Fight Club (1999)

 "How much can you know about yourself if you've never been in a fight?"

I first saw this film when I was in high school, and let's just say I went into a 'Fight Club' phase. No, I wasn't starting any underground fight clubs, but I immediately decided to read the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, and I became transfixed by its message.


For those of you who haven't gotten around to seeing it (which I highly recommend you consider), the film centers around Edward Norton's character (the nameless narrator), who has been suffering from severe insomnia.

 "When you have insomnia, you're never really asleep... and you're never really awake."

After taking his doctor's advice to witness more severe suffering, the narrator finally finds relief by attending support groups - whether it's for people diagnosed with testicular cancer, brain parasites or tuberculosis. The narrator becomes addicted to going to these meetings because they provide him with an emotional release that allows him to sleep at night.

"Strangers with this kind of honesty make me go a big rubbery one."

However, the problem occurs when the narrator notices a certain female has recently been attending all of his same support groups. Cue Marla Singer (played by the lovely Helena Bonham Carter). And yes, Marla even attends the testicular cancer group, which she claims to have more of a right to attending seeing as how the narrator still has his testicles. The narrator is no longer able to get the same satisfaction while knowing there is another faker present. So, they decide to split the groups up and alternate days.

Then, the narrator meets Tyler Durden. Quite an interesting character, Tyler seems to embody all the things the narrator wishes he could be. He's cool, he's confident, he's not attached to material things and he just doesn't seem to give a damn about societal standards. In fact, he despises them.

"The things you own end up owning you."

After the narrator's IKEA-furnished apartment unexpectedly blows up, he comes to live with Tyler. Long story short, they decide to start fight club. Surprisingly enough, it gets quite a following. Men from all walks of life flock to these underground battle royales, and it seems to mean something special for each one of them.

That's as far as I want to go with the storyline, though, because I don't want to spoil the ending. But I will say that the club becomes something much larger, and there is definitely a fun and unexpected twist at the end.

For those who do want to know the ending... *spoiler* we discover that all these unaccounted for time lapses are actually due to the fact that Tyler Durden is the narrator's alter-ego. He never existed, at least not as a separate person. The narrator became him while he thought he was sleeping. Tyler embodied all the traits the narrator wanted to encompass but was too afraid to. So, in the end, the narrator has to "kill" Tyler or be killed by Tyler. This never-having-existed twist was so mind blowing and original in its time. No one could have seen it coming.

What's interesting is that the film was panned by many critics when it originally came out, largely due to the high level of violence. Only later, after the movie had been released on DVD, did it gather a cult following (interestingly enough, several actual fight clubs were reported to have started in the U.S.). I think it's a mistake to think this movie is advocating violence or nihilism. If anything, it's a reflection of contemporary manhood. Fighting was the only way for them to experience feeling in a society where they are otherwise numb. There's one scene where Tyler and the narrator are on a bus and see a half-naked man on a Calvin Klein ad, and the narrator asks, "Is that what a man looks like?" Tyler responds with "Self-improvement is masturbation. Now self-destruction..."

Tyler Durden: Do you know what a duvet is?
Narrator: It's a comforter.
Tyler: It's a blanket. It's a fucking blanket. Now, why do guys like you and me know what a "duvet" is? Is this essential to our survival, in the hunter-gatherer sense of the word? No. What are we then?
Narrator: Consumers...
Tyler: We are the byproducts of a lifestyle obsession. Murder, crime, poverty, these things don't concern me. What concerns me are celebrity magazines, television with 500 channels, some guy's name on my underwear. Rogaine, Viagra, Olestra...
Narrator: Martha Stewart...
Tyler: Fuck Martha Stewart! Martha's polishing the brass on the titanic. It's all going down man! So fuck off with your sofa units, and string green stripe patterns.

'Fight Club' has an interesting take on modern culture and how advertising has essentially emasculated men and turned them into a society of spectators. Our material culture ultimately defines our external signifiers of happiness, while the more meaningful pursuit for spiritual happiness is neglected. At it's most basic level, the film is about a man who is trying to redefine his place in the world. 

"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything."

Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter were excellent choices, and all of them delivered exceptional performances. The movie also has some interesting visual effects that still blow me away to this day. There is something very cool about the way the movie has a dark look and feel, and I personally enjoy the special images spliced into a few of the scenes. And, although the movie has a slightly different ending, much of the storyline is very close to that of the novel.

The funny (and slightly sad) thing is, Fight Club's message still rings true to this day. As I sit here on this Super Bowl Sunday hearing a commercial for the Ritz Cracker Pre-Game Show, I can hear Edward Norton's voice in my head.... "When deep space exploration ramps up, it'll be the corporations that name everything... the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks."

But if asked, you didn't hear any of this from me, because the first rule of fight club is: you do not talk about fight club. 

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Genre: Drama, Comedy
Synopsis: An office employee and a soap salesman build a global organization to help vent male aggression. An office employee and a soap salesman build a global organization to help vent male aggression
Rated: R for disturbing and graphic depiction of violent anti-social behavior, sexuality and language
Running Time: 2 hr. 20 min.
In Theaters: Oct 15, 1999 Wide
Distributor:20th Century Fox
Directed By: David Fincher
Written By: Jim Uhls

Memento (2000)

"Some memories are best forgotten." 

Let me start off by saying that I think Christopher Nolan is a genius. This movie continues to intrigue, confuse, puzzle and entertain me, and I always seem to catch something new with every viewing  - which is truly the sign of a great film. 

What makes this film so impeccable is that its viewers have come up with so many different theories, themes and revelations about the actual Truth behind the film, and it is that Truth that the viewer and narrator are searching for from beginning to end. Any movie that keeps you thinking about it even days after you've seen it is worth closer inspection. 

The film begins at the end, so to speak, and works its way backward. The narrator and lead character is a former insurance investigator named Leonard Shelby, played by Guy Pearce. We learn that Shelby suffers from short-term memory loss. He can't make new memories after the night he received the head trauma that left him with anterograde amnesia. As he recalls, that was the night two men broke into his house, raping and killing his wife in the middle of the night. He walked into the bathroom to find his wife beneath his attacker, wrapped in a shower curtain. He managed to shoot one of the two men, but the other hit him from behind and got away. 

Ever since that night, however long ago it actually was, Leonard has made it his life's purpose to seek and kill the man who got away. He uses notes scribbled on polaroid photos and various tattoos all over his body to help him navigate his life. 

The movie moves backward from the moment he kills the man he believes raped and killed his wife to how it all began on that fateful night of his wife's death. 

However, as I sit here trying to write about this film, I am finding it hard to really give a synopsis because nothing in the movie is exactly as it appears to be. There are very few certainties. A lot of it is up for interpretation, which makes it all the more exciting. 

Throughout the film, Leonard often brings up the name Sammy Jankis, who he recalls was a man he had to investigate for possible medical insurance fraud. Sammy suffered from the same form of short-term memory loss, although there was a significant difference between Sammy and Leonard (as Leonard so often likes to point out) - Sammy was unable to condition himself. He could not learn something even if it were repeated the same way everyday, which Leonard says is something controlled by a different part of the brain. This led Leonard to believe that Sammy's condition was mental and not physical. This comes as a big blow to Mrs. Jankis, who seems to think she should be able to snap her husband out of his state. She tries a series of different tests to see how far she can push him, which ultimately leads to her final test. She, a diabetic, has Sammy re-administer her insulin shots repeatedly, each time setting back the time on her watch, to see if he would really let her die. Unbeknownst to Sammy, that is exactly what happens. 

Tattooed on Leonard's left hand are the words "Remember Sammy Jankis." I believe this was a way to motivate himself to live a life with purpose and action, rather than Sammy's life of meaninglessness. Leonard was constantly driven to find his wife's killer and bring him to justice. It gave him purpose and meaning, even if it would be a justice he wouldn't remember the next day.


We quickly find out that the people supposedly helping him over the last few days are not pure in motive. Natalie, played by Carrie-Anne Moss, and Teddy, played by Joe Pantoliano, are using Leonard for their own personal means and neither are truly upfront about their identities.

The movie plays with the concept of memory. Leonard lives his life based on what he believes are facts and absolute truths. 

Leonard: Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They're just an interpretation, they're not a record, and they're irrelevant if you have the facts.

As the film goes on, we begin to doubt Leonard's so-called facts. Things aren't as they initially seemed. And in the end, we find out that the truth is more than anyone bargained for. 

What also sets this film apart is how it is laid out. We have to piece the puzzle together just as Leonard does, relying on jotted notes and fragmented time. If played backward, the movie would run in chronological order, but what would be the fun in that? This progression, digression, progression sort of flow added a dimension to the film that really took it to the next level.

For those who have seen the film.... 


In the end, we discover that Leonard has indeed already found and killed his wife's tormentor, according to Teddy, who is trying to snap Leonard out of it. We also learn that Leonard's wife was the one with diabetes, and he was the one who overdosed her with insulin. The story begins to fall into place, or unravel, depending on your point of view. 

Leonard doesn't seem to want to believe all of this, and he can't seem to remember his wife having diabetes for sure, or killing his wife's aggressor, although Teddy has a picture of Leonard in extreme bliss, pointing to the spot on his chest reserved for the tattoo saying he finally did it. 

You are left questioning just about everything. 

Then it gets even more unexpected. Leonard essentially sets into motion a set of clues and "facts" that will lead him to the conclusion later on that Teddy is his wife's killer and the man he has been looking for all this time. He takes down Teddy's license plate number and marks it down as a "fact" and writes "Don't believe his lies" on the back of his polaroid. We realize that Leonard would rather live in this perpetual state of hunting for justice than facing the fact that he has already accomplished it and - possibly - face the realities of what he has done. Maybe he also doesn't want to live a life like Sammy Jankis, without purpose.

I have read up on so many different theories and questions that still plague viewers. Was there ever really a Sammy Jankis? Why did Leonard put on Jimmy's suit? Was Teddy telling the truth about Leonard's wife being the one with diabetes? Was all this just a way for Leonard to cope with the fact that he killed his wife? Had Leonard escaped from an insane asylum? Where did the name John/Jimmy G. even originate? Was Leonard's condition mental or physical? Was his wife still alive?

The joy is, I don't think we will ever know for sure. 




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R, 1 hr. 56 min.
Mystery & Suspense, Drama
Synopsis: A man, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man he thinks killed his wife.  

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Written By: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan 
In Theaters: Sep 5, 2000 Wide 
On DVD: Sep 4, 2001 
Box Office:$23.8M
Newmarket Films

Ten Inch Hero (2007)

I'll admit - the only reason I watched this was for Jensen Ackles (star of my favorite television show "Supernatural"). However, I am really glad I did because it was very very cute.

"Ten Inch Hero" centers around a quirky group of individuals who work at a sandwich shop in Santa Cruz and each of their unique love lives. The main character, Piper (Elisabeth Harnois), is new to join the crew. A young artist, Piper later reveals that she moved to Santa Cruz to be closer to her young daughter, whom she gave up for adoption and has lost contact with for several years. The family that adopted Piper's daughter, Julia, ceased communicating with Piper after two years. After finidng a newspaper clipping about a talented young youth who has a gift for art and also shares the same name as her daughter, Piper packed up and moved to California. She begins innocently stalking the family (although it's just the dad and daughter at this point) until she fatefully finds herself being part of their lives.

The other members of the sandwich crew are also going through important stages of their lives - mostly in the love department. Priestly (Jensen Ackles) is the off-beat, tattoeed and peirced, yet charming, cook with a mohawk that changes colors almost daily. After years of seeing how women choose the men they will date based solely on looks, he has become disillusioned by love. Jen (Clea DuVall) is the smart and kind-hearted woman who works the computers. She has been engaging in an online relationship with an anonymous person she met online. She fears the inevitable day when they will have to meet face-to-face. Tish (Danneel Ackles) is the sexy vixen who can get any guy who walks into the sandwich shop. However, she has a tendency to pick all the wrong guys, later realizing looks are not the best indicators for a man's character. Lastly, Trucker (John Doe) is the surfer/hippy shop owner who has been pining after the free-spirited woman who works across the street. However, he just can't seem to make the first move.

All in all, this movie has some pretty universal themes: things aren't always as they seem, don't be fooled by appearances, beauty is only skin deep, don't judge a book by it's cover, etc. However, the movie has an interesting way of making these timeless themes fresh and still relevant. Each character has a different issue to face, but in the end, it all comes back to love and identity. Priestly helps show Tish that perhaps if she stopped picking guys based on physical appearance, she may end up finding the man of her dreams. Jen learns that even though she was quick to assume her internet-penpal (who turned out to be a looker) would probably judge her negatively based on her seemingly average looks, she was also negatively judging him without actually giving him a chance. Piper, whose story line was actually my least favorite and much less believable, learns some things too but I'm not really going to get into it. Overall, there is more to people than meets the eye, and if you take the time to realize that, you will reap the benefits (wouldnt it be great if we could all end up with a sweet and caring guy who also looks like Jensen Ackles?).

"Ten Inch Hero" is a cute and enjoyable movie, and I have a feeling I'll be watching it again at some point. What's great about it is that I think out of all the characters, there is at least one that each one of us can directly relate to. I highly reccomend!

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Genre: Drama, Comedy
Synopsis: The story of five friends who learn about love, sex, and cold cuts while working in a funky sandwich shop. The story of five friends who learn about love, sex, and cold cuts while working in a funky sandwich shop.

Rated: R
Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.
On DVD: Feb 22, 2011
Distributor:Phase 4 Films
Directed By: David MacKay , David Mackay

Limitless (2011)

 

This movie made me wish that NZT was a real drug. 

"Limitless" is the story of a struggling writer named Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) who is generally lacking in ambition and any real direction in life. His girlfriend leaves him and the book he has been "working on" for the past several years doesn't actually have a word on the page yet. Anyway, Eddie runs into an old acquaintance on the street -- his ex-brother-in-law. The former deadbeat seems to have his life together and informs Eddie that its all thanks to this brand new drug that hasn't hit the market yet. He lets Eddie try one on the house and Eddie soon discovers that this mysterious pill, which they call NZT, has some pretty incredible effects. The pill allows you to use all of your brain -- anything you've ever read or heard in your lifetime can be accessed instantly like you were pulling an old file from the shelf. You can become fluent in a new language within hours, think your way out of life-threatening situations, or in Eddie's case, you can write that book you've been sitting on for years in the course of a few days. 

Of course, there are downsides to the miracle drug. Eddie finds out that those who used to take the drug are either dead or have serious mental illnesses. Eddie, who has been taking the drug more frequently now and has come into quite a different lifestyle as a high-powered consultant in the financial world, finds himself unable to account for what he's been doing during periodic blackouts that sometimes last for hours. Eddie also finds that his life is in danger. The drug, obviously in high demand by those who know about it, drives some to go to great lengths to ensure they can get it.

In the middle of all of this, Eddie makes the acquaintance of business mogul Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), who he manages to impress with his new-found business insight. However, things become much more complicated as Eddie fights for survival -- both against the drug's fatal effects and the hit-men who are trying to kill him. 

It's a great action-thriller. Very entertaining and it really showcases Bradley Cooper's acting ability. I didn't know for sure if Cooper would be able to carry an entire film as the lead, but he did. Most of the films I've seen him in have been comedies where he performs with a strong ensemble cast. But "Limitless" proves that there is more to Mr. Cooper than just good looks and witty quips. The man has some range.

It also makes you consider what you could accomplish if you had the chance to sample some NZT. As a writer, I often find myself suffering from the painful debilitation of writer's block. Just the other day I thought to myself "If only I had just one of those small, clear pills..."

And for those who have seen the film, I am interested to know what you thought of the end. Eddie's claim that he successfully weaned himself off the drug with no side effects yet he was still able to retain everything he learned seems highly debatable. The way the ending was depicted, I think that was the director's intention. I don't think we are supposed to know for sure.

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Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Synopsis: A writer discovers a top-secret drug which bestows him with super human abilities.

Rated: PG-13   for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language
Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.
In Theaters: Mar 18, 2011 Wide
Box Office:$41.1M

Distributor: Relativity Media
Directed By: Neil Burger

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

This is just a really cute movie. A lot of my friends told me it was one of their favorites, and I can see why.

The story revolves around a colorful group of friends in England who seem to find themselves at a lot of weddings, although never one of their own. Hugh Grant plays the lead role of Charles, who has a long history of failed relationships. Charles is the adorably awkward and charming British bachelor -- a role that Hugh Grant has mastered over the years. At one of the weddings, Charles becomes smitten with a mysterious American named Carrie (Andie MacDowell). They end up spending the night together, but the next day Carrie returns home to America. When they end up meeting again at yet another wedding, Charles hopes to pick up where they left off, but he finds that she is recently engaged (to a much older and much less attractive Englishman). The two wind up meeting again at another wedding, and it becomes clear that they just can't seem to get their timing right. I don't want to spoil how the rest plays out or who the funeral is held for. If you are curious, you should really just watch the film.

There were a lot of laughs -- particularly with the group's rowdier member, Gareth (Simon Callow), who always seemed to be the life of the party. It was also very amusing to see how consistently late Charles and his roommate were for every wedding. Cue about a zillion expletives.

But there were also scenes with a lot of heart. Of course, one being the funeral. But another being the storyline of Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas), who plays one of the friends. The audience finds out that she has had feelings for one of her friends for years, but without him ever knowing or reciprocating.
All in all, a very cute movie. Hugh Grant has perfected the disarming, charming, awkward sweetheart. This movie certainly highlights that.


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Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
Synopsis: Romantic comedy about Charles, a noncommittal Englishman who meets Carrie--the American girl of his dreams--at a mutual friend's wedding and proceeds to awkwardly woo her through one funeral and three more weddings--one of which happens to be her... Romantic comedy about Charles, a noncommittal Englishman who meets Carrie--the American girl of his dreams--at a mutual friend's wedding and proceeds to awkwardly woo her through one funeral and three more weddings--one of which happens to be her own. Finally Charles discovers himself standing at the altar on his own wedding day, betrothed to a woman he has no desire to spend the rest of his life with.

Rated: R  for language, and for some sexuality.
Running Time: 1 hr. 56 min.
In Theaters: Mar 9, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Sep 7, 1999

Distributor: Gramercy Pictures
Directed By: Mike Newell

Say Anything (1989)

Ugghhhh.... I am just going to start out by saying I was greatly disappointed by this movie. I normally love movies from the 80s, too. So imagine my chagrin.

I don't know. I guess I figured since the scene depicted above is so widely recognized that must mean that this movie was worth watching. WRONG.

In short, this movie is about the underachieving Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) who falls in love with the class valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye). The two undergo some "obstacles" in their relationship, including her wanting to take care of her dad during her last summer before going away to England for a fellowship. In the middle of it all, Diane's dad is audited by the IRS because *spoiler alert* apparently he has been stealing from the old people he tends to at his nursing home for decades!


Oh *another spoiler alert* don't worry about how the two will continue their relationship once Diane leaves for England. After 2 months of dating this person he had never known before, he decides he will move to England with her. As he stated throughout the film, he really had no ambition anyway with the exception of loving her. Excuse me while I vomit. I found this movie ridiculously unrealistic and bizarre. It was also boring at times. I literally fast-forwarded through many scenes. Oh and her dad ends up in jail! The whole movie just seemed so weird and I'm unsure why I wasted my time. Oh, and to top it all off, that notorious scene where Cusack's character holds the stereo up (which I thought would be this grand gesture at the very end that wins her back) is actually in the middle of the film and has very little effect on her. It's also a very short scene.

I just found their whole relationship highly unbelievable. She was this super driven girl with what appears to be zero friends while he was this guy with absolutely no ambition or goals who decides he is going to start dating her. They eventually get hot and heavy, but then she breaks it off so she can be with her dad (who is definitely having his own problems) and also so she can prevent the future heartache between the two when she leaves for Europe.This all happens within the span of like a few months, maybe 2 tops. I'm not really sure what they ever had to talk about, but that probably didn't matter anyway because she did enough talking with her dad. I mean, she literally told the guy everything, including details of her sexual encounters with Lloyd. I don't know, it was all just bizarre to me. And where was Lloyd's family in all of this? Maybe I missed that when I was fast-forwarding.

I will never watch this movie again. And I think it has scarred me so badly that I can never watch a Cusack movie again... not that I would be missing much.

I feel bad posting such a negative review, especially considering this movie scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. I will say, however, that I have a feeling this movie meant a lot to another generation, and I can respect that. 

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Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
Synopsis: Romantic comedy about a less-than-average student who falls in love with a brilliant biochemistry major. Romantic comedy about a less-than-average student who falls in love with a brilliant biochemistry major.

Rated: PG-13 adult situations/language
Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.
In Theaters: Apr 1, 1989 Wide

Distributor:20th Century Fox Film Corporation
Directed By: Cameron Crowe
Written By: Cameron Crowe

The King's Speech (2010)

I saw this movie for 2 reasons: Firstly, because I love Colin Firth. Secondly, because of all the Oscar buzz it was getting. Suffice it to say, I'm glad I saw it. And yes, I am very pleased it won the Oscar for Best Picture. It surely deserved it.

The movie centers around the story of King George VI, or Bertie (Colin Firth) as his family calls him. Bertie, the son of King George V, has gone through the majority of his life with a debilitating stammer. Imagine the problem that ensues when you become the King of England and you can't seem to deliver a speech to your people. After trying countless different doctors and methods, Bertie has given up on seeking help. However, his wife (Helena Bonham Carter) does not. She somehow finds a rather unorthodox speech specialist by the name of Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). The remainder of the film details the interesting relationship between Lionel and the newly-appointed king.

It goes without saying that the acting in this movie was incredible, so I won't dwell on that.

I will, however, dwell on the captivating story. Yes, it's a period piece, but it's also so much more than that. You think that a movie about a king with a speech problem is going to be a bore, but you'd be wrong. What struck me was the way Lionel never backed down from the king. Despite the fact that he was dealing with British royalty, Lionel (obviously of middle class) required that he be treated as an equal in order for treatment to commence. I actually think that was a large theme of the film -- Bertie finding a way to not only communicate with but also relate to the common man. The two made an interesting duo, and it was a joy to see their relationship go from heartwarming highs to heart-wrenching lows. There were also plenty of laughs along the way.

I also found it interesting that while all this inner turmoil was going on within the king, a World War was brewing outside. It provided an interesting juxtaposition. A dichotomy of two simultaneous wars going on, both of which required the king's perseverance and strength of heart.

Unlike the other speech therapists who attempted to cure the king, Lionel wanted to get to the root of the problem. What unfolds is an intense history of family pressures (similar to any ordinary family but on a much grander scale of intensity), self doubt and self-deprecation. It's hard to imagine ever feeling sorry for someone who comes from such a blessed life circumstance, but this movie does just that. There is much more to this man than one could have ever imagined. It is truly an inspiration to see his journey and his transition into the man he inevitably became. The man his country needed at a time when the world was at war and they needed someone to look to for strength and guidance.

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Genre: Drama
Synopsis: After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI... The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.

Rated: R for some language
Running Time: 1 hr. 51 min.
In Theaters: Nov 26, 2010 Limited
On DVD: Apr 19, 2011
Box Office:$132.5M

Distributor:The Weinstein Company
Directed By: Tom Hooper
Written By: David Seidler