Anarchy Unleashed: David Fincher
Over the past few days, I debated who I would choose to
highlight in this inaugural segment. But the more I thought about it, the
clearer it became. There is no man in the business right now who pushes the
storytelling boundaries, technological wizardry, or thematic resonance as far
or as hard as David Fincher. And with his new film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on the horizon, I saw it fit to
rewind Fincher’s career up to this point.
To me, it’s clear that Fincher is a director who appreciates
the sheen of success but who doesn’t shy away from the ugly underbelly of
ambition. He doesn’t eschew the destruction of modern values or the breaking of
established rules. Indeed, Fincher embraces – and truly relishes – the interaction
between social outcasts and modern society. One could argue that none of
Fincher’s films contain a true hero or a true villain. Rather, each story presents
varying shades of humanity, greed, and success. To wit, Fincher’s most poignant
outings – and the films I will be analyzing in upcoming segments – include Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and
The Social Network.
At a glance, Fincher’s portfolio comprises films of
different genres, moods, and storytelling techniques. Yet upon closer
examination, each film actually centers its narrative on a socially
misunderstood man and his journey through a predominantly patriarchal society. To
some, Fincher’s films represent a morbid take on humanity, a nihilistic if not
often overly realistic reflection on what makes us the way we are. These
jarring, twisted, often poetic fables surely convey something different for each
viewer. But for me, Fincher’s creative career justly reflects his own knack for
anarchy, a rebel with his own uninhibited agenda, unafraid to hold up not a
mirror, but a giant Fuck You to society.
