The Social Network (2010, PG-13)

To make a drama about social networking can be a risky undertaking.  But it isn’t risky at all anymore when the filmmakers have the made the movie, in one word: brilliant.  That single word can describe the Social Network, which is undoubtedly one of the best cinematic landmarks to come out in a long time.  It’s perfectly penned, filmed, acted and engaging.

            The film stars Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg.  The story takes place at Harvard University in 2003, when Zuckerberg came out with the idea for Facebook, today the most popular site on the internet.  But did he really come out with the idea?  Who else was involved?  Where, when, why and how did he created it?  And just how did Facebook become the most successfully internet site in history.  Well, the Social Network answers all of that and more.  Zuckerberg, along with his college buddy Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), launched site.  Also joining up with them, though to Saverin’s evident disdain, is Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), who knows the process of building and expanding web sites.  Zuckerberg finds enemies in the Winklevoss twins, who claim that Zuckerberg stole their idea.  So the story basically actually takes place in court, with Zuckerberg being sued by the Winklevoss twins, as well as Saverin (don’t want to release major plot details).  The movie is played all out in flashbacks, with multiple points of view from Zuckerberg, Saverin and the Winklevoss twins. 

            The Social Network engages and entertains the audience.  It’s filmed through with some humorous scenes, but its strength lies in several other things: the direction, the acting, screenplay and the narrative.  Let’s start out with the direction.

            David Fincher helms this gleaming motion picture, a defining peace of American cinema.  Fincher, I think, is getting close to becoming one of the major players in Hollywood.  Best yet is that Fincher has proven himself to be a respectable and now notable director as well. 

            Now we get to the acting, which is phenomenal.  Eisenberg and Garfield are younger, relatively unknown actors.  Eisenberg was very convincing, and played the role perfect.  In addition, his performance has convinced me that he just may well soon become one of the best actors working in Hollywood today, if he chooses his roles wisely.  Without a doubt, Eisenberg delivered one of the best performances of the year.  Garfield did a near equal impressive job.  I honestly didn’t think that Timberlake could manage to pull off the role, but he did it just fine.  All in all, nearly all of the actors took this job seriously and got it down right.

            Aaron Sorkin penned the screenplay.  He’s evidently a brilliant writer, as the dialogue in this picture is top-notch and the script isthe best I’ve seen in a long time.  His screenplay and Fincher’s direction are what keep the narrative structure of this film strong.  Sorkin wrote the screenplay from Ben Mezrich’s book, the Accidental Billionaires. 

            In addition to it all, the Social Network engages the audience.  It never loses its grip, and gradually gains esteem as the narrative goes along.  In addition, the film operates over a very nice pace and is neither overlong nor too short.  The film’s music score is impressive. 

            And so, the reason why I am raving over the Social Network is simply because it is just so well done; in fact, it’s probably the most well done movie of the decade.  It’s the movie event of 2010; a brilliant portrayal of cinema.  Not everyone is a fan of, or is on, Facebook; and I can see why.  If a person doesn’t like or doesn’t want a Facebook—I have no problem with that.  But the movie itself is pure genius.

                                      *****/5