The Social Network

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is The Social Network. Directed by David Fincher. Written by Aaron Sorkin. Based on the book "The Accidental Millionaires." Written by Ben Mezrich.

100th review countdown....#85

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, drug and alcohol use and language.

Runtime: 121 min

Cast

Jesse Eisenberg - Mark Zuckerberg

Rooney Mara - Erica Albright

Armie Hammer - Cameron Winklevoss

Josh Pence - Tyler Winklevoss

Joseph Mazzello - Dustin Moskovitz

Max Minghella - Divya Narendra

Andrew Garfield - Eduardo Saverin

Rashida Jones - Marylin Delpy

Justin Timberlake - Sean Parker


"You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies." 

This the clever tag line to what is hands down THE BEST FILM OF 2010!!!!

I historically don't write my reviews the same day I see the movie but I felt duty bound as your favorite film critic to get this one out as soon as possible because all of you MUST SEE THIS FILM!!!! If you already beat me to the punch then I say congratulations and SEE IT AGAIN!!!!

For anyone who hasn't been living on Mars knows what this movie is about. It chronicles the college life of Facebook co-creator Mark Zuckerberg and the several twists and turns that follow him as he developed the world's biggest social networking website. Including the various law suits that followed him on the road to fame and fortune via the internet super highway.

There's so much amazing stuff in this film that I don't know where to begin my commentary. Normally I would lead off with the incredible performances of the cast. That would seem like a good place to start because every one in this film was exceptional. I could go another way and talk about David Fincher's continued impressive directing. Again another great way to kick off this review but I think I will begin by by giving the film's biggest star the spotlight.

The Social Networks biggest star is 100% undeniably Aaron Sorkin's remarkable script. I can't remember seeing a film with such razor sharp dialogue in quite a while. Sorkin choreographs every word that's uttered so intricately that he dares you to not give his work the attention and respect it demands. I'm telling you now that you have no choice but to respect the craftsmanship that is presented before you. As sharp and witty the dialouge may be, it's not pretentious. You're able to follow everything that's said with relative ease. The accounts of Zuckerberg's journey are not told chronologically. The film cuts between his endeavor's at Harvard and the two different depositions he endures in the present. This is another clever way Sorkin weaves the story along. It's very reminiscent of Frost/Nixon where you are shown the events of the interviews mixed in with the reaction from all parties involved many years later. The wordplay in the deposition scenes were just as captivating if not more so. The only thing that I'm curious about was whether or not Fincher and Sorkin were able to see the deposition transcripts. Either way, those scenes popped and really established Zuckerberg's ability to manipulate the opposing council while he dragged himself through the process of his own defense.

The script was so tight that it didn't take much else to get this picture off the ground. Then comes David Fincher who not only takes the picture off the ground. He sends it to a level that goes beyond anyone's imagination. He applies a visual style to a film that you wouldn't expect to see considering the subject matter and genre. This helps the flow of the story and keeps you interested. Fincher finds ways to ratchet up the anxiety with scenes that under any other director would play off as lame and forced. He also did a terrific job with the editing of the film. He follows Sorkin's blueprint as it was intended while adding some spice to it. Everytime he cuts from a deposition scene to a moment back in the character's past it all feels connected and seamless. You never get the sense that you are jumping back and forth through time. Another important note. Fincher paces the film beautifully. This movie moves at the speed of light despite it's 2 hour runtime. Finally, he allows the actors to tear trough their lines and give them the freedom to take the words off the page and apply their own twist.

David Fincher is very quietly becoming one of tinseltown's elite film makers. Maybe not so quietly.

This segues perfectly to the cast as a whole. Every single one of the actors here takes the stage and owns the moments they are a part of. Very similar to The Town, the cast outshines each other when they are interacting. This wasn't hard to achieve when the script is guiding you down the right path but you still have to find the right way to speak the words off the page and give them life. This comes across superbly with Eisenberg. He fires his dialougue with a purpose and speed that implies a superior intelligence and manitpulative tone. He does an amazing job making you fall in love with him in one scene then falling in hate with him in the same scene. Garfield holds his own playing off Eisenberg as Eduardo. He commands just as much respect if not more. I know I said that everyone is awesome but if I had to rank the performances of the cast then you have the ranking of the top 2.

Having said all of this, I have to say that prior to the films release that the real Mark Zuckerberg had made some comments challenging the validity of some of the moments in the film. That they were sensationalized or even fabricated for the sake of entertainment. This may get you to question if what you just saw was all true. I can say undoubtedly that I DON'T CARE! Regardless of whether or not this film is fact or fiction, it doesn't change the fact that this movie is one hell of an entertaining 2 hours.

Sorkin and Fincher knocked this one out of the park.

On the 5 star scale. The Social Network gets the full house 5 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

This one is a no brainer. Expect to see this one getting some MAJOR hardware come awards season. I can't see any other film challenging this one. Though I would love to see who is willing to step up and try.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is RED.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"