Facebook is the epicenter of social interaction in this society. Notice, I didn't say "virtual social interaction." It most certainly is that, but it's eclipsed pretty much every other hub of social togetherness. I can't think of another movie that has done what David Fincher has done with "The Social Network." Maybe there wasn't really as much drama surrounding the beginning of the internet, or of the invention of the cell phone, the television, the radio or the original telephone. Then again, I'm not entirely sure the timeliness of this movie is what makes it good. What makes "The Social Network" excellent, is that the story, true or not, is absolutely Shakespearian.
When i was student teaching, one of the classes I taught was Mass Media. After I saw "The Social Network," I thought that it would be a great idea to take my Mass Media class on a field trip to go see it. For whatever reason, a field trip never materialized and I'm not sure that's a bad thing. The themes present in "The Social Network" are more apt for a World Mythology field trip than one focused on the effects of Facebook on society. Themes in this movie include greed, revenge, friendship, loyalty, ambition, and morality.
The movie opens on a conversation in a darkened college bar. Aaron Sorkin's writing is immediately apparent in the quick choppy and seemingly natural style of dialogue. We're introduced to Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg in a role it seems he was born to fill,) as the main protagonist of the film. Or is he the antagonist? Well whatever he ends up being, he's the main character. We quickly find out that he's particularly inept at social interaction. He understands too much about humans and understands very little about people. He's incredibly smart but lacks any sort of real emotion. That is until he gets drunk after being dumped by his girlfriend. Then we see emotion, kind of.
I said that Zuckerberg is the main character of the movie. I suppose that's true. However, the main storyline follows that of the relationship (was it ever a friendship?) between Zuckerberg and his partner (again never really a friend), Edwardo Savarin (Andrew Garfield.) Whether or not Savarin really believed Mark to have been his friend, the audience quickly becomes aware that Mark Zuckerberg considers people only in-so-much as how they can help him. The more successful Facebook gets, the more distant Zuckerberg gets to Savarin. Afterall, he doesn't really need Savarin anymore, and isn't he, Zuckerberg really the author and architect of it all? It all comes to head when Savarin is notified that given some creative contracting he's been demoted from a 33% stake to a .33% stake. That sucks.
Justin Timberlake surprises in his performance of Napster founder, Sean Parker, who weasels himself into the Facebook inner circle and in the end forces Savarin out. I'm hesitant to call Zuckerberg a tragic anti-hero, I feel as though it gives him too much credit. Then again it's hard to call a real living person any kind of literary term because then we must think of who the author is. As for the movie, whose author is Sorkin, I believe Zuckerberg's character is very tragic. I don't believe he means to hurt people. The story of Facebook is tragic and ironic in that by trying to be popular through being successful, he had to destroy a great number of friendships and relationships. I don't know if the real Zuckerberg is happy. I hope he is. I am, that I've seen this movie.
The movie is excellent. The writing is superb, (I would be surprised if Sorkin didn't win an Oscar). The acting is spot on (who knew Timberlake could act?) The editing is flawless, and the soundtrack is timely and perfect. This movie is not an epic, although the themes and emotions that are presented in it are those that are in every epic. This movie represents a trend in our media consuming society where everything is getting smaller, closer and more intimate. We sit at our desks, on our couches, in our beds and fellowship through computers. We stay in our houses yet we travel across the world. Epic can be found in the most domestic of things these days.
I have no idea if the story of "The Social Network" is true. It probably isn't entirely accurate. However, whether or not it's true, "The Social Network," is real. Whether or not what happened in the movie happened in real life, I have no problem believing that it could have. Everybody has issues. I don't think that Mark Zuckerberg is a unique and particular bad guy in society. I think that society is just harder to forgive faults in people who have created something that we rely on. I wouldn't worry too much about the real Savarin, I've heard that the settlement from his lawsuit has gotten him enough money to forget about what happened.
Again, and finally, the movie is very well made and entertaining. What more can you ask for?
10/10
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