Rarely has a voiceover been used as well in a film as it has by Fight Club. Edward Norton’s quiet, measured delivery rarely rises above a monotone, but that’s why it works.
Norton’s nameless narrator speaks with ironic detachment, never quite engaging with the reality around him – and often speaking in terms of denial of it. (He also breaks the fourth wall a time or two.) It makes for a strange movie – but that’s part of the genius of it. Every little bit is precisely calculated – unlike most films, this voiceover integrates perfecctly with the action and effects that take place alongside it.
The result is a blend so seamless that it’s created one of the most memorable films of recent years – although the effortlessly quotable words of the narration help a lot, too. Here’s a small sample: