Review: The Social Network

Plot: Based on Ben Mezrich's 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires, The Social Network tells the story of the founding of the international social networking website Facebook. Director David Fincher's latest film primarily follows the exploits of founders Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield).

Review: If asked what the most fundamental advancement of the human race has been in the last twenty years, many people would undoubtedly say the Internet. If the Internet is like the founding of Major League Baseball, then the creation of Facebook is like baseball's expansion to California back in the 1950s. Both instances were quantum leaps in their respective fields. And the architect and creator of Facebook is a little known Harvard drop out named Mark Zuckerberg...or was he?

That's ostensibly what The Social Network tries to answer over two hours, yet the answer is almost superfluous. What director David Fincher tries to shine a light on is relationships in the digital age. The story of Facebook is just a medium to examine this idea.

What's really fascinating and ironic is that The Social Network's main character Zuckerberg is very much a socially awkward character. He wants to be liked and accepted by the exclusive clubs at Harvard yet at the same time thinks he's better than them. Zuckerberg wants a solid romantic relationship but at the film's outset acts like a complete "asshole" (her words) to his girlfriend and then goes home and blogs about how she sucks. A social misfit creating the biggest social network website of all time is the height of irony.

Eisenberg is excellent as the young Zuckerberg portraying a man who is constantly in motion, fueled by Mountain Dew, and driven to be first rather than wealthy. Zuckerberg is not a particularly likeable character and yet his pathology, smugness, and wit are fascinating and compelling. Although many call Eisenberg a poor man's Michael Cera I would strongly disagree. Eisenberg is a superior actor and shows an acting level that Cera could only dream of attaining.

Fincher, who's credits include Seven, Fight Club, and Zodiac has taken a brilliant script by Aaron Sorkin and blended it into a smooth film that is as accessible as a status update. Most of the film is shown in flashback alternating between the two separate lawsuits Mark is involved in, one by twin bluebloods Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (Armie Hammer doing double duty) and one by Eduardo. The plot choice and smooth cuts by editors Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall enhance The Social Network in an engaging way and shows the degeneration of two distinct relationships; one a business relationship, the other a friendship.

While Eisenberg's character often comes across as callous and irritating, Garfield's Eduardo is the polar opposite. He's the one we feel sympathetic for, the one who is emotionally vulnerable. We can feel his sense of betrayal at the settlement hearings or his confrontation with Zuckerberg at Facebook's 1,000,000th member party. Garfield (who is set to star as the main character in the reboot of Spiderman) brings a strong and integral emotional performance to The Social Network.

Not to be outdone either is the third wheel on this acting tricycle: Justin Timberlake, who plays Sean Parker the creator of Napster and advisor to Facebook's founders. Timberlake does a great job of capturing the funny, engaging, paranoid, and coke addled Parker. His telephone call to Zuckerberg after getting arrested for cocaine possession is a sight to behold. Parker is the one who ultimately comes between Eduardo and Zuckerberg. Timberlake shows a real slimy side in his performance that cuts against the wholesome image he's built over the last ten years. It's a great choice and could possibly "bring him on down to Oscarville!" in 2011.

Timberlake's character typifies one of the few flaws of The Social Network however. Too many unlikeable characters. The Winklevoss's are Harvard bluebloods that invite no sympathy despite the fact that Zuckerberg stole their idea, Zuckerberg and Parker are often snide and devious, and even Eduardo's girlfriend is a jealous psycho nut bag. Another flaw is the soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Many of the jarring rifts seems out of place and more suited to a horror film than a drama. Not suprising since Reznor is the founder of the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails.

Minor grievances not withstanding The Social Network is a fine film that encapsulates the culture of the last couple years. Fincher does an excellent job of holding a mirror up to society and showing it the real the social network both good and bad. While it's not a perfect film like some critics have written, The Social Network is definitely worth a friend request.

My rating: 9/10