#1: Fight Club (1999)

"This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time."

I don't think too many films impacted my life as positively as this one, and it happened to be a blast at the same time. Many films such as this can come across as fake and unwatchable. It's a credit to the writer, director and the main actors that it came across amazingly well instead.

I recall being around 16 or so, in Wynand's company, and wondering aloud "What thick book is this?" It turned out to be the novel by Chuck Palahniuk. 

"Fight Club," Wynand replied. 

"Oh, I see..." I then ventured, not too impressed.

"Ever seen it?" he politely asked. 

"Isn't it a jock-thing?" was my silly reply.

Suffice to say, it's not, and it wasn't at the time. It's an "I'm human," thing. 

I should take this moment to note that Edward Norton is my favourite actor. Has he been in a bad movie? Only that brain-dead Hulk movie. At least he was far better than Eric Bana. There's just something about the way he speaks I find compelling. I'm sure it also comes across as kinda weird, that I find him reasonably hot. He's just a really cool guy. The type of guy I'd love to have a conversation with.

Not as hot as Brad Pitt, but still. Pitt is usually in fantastic films, much like the other Hollywood "pretty-boy", Leonardo Di Caprio. He was absolutely mesmerizing in this role. From the scene on the plane, to stealing fat (for soap, duh!), to the fight scenes, the training of the club members, to the final unraveling for Mr. Norton.

I should at least take a moment to talk about The Dust Brothers. They, of course, were responsible for the soundtrack. Naturally, it was Wynand (did I ever introduce him to anything cool?) that insisted I listen to it. And wow. Lemme just say...it's pretty good.

But all of this is earthly stuff. A soundtrack, an actor being hot...time to get down to the meat of things. The extremely important concept that Fight Club gave me was: "Don't sweat the small stuff." Really, that's what it's all about with the alcoholics anonymous-type meetings. Crying on people's man-tits and so on. This simple idea and some of the craziness in the film taught me a very valuable life-lesson. I wasn't the most pleasant teenager. I'll be the first to admit that.  How much of what we daily stress about, actually matters? I'm not saying "Join a Blue Bulls Supporters Group," or anything like that. But applying some of what the people believe in this film made me a happier person. I became way more pleasant, almost instantly.

Much like Wynand changed my life 180°, this film changed my outlook. I wouldn't be the man I am today without his thoughts, ideas and values. I said in my memorial address that "It's a pity not many knew him as I did." Hopefully, you got to experience a little of what he liked through this. It certainly brought back infinitely many memories.

Goodbye, old friend...