Fight Club

Sorry, But I Will Be Breaking The First And Second Rule Of Fight Club

Director: David Fincher
Release Date: 1999
Rating: 18
Running Time: 130 mins
Genre: Drama/Psychological Thriller
Actors: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham-Carter

How can you know anything about yourself until you get in a fight?

Lets face it, you don't need to have seen Fight Club to know the first rule of it (You do not talk about Fight Club), you may have needed to see it to know the second one (You do NOT talk about Fight Club), but when looking at David Finchers off-the-wall psychological thriller, you may need to talk about it once it's over as it's going to raise a hell of a lot of questions.

Ed Norton takes on the role of an insomniac office worker, consumed by today's world of marketisation and consumer products ('We use to read porno mags, now we read catalogues'). He needs something more to his life that the world he's trapped in, neither asleep nor awake and finally one day he meets a strange yet altogether likeable man, Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) when flying on a plane and Tyler ends up having a bigger impact on his life than he might have first thought. After a night of drinking in a bar, the two decide to engage in a drunken fight with one another, that begins to attract a lot of attention from others, who, like them, want to join in, thus beginning the foundation of Fight Club, but that's as far as I can go.

If you don't like fighting, violence, blood, or having your mind well and truly blown, I'd stay clear of this film as all of the above will play a big part in what you'll see. Fincher has a certain style of directing where he well and truly loves to shock (and even appal) his audiences leaving everyone with mixed feelings about what they've just sat and watched. But it's also a film that has got multiple layers to it, creating a very packed and intricut film. On the one hand Fight Club is an incredible film that takes you on a journey through the inner workings of the mind and on the other, it's an incredible film about a bunch of guys getting together and beating each other up.

What else is there to say about Fight Club? It's really one of those films you've got to watch to appreciate, but like many other David Fincher films (mainly Se7en) you'll be taken on a ride left feeling weird and wondering what the hell you've just watched.

A truly brilliant film, but may require a couple of watches.

8/10

Some Like It Hot

Some Comedies Will Never Stop Being Funny

Director: Billy Wilder
Release Date: 1959
Rating: PG
Running Time: 120 mins
Genre: Comedy
Actors: Jack Lemon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe

"Water Polo? That sounds dangerous!" - "I'll say, I had two ponies drown under me."

Now here's a film that will never age. Men being women, will that ever get boring? Probably not if Some Like It Hot is anything to go by.

Three legends of Hollywood combine together to make this seemingly gangster movie turn into one of the most hilarious comedy of the 1950's. We meet two struggling male musicians Jerry & Joe (Jack Lemon & Tony Curtis) desperate for money and having just witnessed a murder, the two are forced to go on the run after being chased by criminals. There only hope of survival...join an all female band headed to Florida, slight hitch from the two fugitives, there may be a slight problem, so consequently the only thing that can help them are two rather hilarious costumes and a pair of bad wigs transforming them into Josephine (Joe) and Daphne (because Jerry wasn't a big lover of Geraldine).

Some Like It Hot is one of those films that is just funny throughout as a result of it's irony, wit and also a rather poor yet highly entertaining Cary Grant impression from Tony Curtis as he does his best to woo the bands  very beautiful yet slightly dim singer and ukulele player Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Marilyn Monroe). There's a certain irony to Some Like It Hot that other films just wouldn't have, such as one line from Sugar Kane 'That'll put hair on your chest!' followed by a subtle and amused look from Jack Lemon followed by his response 'No fair guessing'. 

However, it wouldn't be fair to say that this completely comes down to the script alone, the acting as well creates the two to compliment each other so well. The chemistry between the three characters is fantasticly entertaining and so effective. Marilyn Monroe has a certain style of acting, playing up to the reputation of a rather simple yet beautiful blonde girl, (despite having one of the highest IQ's of any Hollywood star) but the role goes deeper than that and it definitely needed a certain personality to make it just right. But there's no denying Monroe fitted into the character so perfectly, it would be hard not to  fall in love with her by the time the film is over. An actress recognised worldwide even today, it's worth seeing what Marilyn Monroe is actually capable of because she has actually proved to be hilariously funny as well as just a pretty face.

This comedy, like any Wilder film has managed to stand the test of time and still works as a relevant and highly entertaining comedy that anyone can appreciate. It's more than just any old comedy, as there is still nothing quite like it out there managing to find the perfect balance of romance, comedy and action.

If you're not a fan of old films then I'd say check this one out, because it may just change your mind.

9/10