At number four on my list of films to watch, is the social drama The Social Network, directed by David Fincher.
The inescapable phenomenon of Facebook has dominated mass culture for the last few years. Its impact on the world has been astounding, so a big Hollywood film about it seems inevitable. However, this movie is not about saying “look how cool and popular FB is, and how much we all use it”, but rather exploring the birth of the most famous website of all time, its creator, and the impact it had on everyone involved with its release into the world.
Jesse Eisenberg plays the brilliantly awkward Mark Zuckerberg, arguably the creator of Facebook, and one of the richest men on the planet. We find him at university, where he spends his time hacking into computers, playing IT-based pranks, and attempting adult relationships. He, and his best friend Eduardo (Andrew Garfield), soon begin work to create a website that would emulate the social experience of College life online (I don’t need to go into the ins and outs of FB, you all know about statuses, posts, and friends). Simultaneously, Eisenberg was asked to help a group of students to create a similar website, that dealt with online dating. As the notorious, and unprecedented, growth of Facebook began to change all of these peoples lives, a serious battle began for ownership and money.
Lawyers are brought in, and the film plays out in a series of memories whilst the characters are debating around a table. A murky chain of events soon emerges, and we learn how all these characters came to believe their version of what happened.
Justin Timberlake plays the effortlessly cool Sean Parker, the creator of the infamous music download site Napster, who enters the arena originally as a philosophical voice and guide, but soon tries to get his piece of the pie.
A great story, that is uncompromising in its telling. Rather than pandering to scenes of action and tension, Fincher has opted for a more intimate film with an extremely smart script. Several of the quotes are worth framing! Eisenberg is perfect for the role, which is very difficult to perform: a person who is essentially an un-likeable nerd but also the hero of the film. Timberlake does well to avoid a clichéd performance of rock star-cum-movie star, and adds a level of spark to the drama. My favourite performance, however, is Andrew Garfield, who is quickly becoming a rising star in the movie world. His display of acting abilities in this film is varied and deep, making his character a vivid and interesting one. The film uses some excellent music, and has provocative filming techniques to seem like you are intruding in on these characters lives.
A film you need to be in the mood for, it is two hours of drama. However, for those of you who attempt it, your will find a wonderful script, some excellent cinematography and worthy performances. It is a wonderful addition to the list, and my fondness for Fincher goes undisturbed.
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