The Social Network
"You're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a tech geek, and I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that that won't be true. It'll be because you're an asshole." Rooney Mara tell's it like it is in one of the best opening scenes in recent years.
I suppose some would say it’s about time we had a film tackling the incredible rise of social networks in recent years; In fact, some others would claim that it’s come a little too late. Of course, more important than how rapid a response to social trends by Hollywood, is whether the film is any good, and whether, as topical as it is, the flick can deliver a great drama able to stand the test of time? On this, writer of The Social Network Aaron Sorkin and its director David Fincher have certainly delivered.
In a way, the cinematic marraige of Fincher and Sorkin is something of an odd couple. Sorkin, most famous for creating and practically penning every episode of the first four seasons of this bloggers personal favorite hit show The West Wing, is known for quick fire, back and forth dialogue with an individual rythm all of his own and Fincher, well, whether talking about Fight Club or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, is usually more of a moody atmosphere mixed with scenes of giant action sort of director. Of course, as with most odd couples, it is precisely this sense of slight tugs in different directions that not only makes their relationship work but, most importantly, makes this film immensely watchable.
In what is one of the best opening scenes of recent years, Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and his girlfriend, Erica (Rooney Mara), are having a conversation over a drink in a local college bar. The scene plays out like classic Sorkin and pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the film. Eisenberg, it has to be said, gives something of a tour de force in the lead role. Coming from a film fan who found Eisenberg utterly convincing and in possession of an involved and watchable knack for playing similar characters in The Squid and The Whale and Adventureland, It’s nice to see his talents really get pushed to their best here. Particularly in that very opening scene, he plays Mark’s intellectual arrogance in a way, that whilst not particularly likable, finds the inner turmoil behind a guy who basically still can’t accept why girls would rather date ‘dumb’ physically appealing jocks instead of academics like him, who will no doubt rule the world one day. The very thing that drives Sorkin’s Zuckerberg is the same desire that’s driven many males to success, essentially wanting to sit at the ‘cool’ table with the prettiest girl in school by your side. Another good performance that must be pointed out, perhaps rather surprisingly, is Justin Timberlake as founder of Napster Sean Parker. After seeing Timberlake’s earlier film efforts admittedly I was a little skeptical of his ability to handle such material but my doubts were pleasently put to bed. The usually wholesome Timberlake obviously relishes the chance to play a chracter that can be essentially summed up in one word; Prick (Albeit a rather humorous prick). He also manages Sorkin’s highly stylized dialogue as well as any of the more experienced actors on show and display’s a previously underused comic timing.
Whilst this film is mostly a talkie affair, David Fincher still gets the chance to show of his undoubted skills; His visual flourishes used to their most exhilarating effect during a rowing sequence at the Henley regatta. The film also poses a lot of important questions; The lack of regard for privacy in Zuckerberg’s quest for social networking dominance, the voyeuristic elements of ourselves such sites exploit, the ironic loneliness that can exist when adding so many virtual friends (A point really nailed in the betrayal of Zuckerberg’s only real friend) and the freedom to put in print ill judged opinions as you think them when you’re, ahem, blogging. Of course, many of the free thinking, people unifying, truly democratic positives tend to be ignored but, perhaps, there is another kind of film to be made on the subject that future filmakers can tackle. Ultimately, this is a great piece of drama that anyone, regardless of your relationship to social networking, can enjoy. In fact, the reason for its success is precisely because this ISN’T a facebook movie and I doubt that many people would seriously be interested if it was. Along with Afew Good Men, The West Wing and the underrated Charlie Wilsons war, The Social Network allows Aaron Sorkin the claim of possibly being the best screenwriter working in Hollywood today; this is proved not just by his remarkable use of language, highly individual and his greatest talent, but in his understanding of how to convincingly create characters that want things and the obstacles that get in their way which, as simple as it sounds, are basically the ingredients of classic drama. So, it’s fair to say that Fincher and Sorkin have not only put together the best film of the year so far but possibly something of a masterpiece.
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