Review of "The Social Network"

The Social Network (2010)

Directed by David Fincher

Written by Aaron Sorkin

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer, Justin Timberlake, Max Minghella, Rooney Mara, and Rashida Jones

Review by Jennie Brouse

Synopsis: Beginning all the way back at Harvard University, where the creator of Facebook attended school, this is an in depth look at how internet phenomenon Facebook came to be. 

Review: This is the story (albeit slightly fictional) of Mark Zuckerberg (the creator of Facebook).  I could already tell I was going to like this movie when the opening scene came on the screen.  The movie begins with Zuckerberg and his then-girlfriend at a bar, talking at lightning speed about Zuckerberg’s obsession with getting into a final club. This is also the moment when Zuckerberg’s soon-to-be ex-girlfriend delivers the wonderful line: “Dating you is like dating a Stairmaster!” She says this because it is so tiring talking to Zuckerberg, he is so smart and always steers the conversation to something interesting, and the person talking to him never gets a second to breathe.  He’s always thinking.  The Stairmaster line is one of many great one-liners in this incredible movie. 

Since I’m already talking about the writing, I may as well give my props to Aaron Sorkin now—the screenplay is absolutely superb.  Every scene, the dialogue is right on.  After seeing this movie for a second time, I realized how much I missed the first viewing.  This is definitely a movie you should see more than once.  The actors are speaking back and forth so fast it’s hard to keep up at times, but this is exactly what draws me to the movie, the fact that you have to keep up.  It’s far from condescending; instead of assuming the audience is dumb (which is what a lot of movies tend to do these days), it assumes that the audience is intelligent, and will know exactly what’s going on.  This is a credit to director David Fincher, who knows how to make a scene really resonate (which is also obvious from his previous films, such as Se7en, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Fight Club).

In addition to the wonderful writing, the actors who bring it to life are spot-on as well.  Jesse Eisenberg delivers his lines with such great timing I almost just had to laugh at how good it was.  I was especially blown away by one particular court room scene, when the opposing lawyer asks Zuckerberg if he has his attention, and Eisenberg delivers his lines with a completely straight face, telling the lawyer that he only has the minimum amount of his attention.  The supporting actors deliver as well: Andrew Garfield is very believable as Zuckerberg’s former best friend and co-owner of Facebook.  Armie Hammer is brilliant, playing both of the Winklevoss twins (who Zuckerberg collectively calls the “Winklevi”), who accuse Zuckerberg of stealing their idea of “Facebook.”  Justin Timberlake is terrifyingly good as the manipulative, charming Sean Parker, owner of internet giant Napster and Zuckerberg’s soon-to-be business partner, who slyly slips in on Facebook’s giant success without Saverin’s knowledge. 

Even the bit parts, such as Rooney Mara’s portrayal of Zuckerberg’s girlfriend Erica, Max Minghella’s portrayal of the Winklevoss’s friend Divya, and Rashida Jones as a worker in the law firm named Marylin Delpy, are great.

I’ve been watching the all the award shows lately, and while watching them I remember thinking, “I know The Social Network is good, but I don’t know if it’s good enough to win Best Picture at all the shows.”  But now I know that it is: after seeing it for a second time, I now believe it’s worthy of a Best Picture win at the Oscars.  It’s such an interesting, fascinating movie that never gets boring and never feels like it’s running too long.  If you haven’t seen The Social Network, please give it a shot.  And if you have, see it again; it’s definitely worth a second viewing.  The writing, acting, and directing are truly phenomenal.

Overall Rating: 5/5