John Says: The Social Network has become a very anticipated film for one reason or another, and early reviews from critics have been absolute raves. Clearly I would not pass on the opportunity to see an advanced screening (and Q&A session with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and stars Jesse Eisenberg and Armie Hammer!).
My first viewing of the film in the front row of my theater was fascinating, albeit slightly underwhelming. I found the dialogue witty, beautiful photography, but on the whole I thought the concept of a Facebook movie was a bit short-sighted. My second viewing, seen on a smaller screen with no distractions (let's ignore the legalities for a moment) was awe-inspiring. The third - flawless. Here is a great movie with layer upon layer of depth and story. How I didn't recognize the genius during the first viewing remains a mystery, but now I am fully convinced this is one of the strongest films of the year.
The film follows a handful of testimonies and accounts of the various college students responsible for (and allegedly robbed of) the idea of Facebook. The story flows by incredibly quickly in a non-linear fashion as the story descends deeper and deeper into betrayal and greed. Jesse Eisenberg (who strikes me as the poor man's Michael Cera) is utterly shallow and completely riveting in his role. Likewise with Andrew Garfield (our future Spider-man) who gives possibly the strongest (and most sympathetic) performance in the film. Armie Hammer serves a dual role as the Winklevoss twins (through flawless CGI), those who claim to be the victim of intellectual property theft: Facebook. Were they robbed? Or was Zuckerberg's idea truly an original one? It's difficult to tell, especially as the story is told from such a multi-faceted angle. Justin Timberlake wraps up the leading cast with a surprisingly dramatic and believable role.
In terms of the film's story, was surprised at how timeless some of the central themes of betrayal, friendship, and personal gain were. I fully respect the screenwriter, who could have made a cliche, boring, forgettable movie - but managed to make a layered, resonant, albeit fictionalized account of this website and the people who were behind it.
I also give praise to the cinematography and original score. Both are very unconventional for the story at hand, but help so much in creating a unique tone throughout the movie. David Fincher is undoubtedly known for the technicality behind his films, and this one is no exception.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend this film! It's surprisingly deep and is completely fascinating. The story points towards a deeper understanding of today's culture - that as we seemingly get closer and closer to people via the internet, we really are isolating ourselves more and more... Yes, it took me 3 viewings to more fully grasp the genius at work behind this film, and I cannot wait to see it again. One of the year's strongest films by far.
Maureen says:
Going in to see The Social Network, I had low expectations. A movie about Facebook, of all things?! But soon after the film began, I realized this was not a film about Facebook, but a rags-to-riches story of conflict, friendship, success, failure, betrayal, and strength of character. David Fincher, as usual, is hitting on all cylinders, and as such, creates a film that will be a strong contender in the upcoming awards season.
To start, the acting: spot on, to say the least. Jesse Eisenberg has a break-out role as Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook. He makes you simultaneously hate Zuckerberg while cheering for him the whole way through. Strong supporting roles by Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, and the up-and-coming (and VERY easy-on-the-eyes) Andrew Garfield. The character development is riveting (credit to screenwriter Aaron Sorkin) and truly makes the film what it is.
In addition to the screenplay and the acting, the film is well-made, with excellent cinematography, unique (but perfect!) scoring, and beautiful sets. I'm not sure if Harvard actually looks they way it's portrayed, but they show it exactly the way 95% of America imagines it looks.
Overall, this is a difficult movie to NOT enjoy. There is drama, comedy, and the perfect amount of intrigue... a unique, compelling, and smart coming-of-age story. Consequently, in thinking about its rating, it is also difficult NOT to give it a perfect score, as it is nearly perfect in every regard. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor - get off of Facebook - and go.
(Awards potential: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Eisenberg), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor (Garfield), Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing)
