The Social Network (2010)

 

As the poster for David Fincher's latest movie points out, this isn't a film about making friends. However, it is a film about a site which has become the epitome of social interaction and friendship across the internet. Let me break it down. Facebook me. Relationship status. Friend request. Tagged. Does this jargon sound familiar to you? If so you're one of the many people already communicating by the 'social network' (see the link?) site Facebook. Rest assured Fincher's film is a story of technology. But it's less about the end product and more about the thought process behind this billion dollar money-making machine.


To understand 'The Social Network' we must first decode the origins of the main protagonist, Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg). Step forward Aaron Sorkin, you absolute god of screenwriting. Adapted from Ben Mezrich's book 'The Accidental Billionaires', Sorkin has done for this movie what Diablo Cody's screenplay did for 'Juno'. He has turned the dialogue into a work of art. Words flow seamlessly between the characters like a perfectly crafted painting. There's no filler in this movie. Every word and every line has been purposely chosen. Put simply, the dialogue is some of the sharpest and wittiest you'll have witnessed in cinema. So 'The Social Network's' crowning glory? Sorkin's script. Hands down.

Of course, a good screenplay can only work if it has a good story behind it. Hold on to your keyboards ladies and gentleman, as Mark Zuckerberg's rise to success is a cautionary tale. We follow our protagonist through his early days of computer programming at Harvard where a simple idea manifests itself into a site which now boasts 'more than 500 million users'. This journey is intercut with scenes of the impending lawsuits that Zuckerberg is facing from both friends and fellow students. Did Zuckerberg steal this idea? The movie would suggest that he merely adapted an idea for the better. Still, with Fincher's film it's not the end result that's the most fascinating aspect of this story. After all, most of us are aware that Zuckerberg is one of the youngest billionaires in the world. It's the journey of how he got there that has us gripped to our seats right up to the final scene.

The casting in 'The Social Network' is flawless. Eisenberg proves he's a serious actor by portraying Zuckerberg exactly how each of us would imagine. Brilliant but socially awkward. A misguided genius. Eisenberg displays emotion in the most subtle ways possible. There are no grandiose tearful moments, simply because that's not who his character is. The supporting cast really shine alongside Eisenberg. Particularly Andrew Garfield who plays Eduardo Saverin, Zuckerberg's friend and business manager. Garfield's performance is heartfelt and leaves us feeling genuine sympathy for how his character is treated.

It may be too early to say but Eisenberg really deserves an Oscar for his performance. In fact 'The Social Network' deserves to be viewed by everyone (and not just the 'Facebook' generation). As Zuckerberg states in the film: "I believe I deserve some recognition from this board". Let's hope Eisenberg gets it.