This is a brutal movie by any standards. Essentially, the plot is this: Jack, a guy who helps determine if recalls are needed on defective auto parts, is in a rut. He can't sleep, and he's slowly going crazy. To cure himself, he starts going to support groups for cancer patients and people suffering from other diseases, but his new-found tranquility is shattered by the presence of a woman doing the same thing.
Returning from a business trip, Jack discovers that his apartment has exploded and all of his material possessions have been destroyed. He moves in with a new acquaintance named Tyler Durden, who introduces Jack to the wonderful therapy of Fight Club. Basically, they go out and pick fights with people and get the snot pounded out of them.
This Fight Club evolves into an underground phenomenon, where men show up to duke it out as a way to release their aggressions from living in a world that doesn't seem to fit them. Eventually, the club transforms into its own subculture of random terrorist acts and high-profile vandalism, culminating on an attack on the financial integrity of the world.
The fight choreography has to be seen to be believed. These are some very realistic fights that the viewer is treated to. The plot continues to spiral down along with Jack and Tyler, heading toward personal oblivion as they get sucked deeper and deeper into this world of violence and anger.
Edward Norton gives a great performance as a nerdy, reedy guy looking to claim some respect in his life, as well as a way to forge his own destiny. Brad Pitt, as Tyler, is the ultimate iconoclast, the ultimate rebel who doesn't care what anyone thinks about anything.
Fight Club is a non-stop adrenaline rush from about 30 minutes in to the shocking and brutal climax. Admittedly, you need to be a little patient with this movie--it's a slow starter, but once it starts, the roller coaster never slows down.
After you see this movie, you'll have to restrain the urge to go pick a fight with someone at the nearest bar. The first rule of Fight Club is that you don't talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is that you don't talk about Fight Club. The first rule of this movie, though, is that if you don't rush out and see it, you're missing one of the best rides of the last few years.
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