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| “I
don't know how much movies should entertain.
I'm interested in movies that scar. The
thing I love about Jaws is the fact I've
never gone swimming in the ocean since.”
—Fincher
David Fincher grew up in North California.
He lived a few houses away from George Lucas,
who gave him his first film job. He worked
as an assistant visual-effects camera man
on “Return of the Jedi,” and
had always been a “Star Wars”
fan.
Fincher became widely acclaimed for some
of the most innovating and creative music
videos, for artists such as Madonna, Paula
Abdul, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Michael
Jackson, amongst others. He also did television
commercials for Nike and Coca-cola.
Fincher made his feature film directorial
debut with “Alien 3.” Other
groundbreaking films in his career are “Se7en,”
“The Game,” and “Fight
Club.”
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Alien
³ (1992)
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Sigourney Weaver shaves
her head for “Alien
3.” Photos
© 20th Century
Fox |
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Ridley Scott puts
Weaver in a dramatic,
fire blazing scene
in “Alien 3.” |
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Ridley Scott was the first to direct the atmospheric
horror of Alien. Six years later, James Cameron
picked up where the story had left off, and
created one of the best Sci-fi films of all
time, "Aliens." The highly anticipated
trilogy, was waiting to happen.
David Fincher's directorial debut was "Alien
3." A big
disappointment for "Alien" movie
fans. The film was critically panned, and
made Fincher think twice whether he was fit
for filmmaking - or better off working in
his notable music videos.
Despite the bad entrance into the movie world,
Fincher did not give up on his vision of filmmaking.
He learned from his first experience to improve
on future films. Indeed, he has succeeded,
and today is one of the highly acclaimed directors
of the young generation film genre.
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| Se7en
(1995)
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Brad Pitt stars as
the rookie Detective
David Mills. Photos
© 20th Century
Fox |
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Morgan Freeman and
Brad Pitt in the brilliant,
dark thriller “Se7en.”
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"Se7en" was Fincher's comeback from the unsuccessful
"Alien 3." A dark, disturbing thriller with
Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and
Gwyneth Paltrow.
It's a gem! "Se7en" has become a classic
within the psychological-thriller category
- along side "Silence of the Lambs." There
are many emblematic frightening, intense,
somber scenes which suspend the viewer until
the last minute. Such as, being inside a sinister
decorated room. A huge-fat man sits with his
head down, as his hands and legs are tied
to the back of the chair. The lighting of
the room hints the smell of death - and a
bucket lays underneath the victim. The massive
dead body automatically indicates which of
the seven deadly sins were condemn. Two detectives
(Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) search the
crime scene, and also encounter a strange
object - the bucket. We wait patiently (or
anxiously) to find out what it contains inside.
Once we discover. A sudden shiver of disgust
pushes us back into our seat.
"Se7en"
follows the brutal path of a serial killer,
who sets up his murders as one of the seven
deadly sins. Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Lust,
Pride, Envy and Wrath, all have there insanely
gruesome moments, each crime more horrifying
than the last. |
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| The
Game (1997)
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Michael Douglas stars
as the wealthy Nicholas
Van Orton. Photos
© Polygram Films |
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Is reality a game?
Or is the game part
of reality? |
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Michael Douglas stars as Nicholas Van Orton
a wealthy man, who seems to have everything
money can buy.
On his Birthday, his brother (Sean Pean) gives
him a mysterious present, which leads him
to mind-bending, and extraordinary circumstances.
David Fincher is well-known for his flip-side
plots, that simply keeps you puzzled, intrigued,
as if it were a riddle. And then, as we reach
the end of the film, we suddenly discover
its conclusion, and smile in shock/surprise.
It has a surreal quality, which keeps us on
our toes, and the mystery level certainly
stays high. All in all, with the confusing
storyline of "The Game," you end
up delighted with its complexity.
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| Fight
Club (1999)
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Brad Pitt and Edward
Norton in the “Fight
Club.” |
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Tyler Durden in the
basement of “Fight
Club.” Photos
© New line Cinema
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"Fight Club" is based on Chuck Palahniuk's
acclaimed debut novel "The Fight Club."
A novel which was successfully adapted to
screen. Even though, some chapters were edited
out, and certain characteristics and experiences
of the characters were simplified for motion
picture. The film was an unusual piece of
the pop-culture world, expressing auto-destruction,
violence, the real life (or was it the surreal
life?) with an enigmatic side effect. It's
well worth that paid movie ticket. The message
of the film was not obvious from the start.
Maybe, that's why some critics said it promoted:
"gratis violence," when they completely
missed the point of "Fight Club."
"Fight Club" is a strangely
surreal tale of Edward Norton's insomniac
closure with the less conventional society.
Every weekend, in the basements and parking
lots of bars across the country, young men
with good white collar jobs and absent fathers
take off their shoes and shirts, and fight
each other barehanded just as long as they
have to. Then they go back to those jobs with
blackened eyes and loosened teeth and sense
that they can handle everything.
Having said all that, what does it all mean?
Why do they fight? Why is self-destruction
performed? [Pretty faces are being smashed].
Why do they feel comfort in joining cancer
therapy groups? [When they don't even have
cancer].
It's a personal and cultural revolution about
the corporate consumer society. Is it better
to live in this consuming, chaotic society...breathe
...buy a new sofa, high tech t.v., the latest
fancy item...become a normal citizen. Or,
is the capitalist American dream really not
all it appears? Compromises that can't be
found, and living for the future of a rather
boring life. While holding a steady job in
car insurance, knowing that the company covers
its eyes on flaws and endangers its clients.
The film twirls into many questions, and in
the end, its message becomes clear. It's one
of those "I hate" or "I love"
movies, there is no in between. "Fight
Club" has an excellent cast led by Brad
Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham, Meat Loaf
and Jared Leto.
Extra Notes:
During the filming, Brad Pitt chipped his
front tooth. He did not have the tooth capped
until after the movie was completed, because
he felt it added to his character.
As an inside joke, Fincher named the three
detectives who try and castrate Jack (Edward
Norton), Andrew, Kevin and Walker. A dedication
to his Se7en screenwriter (Andrew Kevin
Walker).
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