David Fincher Directed Fight Club Because David O. Russell 'Didn't Get It'
"Fight Club" is a movie people either love or hate. Some viewers are drawn to the nihilistic rants and machismo of Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), while others are turned off by his constant violence and ramblings about the emptiness of consumerism and society. Chuck Palahniuk, who wrote the novel the film is based on, prides himself on eliciting strong, yet polarizing, reactions through his words. In an interview with The Guardian, he admitted, "I'm fascinated by low fiction that generates a physical response: disgusts the reader, makes them hungry or sexually aroused."
The story of an Ikea-obsessed corporate drone running an underground fighting ring that partakes in breaking and entering and terrorism on the side is a decent premise that might catch an audience's attention, but Palahniuk kicks it up a notch with brutal violence, unabashed sexuality, and unapologetic nihilism. Nothing ruffles feathers quite like the blend of blood, sex, and philosophy, which seems to be exactly what Palahniuk was hoping to do.
When the book was optioned as a film, Hollywood directors also had strong reactions to the story, but they weren't the ones the author intended. According to Brian Raftery in his book "Best. Movie. Year. Ever: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen" (via The Ringer), instead of disgust, hunger, or sexual arousal, filmmaker David O. Russell was confused and admitted he just "didn't get it." However, David Fincher connected with the story, and saw it as a "rallying cry" for a disaffected generation.