The Social Network (2010) Review

director: David Fincher

writer: Aaron Sorkin

starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Arnie Hammer

genre: Biopic, Drama







The Social Network is not the kind of film I enjoy to review. It's one of those films that you don't have really anything particularly bad to say about it and also not the kind of film that has a defining feature to rave about. You could say that Aaron Sorkin's script is the defining feature but no one is going to be sold on who wrote the script but about how status updates were created.

All Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) wanted was to be respected and to have the next big idea. He accomplished that with his best friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield). Facebook all started back in 2003 in Harvard University. Together Mark and Eduardo started the biggest social network in existence. But as the films tag-line says you don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies. And  that's a lesson Mark Zuckerberg learned by being sued twice. One by being sued for stealing the idea from fellow Harvard students and a second time from his own best friend. Mark tried hard not to be asshole but it just happened that he was trying so hard to be.

Initially I saw no point in the creation of a Facebook movie. Seemed as it was a move for more money on the brand name alone. But thankfully the film is not that at all. With Aaron Sorkin on script duties and David Fincher directing the film it ended up to be an pleasurable film that as good friend told me is meant for all audiences. And maybe that's why I didn't go crazy over it. By the end of the film I was so into the backstabbing, fast dialogue and intense scenes that I didn't want it to end. Instead it all ended on a more quiet moment where the film didn't really have that many to count. And maybe that's what the film was lacking but then again it all depends on your point of view.

The film isn't to say that it's bad but was plagued by the media hype machine and critics praising the shit out of it. If a movie is praised praised praised you'd expect a magnificent, extravagant masterpiece! But as with most hyped films they usually don't measure up to the hype or fall a little short. If hype for films didn't exist we would enjoy them much more.

Now to touch upon the film feats that everyone has been praising about. First is the script by Aaron Sorkin. He mostly known for his work on the political TV show The West Wing. His scripts has always been of the best quality by having the fastest, wittiest and most authentic dialogue amongst script writers. But usually his scripts are the ones that are in need of  right care from the proper director. David Fincher job may have been a particularly simple one but nonetheless played a part in making the film captivating to audiences and critics. It's mostly the proficiency of work in the film and unexpected quality resulted in more hype and praise for the film.

After the anticipation and hype the Facebook film ended up being a pretty damn good film. I might not have saw the glory of its accomplishments or applauded them as much as others but that still didn't stop me from having a great time which I hope the same for everyone as well.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul