THE SOCIAL NETWORK (includes trailer)
November 9th 2010 10:32
Cyberspace has certainly changed the way society functions, and certainly in the last few years, the website Facebook, has been a bigger game changer in networking and the manner by which we conduct our social interactions more than we might want to admit. Director, David Fincher's (Zodiac Fight Club, Se7en) new film The Social Network comes as a surprising smack in the face, which firstly confirms exactly where this evolving technology finds us currently as a society, and secondly, adds a thoroughly engrossing back story to it's origins of betrayal and one young man's acerbic grab for glory. The Social Network is indeed a film of the times, and it's dry, academic looking trailer hardly prepared me for what turned out to be such a thought provoking, muscular film about one man's tale of alienation.
Yes indeed, The Social Network, hammers into a minefield of the young and privileged. Those who wish to elevate their status of eliteness. A few young entrepreneurs who aggressively grabbed at the opportunity to accumulate wealth and use their popularity among the ranks of Harvard University to propel their narcissistic cause. That's how Social Network scribe Aaron Sorkin chose to portray Facebook inventor Mark Zuckerberg, the anti-hero of this film, who may or may not have been his own worst enemy, who would ultimately contribute towards where he finds him self by the end of the film.
Whether all of this is true or not, whether details and personalities were embellished for the sake of dramatic merit we may not be able to say, what we can however say is that it makes for a riveting character study. Mark Zuckerberg is played by Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland, The Squid & The Whale), in a performance that commands our attention, portraying Zuckerberg's quick mental reflexes, his hardened social graces and an inner world dwelling behind his eyes that drive his intentions towards multiple possibilities. Eisenberg's portrayal of Zuckerberg finds him speedily babbling at a million miles an hour, the kind of pace that allows a computer programmer of his high ability to process everything around him and and render his acusers speechless with his sharp verbal barbs, but as he'll learn through out, having the smartest answer doesn't always lead to the best outcome.
The Social Network is whip smart, it moves at a lightening fast pace, and most of all, it bites. Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) writes real life billionaire Marc Zuckerberg as a narcissistic loner, who's over time intelligence, works to infuriate and keep at a distance most of those that surround him, resembling lashings of Brett Easton Ellis and playing out like an uber-mod version of Citizen Kane, it has a back and forth structure between a sour deposition hearing and the cascading events leading up towards this. Director David Fincher executes this all with such slickness however, that the hyperactive tug of war between past and present events appear seamless.
Trent Rezonor of Nine Inch Nails composes the film's techno pop score, along with Atticus Ross, injecting a stylish smack of energy into the film, the same way The Dust Brothers did on the Fight Club soundtrack. Fincher directs with restraint and proficiency, feeling confident enough about the material to take a back seat to Sorkin, Reznor and the array of impressive young actors on display. It's a signature Fincher film for sure, and he manages to pull off the story with an invisible level of effort, as he moves the film along in an expert and swift manner. It's a great accomplishment, especially when considering how many of the film's scenes are set around conversations in resturants or at depositions, and Fincher has managed to somehow make it all seem exceptionally cinematic.
Other actors to be found here is an actor named Armie Hammer (yep...), a preppy looking throughbred, who comes off like the terminator of the young, rich and fortunate. In a double role, involving some sneaky effects, he plays the two identical Winklevoss twins who hire Zuckerberg for his programming talents. Also in the mix is Justin Timberlake, who pulls off an effortless performance as Napstar inventor Sean Parker, the supremely confident multi-millionaire who's influence on Zuckerberg over-rides that of best friend Eduardo Saverin (played by Andrew Garfield, who gives the arguably finest performance in the film). There are some great discoveries of young actors here worth noting.
The irony of the whole film seems to be that Zuckerberg's intentions for creating Facebook, express the opposite of his behaviour in real world social situations. The real Zuckerberg was not happy with how he was portrayed here in the film. He apparently almost sued for defamation of character, but in the end didn't. That of course would have seemed to only confirm the way the film portrays him.
The Social Network is indeed a surprise, accessible entertainment that will provoke conversation and thought on one of the internet's most frequented sites. It's a film about young business brats, who grab the world by the balls, they pull everything off, but at a cost that may not be immediately apparent to them, as the curse of their youth and arrogance replaces their hunger for glory with a strangely confusing sense of regret.
Aside from being David fincher's best film since Fight Club (it may not be quite as technically astonishing but it certainly is just as relevant and powerful), The Social Network is also one of the best films of the year - and that's coming from someone who was a sceptic over the idea of the whole film to begin with.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Will return once I have seen it.
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It's certainly worth seeing though the hype maybe doesn't match the product. I was very impressed...a review is on the way.
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Shows what 2 weeks in another town can do....
Anywho.....I agree JD. Looking most forward to the review
You don't say Matt! interesting, and yes - awkward.
I think that the film was toostilted by it's overflow of people talking at tables and what not to be a masterpiece, but the effect is very impressive still.
Thanks for reading chaps.