Viewed: 8/11/11
I am a Facebook user. But, I did not see The Social Network in theaters, nor did I rush to rent it once it came out on DVD. Despite its recognition from many prestigious reviewers and award shows, the dramatized origin of the social networking site did not entice me at all. I felt that a movie about a billionaire being sued by multiple people was a bit less engrossing than say one about a man who cut off his own arm after being trapped in a hiking accident or better yet a heist movie where what’s being stolen is an idea locked inside of a dream… Even the story of a king struggling to find his voice in order to speak to a nation—whether it was a film that seemed more exciting or more moving, The Social Network didn’t seem like something that was worth investing in.
Three things eventually gnawed at my hesitation and disinterest. The first was David Fincher. I’d already whetted my appetite for his vision earlier this summer with The Game (which I also reviewed for this blog =) ) and his brilliance directing Fight Club and Se7en lead me to the conclusion that he wasn’t about to make a bad film and for his stylization alone, the movie had a substantial amount of respect from me. Second was a mild curiosity in Andrew Garfield who’d been mentioned as an up-and-coming star in many articles about the film, and he’d been chosen to helm the new Spider-Man reboot, so clearly there was something special about him. Last was I was referred to watch it by a friend whom I have the utmost respect for when it comes to movie recommendations. There are some people I will always trust when it comes to film judgment—and after viewing the film I can say that he has not lost that trust.
The Social Network is the back and forth story of the lawsuits surrounding the creation of Facebook as well as the events that lead to them. It is a testimony to the intoxicating world of progress and business as well as a exploration into the politics of friendship and the fragility of any relationship. A lot could be said of the comparisons to what Facebook has become and how it has effected social interactions and the events that unfold in the movie—thus intrigue is accomplished and the movie succeeds in making a connection with those of its audience members who have no clue what it’s like to own a multi-billion dollar website. Furthermore, Jesse Eisenburg shows incredible growth playing the lead role of Mark Zuckerburg—the alleged “creator” of Facebook. Gone are the days where he embodied the awkward, mumbling, indie-film boy next door, because Eisenburg masters a character who may be socially withdrawn but he is a sharp, commanding presence whose mind moves fast and his mouth moves faster. Eisenburg delivers abrasive lines that pop out of a casual attitude of ambivalence and boredom with a tone that perfectly captures how removed his character truly is, but at the same time he is so amazingly capable of knocking people off their feet. However, his frigidity, though chilling, is somewhat shadowed by the emotional performance delivered by Garfield who is perfectly cast as Zuckerburg’s best friend who aids the start of Facebook. As he creates conflict in managerial decisions and projects the burn of betrayal he also gets to have light-hearted moments of smiles over propositions from hot girls and pledging for an esteemed Harvard club as well as a wonderful moment where he is caught off guard by an impromptu fire while on a business call. Garfield’s character may have been secondary, but he stole the spotlight of that movie by delivering a heartfelt performance that reflected the chaos of any relationship that suffers from an irreparable severance.
The acting is the high point of the movie. The story is compelling though its editing is a double-edged sword. Quick cutting and interesting shots and angles keep the story fresh, but the dragging pace and a run-time of about two hours does cause the movie’s full potential to diminish. Though the film will not go down in history as one of the greatest of all time, it is clear why it was a genuine competitor amongst last year’s bests and I can say I was pleasantly surprised by it. The Social Network is so much more than “a Facebook movie”, it is a statement about our generation and it is a portrait of various facets of humanity, it stands strong as a film worth investing in.
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