The Social Network (2010)

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Directed by David Fincher
Drama
Rated PG-13: Drug, Alcohol Use, Language and Some Sexual Situations.

Story:

The film chronicles the rise of Mark Zuckerburg, founder of the social network website Facebook, and how it made him the world’s youngest billionaire, but also how it alienated him from his friends and loved ones.

Thoughts:

The dialogue is this movie is very fast paced and abundant. I cannot stress this point enough. If you watch this movie without the subtitles on, chances are you will miss a lot of important information. This isn’t something to be viewed as a negative stigma, just a sign of how densely the film’s material is packaged. By the end of the movie, my brain felt like it had run a marathon with it’s relentless pace and unpredictable events layered with suspense and sprinkled lightly with dry wit.

Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg, our lead, a brilliant, and ambiguously autistic computer programmer, though gradually we are introduced to a sea of characters involved in this Internet enterprise. Andrew Garfield as the business focused Eduardo is easily the most sympathetic character, while Justin Timberlake’s performance as the wily Shawn Parker, is a phenomenal breakout role. Each addition adds a new piece to the drama and it is easy to get caught up in the ever-expanding series of events.

The film has many parallels to the classic “Citizen Kane”, mainly use of a nonlinear narrative told through flashbacks. But probably most recognizable is in the film’s conclusion, when Mark finds himself lonely at the top, alienated from all his friends and looking to reconnect with his lost love.

Captivating in its composure, “The Social Network” is a film that actively encourages its audience to think, and consider the actions of the characters that can leave each viewer with a completely different perspective of the protagonist. 

Final Score:

 5 out of 5. Intense.