing something. It’s that sense of action that intrigues the narrator who needs something as he had lost his home in a fire and starts to act out against his own boss (Zach Grenier). The film’s third act isn’t just about the fight club’s evolution but also in Durden’s view of the world as it evolved into something bigger in an act against the world of capitalism. The result would lead to a lot of things but a view that has made the narrator uneasy as well as deal with these men who had become this community that are all about chaos.

David Fincher’s direction is quite stylish but also very daring for the fact that he’s making a Hollywood studio picture that is about anarchy and anti-corporatism, anti-capitalism, and anti-consumerism. The film opens with Durden putting a gun into the narrator’s mouth as much of the film is told in a reflective narrative of sorts where it plays into the narrator coping with his life and what it had become. Shot on location in Los Angeles, the film plays into this world that is very modern as well as very consumerist where it is overwhelming in how ads and products are being shown to create something that is scary. Fincher’s usage of wide and medium shots help play into the world while he would also create some unique camera angles and movements to play into some of the chaotic elements including the fights.

The fights do have this air of brutality but also a beauty that is presented underneath its ugliness and graphic violence. There are also scenes that are quite surreal as it relates to some sex scenes involving the narrator and Marla where the former isn’t sure if he really had sex with her. One key moment during the second act is where the narrator sees the many jobs that Durden does including being a film projector where there is a moment where the fourth wall is broken. There’s also these little moments early in the film that serves as a sense of foreshadow where there’s a strange object that emerges on a frame as it plays into the narrator’s growing disdain towards his environment. The film’s third act is quite intense but also displays a lot into aspects of surrealism into the world that the narrator is in and what Durden is about to do forcing the two to have a showdown. Overall, Fincher creates a rapturous yet haunting film about a man’s disdain with the world of consumerism and capitalism that forces him to team with another man and form a fight club.

Cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth does amazing work with the film‘s very stylized yet somewhat de-colored cinematography the intentionally bland look of the narrator‘s life in his semi-posh condo and the office he works at to the more grimy look for many of the interior/exterior scenes at night as well as the home that he shares with Durden. Editor James Haygood does fantastic work with the editing in not just creating some unique rhythmic cuts and stylish usages of jump-cuts and slow-motion cuts but also in the way these mysterious objects would pop up early in the film. Production designer Alex McDowell, with set decorator Jay Hart and art director Chris Gorack, does brilliant work with the look of the condo that the narrator lived in to the dilapidated and decayed home that Durden lives in as well as the basement in the bar where many of the fights at the fight club happens. Costume designer Michael Kaplan does nice work with the costumes from the bland look of the narrator early in the film to the stylish clothes that Durden and Marla wear to play into their anti-conformist attitude

Special makeup effects supervisor Rob Bottin does excellent work with some of the makeup from the design of the big breasts that one of the narrator‘s friends in Bob sports to look of some of the people that are beaten up at fight club. Visual effects supervisors Kevin Tod Haug and Kevin Mack do superb work with some of the visual effects in not just some of the set dressing but also in some eerie scenes at relates to how soap is made and other surreal moments in the film. Sound designer Ren Klyce and sound editor Richard Hymns do incredible work with the sound in the way some objects sound as well as the atmosphere in the fight club. The film’s music by John King and Mike Simpson, aka the Dust Brothers, is phenomenal for its mixture of drone-heavy electronic music with some industrial and ambient textures to play into the drama and violence while the soundtrack features music from Tom Waits, Marlene Dietrich, and the Pixies.

The casting by Laray Mayfield is wonderful as it features some notable small roles from Zach Grenier as the narrator’s boss, Rachel Singer as a cancer-stricken women at a group meeting, Peter Iacangelo as the bar owner who is from the mob that isn’t keen on having the fight club in his basement, Thom Gossom Jr. as a detective who investigates the arson of the narrator’s apartment, Pat McNamara as the police commissioner, Joon Kim as a convenience store cashier Durden threatens to kill, and Jared Leto in a small yet terrific performance as a fight club member whom Durden takes a liking to late in the film. Meat Loaf Aday is excellent as Bob as a man with massive man-breasts who deals with the loss of his testicles as the narrator befriends him during a meeting as he would also become part of the fight club.

Helena Bonham Carter is fantastic as Marla Singer as a troubled woman who attends to a lot of group meetings for strange reasons as well as be someone who is also an addict as she befriends Durden while somewhat antagonize the narrator. Brad Pitt is remarkable as Tyler Durden as this mysterious soap maker who is the embodiment of complete and absolute anarchy where is he also quite intelligent about the ways of the world and how consumerism has ruined the world as Pitt just owns the part with his charm and the ability to be cool. Finally, there’s Edward Norton in a tremendous performance as this unnamed narrator as this white-collar corporate worker for an automobile corporation who suffers from insomnia and depression who finds himself taking part in a world where he gets into fights and stands up for himself only to deal with the severity of what he and Durden created as it’s a very grounded and visceral performance from Norton.

Fight Club is a magnificent film from David Fincher that features incredible performances from Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter. Featuring an inventive script, dazzling visuals, and an eerie score, the film is truly a dark yet intense film that explores anarchy and nihilism at its most profane. It is also a film that manages to critique this world of corporate and consumerist culture that has take hold of humanity in the worst ways. In the end, Fight Club is an outstanding film from David Fincher.

David Fincher Films: Alien 3 - Se7en - The Game - Panic Room - Zodiac - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Social Network - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film) - Gone Girl

Related: 15 Essential Videos by David Fincher - The Auteurs #61: David Fincher

© thevoid99 2016

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple (TV film)

Based on Karen Cushman’s novel, The Ballad of Lucy Whipple tells the story of a widowed mother and her three move to California from New England in the 1850s during the Gold Rush. The eldest daughter herself as Lucy as she tries to adapt to her new surroundings while dealing with her mother. Directed by Jeremy Kagan with a teleplay by Christopher Lofton, the TV movie is a coming of age tale as well as a period piece set at a time when California was a new world for Americans. Starring Glenn Close, Jena Malone, Chloe Webb, Robert Pastorelli, Bruce McGill, Meat Loaf Aday, and Wilford Brimley. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple is a good, heartwarming period drama from Jeremy Kagan.

After the death of her husband, Arvella Whipple (Glenn Close) goes on a journey from Massachusetts to California during the Gold Rush. Taking her three kids including her eldest daughter California (Jena Malone), son Butte (Michael Welch), and Prairie (Celeste Leary) to a small town that is run by Jonas Scatter (Bruce McGill). For Arvella, she hopes it’s a chance to start over though California has already begun to dislike the town, which is still in development. Meeting various eccentrics including a miner named Amos Frogge (Meat Loaf Aday) and a part-time prostitute named Sophie (Chloe Webb). The only person California befriends is a lawyer named Carrots (Dennis Christopher) who lends her his books.

With Arvella and her kids helping out in the town’s development, California renames herself Lucy as she meets a young girl named Annie (Olivia Burnette) who lives in the forest as she teaches her to read. A new town arrival in a preacher named Clyde Claymore (Robert Pastorelli) arrives to spread the gospel though Arvella isn’t keen on his ideals. Even as Lucy’s dislike for the town suddenly progresses into her liking the place more and more as she gets to know various locals including an androgynous cowboy named Buck (Judy Gold) and a Negro who she renamed Bernard (Neblis Francois). Though the tension between Arvella and Lucy is still evident over the decision to move.

Following a tragic event that shook up the entire Whipple family, Lucy uncovers more secrets about the town including Annie’s family where she meets Annie’s father (Dalin Christensen) as she learns why Annie lives in the woods. When he’s later found dead by the river and Annie’s mother (Elaine Kagan) is accused as she’s judged by the town’s deputy sheriff (Wilford Brimley). Lucy defends her as Arvella realizes what value Lucy has with her book reading. When Clyde makes a decision for his future with Arvella, another conflict with Lucy and Arvella emerges with the two unsure what to do next.

The TV film is essentially a mother’s plan to start over in a small Californian town in the 1850s while her eldest daughter isn’t happy about the decision. What happens is that it becomes a world where California becomes Lucy and finds herself being a part of this new world she’s living in despite some troubles and tribulations she would deal with. While her mother is a headstrong woman desperate for a new life and Lucy is a dreamer who wants to help teach people to read or use her knowledge for good. There is tension between the two women despite their similarities but their relationship is the heart of the film.

Director Jeremy Kagan does create a faithful period piece with some wonderful camera angles and wide shots of the landscape which is really shot in Utah. Since the script is a coming-of-age tale with elements of melodrama that is the norm of most TV movies. Kagan does play by the rules of what is expected though at times, it gets a little dramatic while there’s a scene where there’s a cheesy special effect happening that doesn’t really work. Despite the flaws the TV film has for its dramatic elements and conventional storytelling, it is still a solid TV film from Jeremy Kagan.

Cinematographer Neil Roach does an excellent job with the photography from the sunny, green look of the Utah landscapes as California to the dark nighttime scenes for many of the exteriors. The interiors also have a great look for the daytime scenes while it’s more intimate and sparse for the nighttime sequences in the tent. Editor Michael Economou does a very good job with the editing that is mostly straightforward in its approach to cutting though at times, the pacing lags a bit in a few spots.

Production designer Stephen Altman and set decorators John Bucklin and Anthony Maccario do a phenomenal job with the set designs from the period boarding houses that are created along with the tents. Altman’s work is truly amazing to watch in the design of those houses along with the objects created for the TV film. Costume designer Van Broughton Ramsey does a superb job with the costumes . From the cowboy clothes and pants that the men wear to the dresses the women including the yellowish dress that Lucy wears at times as the costumes help bring authenticity to the TV film.

Sound editor Joseph Melody does a nice job with the sound work from capturing the atmosphere of the town to the little noises such as gunshots, horse neighs, and other objects. Music composer Bruce Broughton does a good with the music playing to the old time folk music of the times though there’s moments when the score tends to overwhelm the drama in some scenes.

The casting by Jeff Johnson and Mary Jo Slater do a wonderful job with the casting with its large ensemble. Notable small performances include Elaine Kagan as Annie’s mother, Dalin Christensen as Annie’s abusive father, Charles Gruber as Arvella’s late husband (via photo), Celeste Leary as Lucy’s youngest sister Prairie, Dennis Christopher as a lawyer Lucy befriends early in TV film, and Judy Gold as the androgynous Buck. Other memorable small roles include Neblis Francois as the black man Lucy befriends name Bernard, Michael Welch as Lucy’s younger brother Butte, and in a cameo of sorts, Wilford Brimley as the town’s deputy sheriff.

Olivia Burnette is very good as the gritty though uneducated Annie who befriends Annie as she helps her get food while learning how to read in return. Legendary rock singer Meat Loaf (under the Meat Loaf Aday name) is excellent in a comical role of sorts as a man looking for gold while having a great scene where he tells a legendary story. Chloe Webb is really good as Sophie, a woman who is a part-time hooker but with a heart of gold as she helps out Arvella and Sophie in their duties. Bruce McGill is also good in a fine role as a town mayor who makes sure what is happening with the town and such. The late Robert Pastorelli is wonderful in his role as the preacher Clyde who helps to sooth the soul of the town while befriending Lucy and Arvella.

Glenn Close is superb as Arvella Whipple, Lucy’s mother who is a headstrong woman wanting to start over and create something for herself and her children. Close plays the character straight while being a bit comical at times as she truly revels in playing a free-spirited yet adventurous woman who loves her children including Lucy despite their differences. Finally, there’s Jena Malone in one of her finest performances as the title character of California “Lucy” Whipple. Malone exudes all of the character’s troubles to adjust not just to her new surroundings but also having to find ways to use her knowledge and love for books for something. Even as she is often in conflict with various people including Close as the two have great chemistry in the characters they play. It’s a truly outstanding performance from the young actress that would play to her evolution as one of cinema’s great young actresses.

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple is stellar yet touching period drama from Jeremy Kagan featuring top-notch performances from Jena Malone and Glenn Close. While it’s a formulaic TV movie that does have strengths in its story along with a wonderful cast. It’s also a coming-of-age film that plays true to the way mothers and daughters interact along with their differences. Fans of Jena Malone will no doubt see this film as one of her essential performances while fans of Glenn Close get a chance to see the famed actress in another memorable performance. In the end, The Ballad of Lucy Whipple is a very good TV film from Jeremy Kagan and company.

© thevoid99 2011