It took David Fincher 99 takes to get the opening scene of “The Social Network” just right. On the surface the scene looks simple. It’s just a conversation between Mark Zuckerberg and his soon to be ex-girlfriend Erica Albright. They talk about Mark’s obsession with Harvard’s elite Final Clubs then it turns into an argument and ends with her breaking up with him. Sound simple? It’s not.
It’s not simple because it lays all the groundwork for the brilliant script and acting to follow. It’s not simple because this conversation defines one of the most important characters in a generation’s history. It’s not simple because it’s the birth of Facebook and it becomes the driving force behind the youngest billionaire in history. It’s amazing that Fincher got it right in just 99 takes…
After the break-up in the opening scene, Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland), goes on a code-writing montage and creates a site called “Facesmash.” The site allows Harvard students to rank and compare girls based on their campus I.D. pictures. The site is so popular it crashes the school’s network. Zuckerberg is punished by the school system and every girl in the school hates him. This is what eventually motivates Mark to create Facebook. Intellectual theft charges, and creative genius ensue and the year’s most important film is off and running.
The film succeeds on almost every level and works for many different reasons. Aaron Sorkin’s script and Trent Reznor’s score makes watching people talk for two hours fairly easy. “The Social Network” also benefits from Fincher’s direction. In this film, he’s only felt when you need him and carries the film only when it’s absolutely necessary. He keeps the movie on its toes and keeps you interested without you actually noticing him.
There are also many notable performances in this movie that make it worth seeing. Each of them gives us some definite statements about the future of each young actor’s career. First, there’s Justin Timberlake (Alpha Dog) who plays creator of Napster Sean Parker. He’s the closest thing the film has to a “bad guy” and yet he’s near impossible not to like. It’s by far Timberlake’s best performance and confirms that he has a future in the movie business.
Next, there’s Andrew Garfield (The Red Riding Trilogy) who plays Eduardo Saverin. He’s the CFO of Facebook and Mark’s only real friend in the film. He gives the film its emotional core and makes you care about the excessive talking that’s going on. It’s a decent performance but it’s not convincing enough to ensure he’ll be a good Peter Parker in the upcoming Spiderman reboot. Finally, there’s Jesse Eisenberg’s performance. It’s one of the saddest performances ever delivered. The performance, for so many reasons, will inevitably be tied to the Millennials, a term coined to refer to the generation of people born after 1981, whether they like it or not.
Loneliness is something that is closely tied to Millennials. Social networking is one of the main reasons this generation can feel so isolated. They’re connected on a global scale and have the new power to create their own identity online. Being young is one long process of defining yourself and Facebook helps you do that. Of course, it also gives you one less reason to go outside and have meaningful relationships with “reality.”
The irony Zuckerberg suffers from is that he is the ultimate victim of the monster he created. He has created the website of a generation but he could only do so because he’s an outsider looking in. He’s alienated in such an extreme way that it’s hard to tell if you want to slap him or give him a hug. Sometimes we see that Mark is a genius. He’s a rebel in a North Face jacket and sweatpants. Other times we see he’s just as lost and confused as any other 21 year old. We see that Facebook wasn’t created to give the world a new social experience. It was created so he could win back his girl in some weird fantasy. It was created out of revenge.
The flaws in “The Social Network” are limited and more dependent on the viewer’s preferences than anything else. If you can’t stand people talking and absolutely need unfiltered action or comedy you might not be able to enjoy the film. If you have zero experience or interaction with Facebook and honestly don’t believe it has any effect on our society – in other words, if you’re not a caveman – then you might not enjoy the film.
Regardless, it’s an obvious contender for Best Picture this year, and has achieved universal appraise throughout the critical community.”The Social Network” is without a doubt one of this year’s greatest achievements.
4.5 out of 5 stars
