Fightclub
On the Dark Side: Fight Club & Neo-Noir In "Fight Club" (David Fincher, 1999) the director, Fincher, presents the elements that are essential in a Neo-Noir film. The most obvious of the characteristics is the dark overtone of the film. "Fight Club" is mostly set in night or in shadows as are most noir films. The other obvious characteristic of Neo-Noir is the voice over narration. Voice over narration is when a voice off screen is doing a narration of what is happening on screen. This narration is provided by the protagonist of "Fight Club," "Jack." Edward Norton plays the ambivalent protagonist, who only refers to himself as "Jack." An ambivalent protagonist, usually the main character, is someone the audience likes, but who possesses character flaws. This brings us to the use of doubles and splits in noir and neo-noir films. "Jack" (Edward Norton) unknowingly develops an alter ego by the name of Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). However, this turns out to be only one of "Jack's" flaws as "Fight Club's" ambivalent protagonist. For every protagonist in Neo-Noir films there is a femme fatale, which is the leading lady who eventually leads the protagonist to his doom. "Jack's" femme fatale is Marla Singer (Helena Bonham-Carter). These are t
Although things may appear to be on the up swing, which would lead some to classify "Fight Club" as a film gris (a film done in noir style but "spoiled" by a happy ending), the true ending is still unseen. The use of shadows and dark lighting also is a key element in the scene, which establishes mood. The audience does not truly know what is next and what is to come: The truth shall set you free, but it also can be painful. This voice over narration basically tells what is happening right as the movie picks up and will soon dive back into the recent past to bring the audience up to date on the events that led to this situation. Marla Singer is "Jack's" femme fatale. Although not a typical noir film, "Fight Club" does fit in best under the genre of neo-noir due to these stylistic elements. The ambivalent protagonist, "Jack" played by Edward Norton is a character the audience will feel sympathy for and even come to like. " Although there may be some discrepancies in "Fight Club" in some areas of neo-noir criteria, the ambiguity of the ending best lands "Fight Club" into the genre of neo-noir film. Noir films are often considered dark or "gloomy. In low-key lighting, most of the picture is under-lit while other portions of the image area are adequately exposed. The audience now knows that Marla Singer had something to do with "Jack's" current state. "Jack" fits the criteria, "A hard-boiled, cynical, disillusioned character - nevertheless usually likable" (Flippo). Most, if not all, the elements of a neo-noir are presented in "Fight Club. However, even before the character of Tyler Durden is introduced it is clear that "Jack" has personal problems; insomnia, discontent for his job, and a dependency on support groups.
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Acceptance Essays
