Fight Club 4K 1999

A lot has been said about how the film turned the world upside down, became a turning point, and so on. Eight years have passed, but the world is still the same, glossy magazine sales aren’t dropping, and “glamorous scumbags” are all over every channel now. Enough already. Fincher, of course, is no slouch, but when it comes to influencing the masses, he’s nowhere near our Lord Jesus Christ. Just like the rest of us.

What you can’t take away from Fincher is his complexity and that eternal fig in his pocket. The Western world was glamorously portrayed as exactly what it is: rotten and stupid. And here, it would seem, catharsis, universal enlightenment, and repentance should follow. No, Westerners—and indeed all people—are reliably shielded from this by their own stupidity, laziness, and stereotypes. Everyone happily agreed—yes, it’s iconic, powerful, and meaningful. We finished our popcorn, went home, and the next day headed to the office to earn money for new stylish furniture.

It’s just that for every Fincher, there are 1,000 specialists who know their craft and earn every penny of their salary. That’s why our brains are firmly and reliably programmed and meticulously tuned. And as long as these good people are fulfilling their five-year plan—none of us, friends, will ever see that wonderful new life. The movie is magnificent, but what’s the point?