As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the intricate worlds of celluloid, I find myself captivated by the enigmatic journey of David Fincher’s masterpiece, Fight Club. The story behind its creation is as fascinating as the movie itself, with twists and turns that mirror the narrative on screen.
Audiences were destined to talk endlessly about Fight Club.
25 years have passed since the release of David Fincher’s controversial film, based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel with the same title, featuring stars like Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham-Carter. Its exploration of consumer capitalism, anarchic solutions, exaggerated hypermasculinity (even if it was satirized), and its mind-bending finale continue to resonate strongly today.
Initially, many people found it difficult to understand the concept or simply disliked it intensely.
Fight Club has been described as various things, ranging from a masterpiece to being socially reckless, even labeled as an “unacceptable attack on individual morality and on society at large.
That last one made it onto the DVD box.
Before social media transformed us into amateur verbal boxers, Fight Club proposed that physically fighting each other might be the most authentic method for men to release the stresses imposed by so-called civilized society. In a world where shallow demands were becoming more and more overwhelming, the only way to bond – to truly feel something – was through mutual ownership in an improvised ring.
The film sparked numerous copies and popular catchphrases, with many individuals choosing to reenact their own anger in basements. However, it also stimulated deeper thoughts among many others.
Initially, I wasn’t quick to appreciate it, as the movie, released on October 15, 1999, was met with commercial failure at first sight. However, my persistence paid off, and I eventually came to truly value its unique qualities.
However, over time, insights flooded in: on the importance of detachment, the rot setting in morally and materially, on the hidden impulses that dwell within us, and how a single film could evoke such contrasting feelings of admiration and disdain.
The film was released on DVD in June 2000 and eventually managed to sell approximately 6 million copies throughout the following ten years. To this day, “Fight Club” remains a raw portrayal of societal damage caused by consumerism, while also offering a vivid depiction of what it means to rebel against consequences, as symbolized through its intense imagery.
Audiences may not always be prepared to gaze into the cultural reflection presented to them. However, Fincher intentionally aimed to make viewers feel uneasy, and indeed, he succeeded brilliantly in achieving his goal.
Or maybe it just makes you think about soap and Brad Pitt‘s abs.
In any case, it’s a strange time in all of our lives, so here are 20 secrets about Fight Club:
Author Chuck Palahniuk negotiated a deal to sell his manuscript concept, featuring an ordinary office worker drawn into a secret fighting league controlled by the intriguing, mysterious Tyler Durden, to publishing house W.W. Norton for $6,000. Initially, it only managed to sell around 5,000 copies. However, the story eventually landed in influential hands, and at that time, the late Laura Ziskin, head of Fox 2000, purchased the rights for $10,000.
The street talk suggests that the phrase “snowflake,” now often referring to someone who is sensitive or easily offended, may have stemmed from Chuck Palahniuk’s novel “Fight Club,” where Tyler leaves a message saying, “You are not special and unique like a snowflake. You are just ordinary, decaying organic material, and we are all part of the same decomposing pile.
Back in 2017, Esquire shed light on an interesting fact: the term “alt” had been used to signify something more than just snow since the 1860s, and it was actually a political label then. As an avid history buff and a follower of linguistic trends, this tidbit really caught my attention.
3. Initially, David O. Russell was offered the chance to direct Fight Club, but he didn’t end up getting it, as stated in Brian Raftery’s 2019 book Best. Movie. Year. Ever, which explores the groundbreaking films that emerged from 1999.
David Fincher, who had previously collaborated with Brad Pitt on the film ‘Se7en’, aimed to acquire the rights. However, they were already owned by 20th Century Fox. Following his less than pleasant experience with the studio during ‘Alien 3’, he wasn’t keen on working with them again. Yet, after a meeting with Ziskin, he agreed – provided that instead of a low-budget, rough production, he could create a high-budget, gritty spectacle. As he reminisced, “I wanted to put movie stars in it and spark conversations about the anti-consumerist musings of a schizophrenic madman.
4. As I embarked on the task of adapting the screenplay, a part of me believed it would be an enjoyable challenge, yet another part whispered, “this project might never see the light of day.” This was shared with Raftery by none other than James Uhls himself.
5. When Pitt’s character, Tyler Durden, initially urges the nameless, insignificant protagonist portrayed by Edward Norton, saying “Strike me with all your might”…
His costar hit him.
In the first scene of the movie, I delivered a punch to his ear, and he responded by saying, “Hit me!” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2019. David Fincher instructed me to do this, but I wasn’t sure what to do, so I went ahead and hit him, and in the film, he exclaimed, “Ow! Why the ear?
6. The ever-introspective Pitt strongly identified with the movie’s underlying message.
He once boasted, “I have it all,” but later realized that possessing everything only leaves you alone. Let me repeat what I’ve said before: Material wealth may not bring a peaceful night’s rest or a brighter morning.
7. Fincher became convinced of Norton’s talent after watching him play the role of an idealistic lawyer in the 1996 film “The People vs. Larry Flynt“.
Norton too found the book insightful, commenting to Raftery after finishing it in a single read that “it hit the mark on many emotions we’ve been grappling with,” he said. “The book was remarkably witty and amusing as it captured the anxious apprehension of Gen-X/Gen-Y about the evolving world—and the pressures to conform to it.
8. Pitt and Norton honed their boxing and tae kwon do skills in preparation for their action sequences, while also mastering the art of soap-making as part of a side plot involving the use of recycled fat from plastic surgeons’ offices.
However, whereas Brad Pitt’s intense physique was suitable for his role as Tyler, Norton needed to slim down to effectively depict an office worker who spends his time perusing IKEA catalogues rather than pumping iron at the gym.
9. At one point, Courtney Love, who was dating Norton at the time, was under consideration for the part of the sharp-tongued, cigarette-addicted Marla Singer. However, Fincher expressed to Raftery that he ultimately decided their personal matters might interfere with the job, and there was indeed a significant amount of work involved in the project.
In a turn of events, it was Pitt who motivated Fincher to explore Helena Bonham Carter in her critically acclaimed role from the period drama “The Wings of the Dove“. Despite her mother viewing the “Fight Club” script as harmful, the British actress agreed to meet with Fincher and eventually joined the project.
In 1999, the meticulous style of multiple takes that made Fincher a legend was already apparent.)
Norton, reminiscing about how Carter often burst out laughing on multiple instances, shared with Raftery, “She couldn’t manage a single take without giggling. It felt like, ‘with Fincher likely doing forty more takes, do you truly wish to push it to seventy?’
The actor said that, at 129 days, it was the longest shoot of his career.
As a devoted fan, I followed the ongoing discussions between directors Raftery, Norton, and Fincher during the filmmaking process regarding the film’s tone. While it had a comedic undertone, the director made a conscious effort to ensure that the humor wasn’t overtly apparent.
The aim was to keep viewers pondering the specific message of this film, and Norton remembered Fincher telling him on one occasion, “Try to be a bit less Jerry, a bit more Dean.” (This means, instead of portraying the character in a manner that is overly flamboyant or exaggerated like Jerry [a hypothetical character], try to embody the character with a more understated, subtle, and thoughtful performance, as Dean [another hypothetical character] would.)
12. Fincher, recognized for his films’ chilling scores, including an Oscar-winning one in The Social Network, initially sought Thom Yorke from Radiohead to compose the score for Fight Club. However, due to exhaustion from promoting OK Computer, Yorke had to decline the offer. As per Norton, he and Pitt spent their last night of shooting up till 4 a.m., sharing a joint and listening to OK Computer together.
In 2018, Yorke shared with BBC 6 that he received a script, and both Ed and Brad Pitt wrote expressing their belief that he should take on the role. However, Yorke responded negatively at first, saying “No, I can’t.” Eventually, he admitted that he couldn’t have done it at that time, but whenever he watches the movie, he wishes he had.
Instead, the trio consisting of the Dust Brothers, Michael Simpson, and John King delivered the post-modern sound that Fincher was envisioning. According to Simpson, Fincher wanted it to feel like a bee trapped inside your ear. He aimed to provoke an urge in the audience to exit the theater even before the opening credits had finished playing.
King noted, “The music has a split personality feel to it. Maybe that’s fitting for the film.
13. It was clear to everyone present at the time that what they were creating surpassed ordinary descriptions.
Norton explained to Jimmy Carter that the script was incredibly rich with ideas. He described it as a “zeitgeist film,” meaning it captures the essence or spirit of its time. If we manage to accurately portray this book, in the resulting movie, we’ll have successfully reflected the culture at a specific moment.
Speaking as a lifestyle expert, I often find myself pondering over the intricate layers of cinematic masterpieces, and when it comes to the question of my character’s sanity in that particular movie, I believe it’s a valid query. After all, the film is symbolic on many levels, serving as an exploration of a person’s descent into madness, a self-destructive act ultimately aimed at preservation and survival.
Said Pitt, “It’s a bombardment of information, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
14. For some, the film symbolized the end of conventional masculinity, suggesting that men were becoming outdated and that contemporary society favored women more.
Norton expressed to Carter, “I believe you’re oversimplifying somewhat. To clarify, I don’t view it as a bold statement, but rather as an exploration of the reasons behind men feeling [frustrated].
In today’s modern society, as Brad Pitt shared with Carter, it’s not about shouting or physical confrontations, but rather about dialogue and understanding. However, you can’t jump directly to this stage without first going through the experiences that lead you there. You can’t simply bypass the stages where conflicts are resolved through arguments.
15. (As a lifestyle expert) I once found myself in a unique situation when my then-partner, Jennifer Aniston, took the bold step to shave my head for an upcoming role of mine, specifically for Tyler’s buzz cut scenes in a film. My luscious mane had regrown by the time our movie premiered in October 1999. Fate had it that we would tie the knot just a few months later, in July of the following year.
16. In contrast to the book, screenwriter Uhls deviated in creating the film’s ending by depicting the “space monkeys,” a symbol of rebellion against powerful entities like credit card companies and corporate giants, who have caused immense suffering.
In the years leading up to the bursting of the tech bubble in 2000, debt levels significantly increased during the late ’90s. This surge was partly due to a court ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier in the decade, which allowed companies to charge exceptionally high fees.
Producer Ross Grayson Bell expressed to Raftery that we were seeking a production where the spectators would enthusiastically applaud the demise of our world.
The special effects-reliant scene took almost a year to finish.
17. The fox wasn’t particularly pleased that the 20th Century Fox corporate headquarters, one of the structures destroyed in the ending, but director Fincher had obtained approval from studio chairman Bill Mechanic, who was dismissed in 2000.
Currently serving as the CEO of Pandemonium Films, Mechanic expressed to Raftery that approving the demolition of the Fox tower for a movie was his “counter-move against [Rupert Murdoch].” His sentiment essentially meant, “I’m standing up to him.
18. Fight Club was originally scheduled for a July 1999 release, but Fox pushed it to October.
The studio claimed the decision wasn’t related to the Columbine High School tragedy in April, but director Fincher suggested to Raftery that the studio was essentially asking him to make some adjustments subtly.
Still, no substantial changes were made and the movie came out as Fincher envisioned.
19. Fight Club was immediately lost in translation.
At the Venice Film Festival, Edward and I were roaring with laughter, much like overly enthusiastic Americans enjoying their own film, according to Pitt’s recollection. There was a rather insensitive joke from Marla’s character about sex and school, which prompted the head of the festival to stand up and exit at that moment.
Fincher remarked, “I assumed they’d be passionate movie enthusiasts, but it turned out their average age was around 73 years old instead.
Pitt added, “It was completely quiet then. But we started yelling louder. It was an amazing moment for us. We felt like we’d stumbled upon something significant.
Norton told Raftery, “It received jeers. It was performing terribly, indeed. But then Brad turned to me and said, ‘This is the best film I’ll ever be a part of.’ He was overjoyed.
20. (As a Lifestyle Expert) I must confess, the movie didn’t quite strike the right chord with audiences. Anticipating the inevitable, Fincher found himself drawn towards the serene shores of Bali over its opening weekend, seeking solace in the numbers-free paradise.
As a devoted film enthusiast, I was initially thrilled when Fight Club debuted at the top spot, raking in an impressive $11 million. However, the chatter surrounding this production, which had a production cost of $65 million, seemed to discourage rather than entice viewers. In fact, even Rosie O’Donnell revealed the twist on her talk show, which might have further diminished interest. Regrettably, the film managed to make only $37 million domestically.
However, the initial indifference towards it, along with ongoing dislike from certain communities, played a significant role in solidifying Fight Club’s reputation as a cult favorite.
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2024-10-15 10:20