It's 11.00am, and I was looking for a movie to watch when I came across The Social Network on Sky Movies. Having seen it once previously, I settled in.
Go back a few years and the idea of a movie based on Facebook would invoke a lot of negativity. A movie based on a social networking site? That sounds as silly as an idea based on a boardgame such as Battleships. Hold on, they aren't, are they.....?
Then David Fincher came on board. The Aaron Sorkin was brought on board to write. Kevin Spacey came on as an executive producer. Suddenly everyone started taking notice.
For those who don't know, the movie is based on the book 'The Accidental Billionaires', which details the rise of Mark Zuckerberg, how Facebook was formed and ultimately how it became an integral part of everyday modern life. Zuckerberg himself has seen the movie, and has said it is a pretty accurate account. This is surprising given how much of a jerk the character is. As his girlfriend in the opening scene says, 'You're going to think girls don't want to get with you because you're a computer nerd. But it's because you're an asshole.'
Zuckerberg is one of thise characters that is immensely unlikable from a personality point of view. He's selfish, unthoughtful, has no social skills (how ironic) and for lack of a better term, is a total fucking know it all. However, with Aaron Sorkin's words coming out of his mouth, he is driven, charastmatic, sharp and witty. He's the kind of asshole you can root for, one that you enjoy watching when he's tearing the priviliged Harvard boys a new one.
A lot of this comes down to Jesse Eissenberg's performance. If you've ever seen Zombieland, you know he has the whole awkward, intelligent beyond his years character down pat. He was deservedly nominated for an Oscar, and is definitely one to watch for the future. I think he'll have a career along the lines of Dustin Hoffman, interesting movies, fast talking, intelligent characters who are a bit quirky.
But this is not a one man show. Everyone from Andrew Garfield to Justin Timberlake to Arnie Hammer turns in an awesome perfomance.
Aaron Sorkin's script pops, as anyone who has seen The West Wing would expect. Along with Christian Bale taking home the Best Supporting Actor award, Sorkin winning Best Adapted Screenplay was the most deserved award of the most recent Oscars.
David Fincher continues to knock them out of the park. Seven, Fight Club, The Social Network and the upcoming Girl with the Dragon Tattoo adaptaion show Fincher to be one of the most consistently interesting and diverse directors working in Hollywood today.
A final mention goes to the score, performed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Unsettling, disturbing, but hopeful, it encompasses the movie perfectly.
Suffice to say, I'm a fan. It perfectly captures on one the defining cultural phenomenon of our times, while at the same time being a well structured, sharp, funny and entertaining movie.
9/10
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