David Fincher is one of the most exceptional filmmakers of recent times. There is no better way to describe the mastermind, that is this filmmaker., having some of the most psychologically complex, and interesting films out there. His masterpieces include Gone Girl, Seven, Zodiac, and most recently, The Killer, all of which have captivated audiences to a completely different level.
Outside of these, this filmmaker’s most iconic piece has to be his 1999 film, Fight Club, featuring big names like Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helen Bonham Carter, and Jared Leto. Being as iconic as it is, it is extremely surprising to find out that the film was initially hated by critics.
Critics Did Not Understand David Fincher’s Message
Fight Club is certainly no easy film to understand, being heavily argued upon by its fans as to what is the true meaning of the film. Outside of having amazing performances from its cast, it has an incredible story, one that is consumed best when heavily analyzed and picked apart. Due to this, for those watching it for the sake of watching a film, the experience is completely different, with it being confusing, having complex tones, and being extremely graphic.
“film without a single redeeming quality, which may have to find its audience in hell”. Roger Ebert said it was “cheerfully fascist” and “a celebration of violence.”
According to Den of Geek, it was because of this that when the movie was initially released, critics who did not understand what David Fincher was trying to convey, thought it to be awful. Many critics believed it to be a film without any redeeming qualities and it is a celebration of violence, not understanding what the film was actually saying.
The Opinions Eventually Changed
Due to harsh criticism like this, the film ended up failing at the box office, something that the studio was prepared for considering that they themselves did not understand what David Fincher was trying to convey. The film did not work in the theatres for many reasons, including the fact that many viewers would walk out in the middle of the screening, being unable to stand the graphic violence.
It was only after it was removed from the theatres and started to get sold on DVD that it finally found its audience. Many viewers started to appreciate what the film was saying. Upon multiple viewing, an option that they have on DVD, they were able to look past its graphics themes and truly understand what Fincher was trying to say, appreciating the masterpiece for what it is.
