Director: David Fincher
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Brenda Song, Max Minghella, Rashida Jones
Plot: A chronicle of the founding of Facebook, the social-networking website, by Mark Zuckerberg (Eisenberg) and Eduardo Saverin (Garfield) and the law suits that arose from it.
'The Social Network' was robbed at this years Academy Awards by 'The King's Speech', which was a good film but not on the same level as David Fincher's modern classic. In a few years this will be looked back on as another one the Academy got horribly wrong'; joining 'Forrest Gump' beating 'Pulp Fiction', 'Goodfellas' losing out to 'Dances With Wolves' and 'Titanic' sinking 'L.A. Confidential'. But of course it's not all about awards and 'The Social Network' will be remembered for how brilliant it is rather than it's Oscar count.
'The Social Network' is proof that anything can be made into a truly great film. Who would have thought that the court cases surrounding Facebook could be made into an engrossing and entertaining movie? Many scoffed at Fincher's decision to tell that story and the casting of Justin Timberlake, but on release he certainly proved any doubters wrong. With the help of scribe Aaron Sorkin, Fincher has managed to craft a film that is likely to become timeless.
Speaking of Sorkin his script is what really drives this movie. It is so fast. The characters all speak at such quick speeds flinging lines of dialogue off one another and giving what is essentially a lawsuit movie an action movie pace. He adds an element of humour I just didn't expect and I think this is probably funnier than most comedies released recently. Sorkin quite rightly picked up an Oscar for his work (1 of 3 the film won) because you feel without this script 'The Social Network' would have been as boring and dull as Kevin Costner's voice. It is of vital importance then that Sorkin's writing style matches the incredibly quick thinking and wit of lead character Mark Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg, played brilliantly be Jesse Eisenberg, is a fascinating character. Not fuelled by money, he simply wants the credit for creating Facebook and building it to what it is today. Seemingly unable to have any real connection with people his only friend is co-founder Eduardo Saverin (Garfield) and their relationship is the heart of the narrative. Garfield and Eisenberg are absolutely sensational together and by cutting the lawsuit scenes in between the creating of Facebook we see the two contrasts in their relationship and it is both sad and fascinating to watch.
The wall that comes between them comes in the form of Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) who's rebellious nature appeals to Zuckerberg, but not so much for the business minded Saverin. Timberlake is great at playing the perfect arsehole and is perhaps the film's villain, he is charming but sleazy. It's guaranteed you will absolutely hate his character...and you're supposed to.
Much credit has to go to Fincher in deciding to tell this story in the way he did. He could have gone from point A to B, but no we see the 2 lawsuits inter cut between. One with Saverin, the other with fellow Harvard students the Winklevoss twins (both played by Armie Hammer) and Divya Narendra (Max Minghella) who claim to have come up with the idea first. It makes the film so much more interesting to have the these scenes throughout rather than the end, as it feels like we are present at the meetings being told how the events unfolded.
'The Social Network' is a hugely entertaining film and I can't really think of anything I disliked about it. The stroy is so interesting and the characters are intriguing and likable, and if not likable you understand why they are the way they are. David Fincher is one of those directors whose films are always enjoyable (Alien 3 aside) and this no exception, with a great script, a great cast and a great story, this is truly a modern classic. Oh and the score is incredible aswell. Forgot to mention that.
'The Social Network' is proof that anything can be made into a truly great film. Who would have thought that the court cases surrounding Facebook could be made into an engrossing and entertaining movie? Many scoffed at Fincher's decision to tell that story and the casting of Justin Timberlake, but on release he certainly proved any doubters wrong. With the help of scribe Aaron Sorkin, Fincher has managed to craft a film that is likely to become timeless.
Speaking of Sorkin his script is what really drives this movie. It is so fast. The characters all speak at such quick speeds flinging lines of dialogue off one another and giving what is essentially a lawsuit movie an action movie pace. He adds an element of humour I just didn't expect and I think this is probably funnier than most comedies released recently. Sorkin quite rightly picked up an Oscar for his work (1 of 3 the film won) because you feel without this script 'The Social Network' would have been as boring and dull as Kevin Costner's voice. It is of vital importance then that Sorkin's writing style matches the incredibly quick thinking and wit of lead character Mark Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg, played brilliantly be Jesse Eisenberg, is a fascinating character. Not fuelled by money, he simply wants the credit for creating Facebook and building it to what it is today. Seemingly unable to have any real connection with people his only friend is co-founder Eduardo Saverin (Garfield) and their relationship is the heart of the narrative. Garfield and Eisenberg are absolutely sensational together and by cutting the lawsuit scenes in between the creating of Facebook we see the two contrasts in their relationship and it is both sad and fascinating to watch.
The wall that comes between them comes in the form of Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) who's rebellious nature appeals to Zuckerberg, but not so much for the business minded Saverin. Timberlake is great at playing the perfect arsehole and is perhaps the film's villain, he is charming but sleazy. It's guaranteed you will absolutely hate his character...and you're supposed to.
Much credit has to go to Fincher in deciding to tell this story in the way he did. He could have gone from point A to B, but no we see the 2 lawsuits inter cut between. One with Saverin, the other with fellow Harvard students the Winklevoss twins (both played by Armie Hammer) and Divya Narendra (Max Minghella) who claim to have come up with the idea first. It makes the film so much more interesting to have the these scenes throughout rather than the end, as it feels like we are present at the meetings being told how the events unfolded.
'The Social Network' is a hugely entertaining film and I can't really think of anything I disliked about it. The stroy is so interesting and the characters are intriguing and likable, and if not likable you understand why they are the way they are. David Fincher is one of those directors whose films are always enjoyable (Alien 3 aside) and this no exception, with a great script, a great cast and a great story, this is truly a modern classic. Oh and the score is incredible aswell. Forgot to mention that.
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