The Social Network (Movie Review)

The Social Network

Biography, Drama, Some Humor.  2010, U.S., 120 Minutes, directed by David Fincher

Medium:  Netflix Blu-ray rental (Available on DVD)

Rating:  5.0 (5-point system)

It’s not often that I consider a movie (or even a book for that matter) worthy of a 5.0 rating. That rarified status is reserved for those works that are truly outstanding in every way.  The Social Network is one of those rare gems.

The story of Mark Zuckerberg and the genesis of that social networking monolith Facebook is told through a series of legal depositions and flashbacks expertly woven together into a very coherent and highly enjoyable tale.  At its core, The Social Network is about a socially inept misfit who through sheer mental agility and perhaps a bit of intellectual property theft (depending on who you believe) establishes himself as the most significant social networking force since Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone.  Along the way we see portrayed those who claim that Mr. Zuckerberg cheated on his way toward becoming the world’s youngest “self-made” billionaire.  By the end of this movie one is truly left wondering for whom to root—a sociopathic Mark Zuckerberg, the upper-crust Winklevoss twins Cameron and Tyler, former best friend and initial Facebook financial backer Eduardo Saverin.

The writing is superb on every level, from integration of the various flashbacks to the ever-witty dialogue and subtle putdowns uttered by Mark Zuckerberg as he seeks to place his detractors firmly in their place.  Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay of Ben Mezrich’s The Accidental Billionaires is as tight as the lid on a recently purchased pickle jar.  Screenwriting, simply put, does not get any better than this.

Let us also reserve credit for the actors. You won’t be saying “Jesse who?” after this picture, that’s for certain.  Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg is over-the-top in its understatedness.  That is not a contradiction.  Mr. Eisenberg deadpans his way through the entire movie, almost never showing emotion except through his use of intellectual insults, references to other people’s lack of intelligence or their bra sizes, and other condescending and sarcastic witticisms.  The final image, of Mr. Zuckerberg repeatedly and robotically hitting the ‘refresh’ button on his computer after sending a Facebook ‘friend’ request to the woman whose scorn initially sent him on this quest sums up the character like no other scene in the movie.

But as brilliant as Mr. Eisenberg’s performance, none of the excellent cast is outshone. There was not a single weak performance anywhere in this movie.  They are all merely differing degrees of brilliant.  For example Arnie Hammer’s turn as both halves on the Winklevoss Twins (or Winklevi as they are referred to by Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg) is flawless through some particularly incredible CGI manipulation.  Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of best friend Eduardo Saverin, particularly in the scene where he finds his shares of Facebook diluted to a pittance, makes you feel the overwhelming sense of betrayal and further serves to highlight Zuckerberg’s petty vindictiveness.  Even Rooney Mara’s all-too-brief scenes as former Zuckerberg girlfriend Erica Albright were outstanding in showing the viewer how Zuckerberg’s misuse of his intellect and his thinly veiled paranoia affected those around him, driving away friends and acquaintances who were already in far too short supply.  Baby Boomers born in the early ‘50s should watch for David Selby (Quentin Collins of Dark Shadows fame) as one of the deposing attorneys—a master manipulator in his own right who verbally lays traps for Zuckerberg, then stands back and smugly watches as his prey ensnare himself with his own diatribes.

Off topic plea: Fellow indie author Tracey Alley has been having a very rough time of it lately.  Her health has recently been deteriorating, requiring a bone marrow transplant just a few weeks ago and an iron transfusion just today.  Being back in the hospital is not fun, and she’s spent a lot of time there this past month or so.  Because of this she has also been unable to promote her books as she should and her sales of suffered as a result.  Her fellow author friends would appreciate it if you could visit her Web Log and leave a quick “Get Well” comment.  Also, please drop by her Amazon Author Central Page and, if you enjoy the fantasy genre, consider giving her a lift by purchasing one of her books.  The Kindle versions are only 99¢.