Directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Benjamin Button), The Social Network is a witty, slick and very smart movie about Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg, who at just 26, is worth $6.9 billion after radically transforming the way we interact with one another (for better or worse), by creating the ubiquitous social networking site.
Or did he?! The Social Network charts the rise of Facebook and the subsequent legal challenges Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) faced from both his former best friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) and identical twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (Armie Hammer playing both roles), who for different reasons claim Mark has betrayed them. Whilst Eduardo gains our sympathy, having invested huge time, energy, algorithms and – most importantly – money – in the enterprise, only to be coldly binned by his friend, the rest of the cast are, on the whole, frankly pretty loathsome. The twins are the finest example of this, who having mooted an idea they didn’t have the ability to implement, became pissed off when Zuckerberg developed it. Their principle gripe is that in the rarefied world of privilege which they inhabit, someone had the brass neck to do better than them. The Winklevi, as Zuckerberg drolly dubs them, are Olympic rowers who never quite win their races, strapping lads from money who go through most of the movie looking like a pair of pretty but dumb blonde Vikings. It’s hard not to back Zuckerberg when you witness their laughable arrogance – and yes, the twins did make me laugh. The truth really is stranger than fiction.
For starters, how strange it is that a luddite such as I should be telling you that what is essentially a film about computer programming is both compelling and exciting - and that’s before we get to funny. The cast are fantastic: Eisenberg is frustratingly reticent and charmless as our hero, Zuckerberg portrayed as a loner who only founded the site to get a girl. It’s a great performance, and to Eisenberg’s credit that he wrings any sympathy out of us at all. And whilst I think the idea that Facebook is the result of a geek trying to pull is farfetched, there’s something of the underdog about the story which appeals. His betrayal of Eduardo, though, is less easy to accept, setting up a really interesting dynamic between the audience and a protagonist we’re not entirely sure we even like. There’s also a notable turn from Justin Timberlake as Napster founder Sean Parker, who’s portrayed as a delusional party animal who comes between the best friends. It’s ironic that a global pop star would be cast in the role of someone who did so much to undermine the record industry, reinforcing the film’s postmodern spin and undoubtedly adding some glamour to this tale about a geek who inherited the (virtual) earth. The cost of Zuckerberg’s success is fictionalised to great dramatic effect, with real pathos infused throughout, though never in a simplistic or manipulative way. Rare for a movie which it is said will be Oscar nominated.
Zuckerberg is on record as saying he wished a film hadn’t been made about him whilst he was still alive. But such is the monster he’s created. With over 500 million members of Facebook, box office takings are assured. But what garners the movie its critical praise is clear: a superlative script which is so sharp it could cut itself and a taut structure which flips between the birth of the site and the legal proceedings which ensued. The cinematography is as smooth and precise as you’d hope for from Fincher and the young cast grapple with Aaron Sorkin’s fearsome dialogue effortlessly. Think Dawson’s Creek as evinced by Bill Gates. Whether true or not, it’s a great story. The Social Network is ultimately a modern day morality tale about friendship; about a man who has redefined what the very word means for millions.
Excellent stuff. I suspected you might enjoy Mr Timberlake's performance :) I have to admit he was very good - you could understand how he won over Zuckerberg.
Posted by: Sarah Brett | October 26, 2010 at 08:29 AM