Fight Club

Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter

Directed by: David Fincher

Rated R: Disturbing and graphic depiction of violent anti-social behavior, sexuality and explicit language

Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes

Say you're a guy. And say that you've reached the point in life where you have everything you thought you always wanted. And say that somehow, that's still not enough. It's not so much that you need more; no, it's just the opposite: all the stuff you thought you needed to be happy really hasn't done the trick for you. And suppose that you're a teensy bit upset with the power and disproportionate influence that women seem to have in life. Who you gonna call?

Well, if you're Cornelius (Ed Norton) you're gonna call Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). Because Tyler is a guy who has worked this all out and has found a way to reclaim his rightful place in the scheme of things.

And when Cornelius befriends Tyler, Cornelius comes alive. He learns how to stand up to his boss (in a hilariously funny scene), how to get out from under the thumb of his woman, and how to regain control of his life. Cornelius joins The Fight Club.

Here's what I think: The movie does a TREMENDOUS job of describing the status of manhood in this day and age. But it's not for everyone.

Why you might enjoy this movie:

• Great acting (especially by Ed Norton). He delivers a wonderfully understated role as a guy "sleepwalking through life." I hesitate to use the expression "brilliant" performance, because then what would I have left to describe, say, Einstein's Theory of Relativity? But in my opinion, he is one smooth actor.
• Surprise ending (if you've seen "Crying Game" or "Sixth Sense" you know what I'm talking about).
• Some terribly funny lines (especially if you're into low-key, off-beat, subtle, dark humor).
• The film captures (to a certain extent anyway) the exhilaration of a being in a fight. Man-to-man. One-on-one. No holds barred. No gloves. I'm reminded of John Irving's passage in "A Prayer for Owen Meaney". Something like this: "When a racket, or a ball, or a stick comes between an athlete and his sport, all honesty, all purity of form is lost." I also think Cornelius got it right when he notices that once you have such an experience, the volume on all of life's other activities gets turned down. And that's good.

Why you might not enjoy this film:

• More blood than the Vietnam War.
• Graphic scenes following the trajectory of a bullet entering the mouth and leaving the back of the skull.
• Some gross scenes. I'm thinking especially of the scene at the liposuction clinic.
• It's a pretty long movie.

I think it's the kind of movie that will strike a resonance with some people and turn others completely off.. Here's what Baltimore Sun film critic Ann Hornaday thinks (Sun Review).