Fight Club Movie Review

Directed by David Fincher and stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter, Fight Club is an adaptation of the novel “Fight Club” written by Chuck Palahnuik. There is one thing that can be said about fight club, either you will really love it or you will really hate it. There is just no middle path about it.

I for one liked the movie. The movie has everything in it to make it a cult film. “An average men lives a life of quiet desperation”, Fight Club not only brings out that desperation but twists it, shows a form of vent and provides you with a hell of a climax. The film has great one liners :
“The first rule of fight club is do not talk about fight club”
“Self improvement is masturbation"
“We just lost cabin pressure”

"Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off. "

"Now, a question of etiquette - as I pass, do I give you the ass or the crotch? "

and a host of others. The narration is where the movie really scores. The direction and performances are sterling to say the least.
The film is not just a story but a way of life, a philosophy in making. The philosophy is anti consumerism , and advocates a nihilistic approach.
Norton plays the role of an average guy stuck in cubicle and an insomniac. He was so screwed up that he becomes addicted to support groups and this is where he met Helena, who also was a faker. There is no way out for him till he met Brad Pitt and his life changed forever. He moves in with him and started the life that Brad Pitt (Tyler) was living. Brad Pitt has really interesting theories about life and it amuses and contradicts everything we believe in but makes a point too. Fight Club was formed as a result of pent up frustration and no way to get it out. Slowly but certainly the number of members in fight club starts increasing and in time it was opened in a couple of places. The film concludes with “Project Mayhem” and a dramatic end.
Watch the movie once for you may really like it or you will really hate me for recommending it to you.

Barack Obama and India

The call for votes has got shriller on Indian soil. No these are not for the votes in Bihar elections rather the calls are made for American votes from India. Strange? Not really. After the recent drubbings Obama has been kind of desperate and hence his successful Indian visit is measured by the number of jobs that will be created in US. It seems the American Population is tired of the “Change Agent ” and hence they are seeking change at the presidency level and “Yes They Can”.
As a kid, I use to see “tight rope walking” act performed by street side artist whereby a kid would walk a rope tied to two posts and balance a pot on his head. He would also use a stick to balance himself.
Obama’s situation looks eerily similar to that kid only he is well dressed and better fed. As he walks the tight rope he has to appease India (begging India to open up and sounding anti protectionist) on the one hand and woo American voters (creating jobs and shouting anti outsourcing rhetoric) on the other. The pot balanced on his head is his presidency and the stick used to balance himself is Afghanistan which can easily led to his downfall.
The desperate situation of Obama can be gauged by the fact that his advisors had almost converted every deal he signs in terms of the jobs that will be created back home.
I cannot blame Mr Obama for asking for votes from Indian soil for we have been doing this our entire life (post freedom). Garnering votes by whatever means whether it be promising bikes to school children or bribing the constituency has been our specialty and it seems Obama has figured out what we do best.
All I can say is congrats Mr Obama for taking back 54000 jobs back with himself.