The Social Network

Jesse Thompson

The Social Network Review

           

             The Social Network chronicles the creation of the gargantuan social network phenomena known as The Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg, and based off the novel, Accidental Billonaires, by Ben Mezirich. The film further fictionalizes Zuckerberg's rise from just another hyper smart, not so rich and elite computer geek at Harvard looking to obtain status, recognition and respect to on his way to becoming the world's youngest billionaire. Zuckerberg goes on his quest for popularity armed packed with insecurities and angst and a nonetheless genius intellect, tempered by an enormous lack of social skills and vindictive off putting condescending  personality. He is either seen as a "genuine asshole" or just trying awfully hard to be one as first his ex girlfriend Erica and then his honest lawyer each tell him. It is actually by his unwillingness to tone down elements of his personality that keep potential friends away and his motivation to get back at those he feels wronged by, in this case the girl that left him, that leads his all night computer coding with drinks binge that first leads to his creation of Facemash. The SocialNnetwork is not really a character transformation though, for we see Zuckerberg at the end of the film as not much different from when it starts, except as being only more alone, just now incredibly rich. While it's easier to root for Mark while the ridiculously over privileged Winklevoss twins sue him for allegedly stealing a seedling of good idea for an online social networking site exclusive for students at Harvard, that their entitled feeling selves would be clueless to execute successfully, when Zuckerberg takes of advantage of the more nobler character of the closest thing to a real friend he has in the film, Eduardo Saverin, and then burns him it raises the audience dislike and at the same time pity for Zuckerberg's person. Although there are winners and losers, settlements to the legal cases that arise in the film, the Social Network contains no real tragedies besides the dissolution of Zuckerberg and Saverin's friendship for myself. Everyone ended up incredibly rich, the greed displayed by Zuckerberg and his opponents is not after money for its material value but for the some sort of recognition, I'm sorry? Yes. I don't understand? Which part? You believe you deserve some recognition? Exactly. In furthering his self aggrandized goals Zuckerberg makes sure that the only he only friends he may come to have in the future will be leeches, groupies, sycophants and only after he has cut off everyone in his life does he seem to have a moment of caring about genuine relationships with another person, not just the idea of being loved and respecting without giving something back emotionally in return in the final scene as he sits there refreshing his screen in hopes that the last girl to care for him before will accept his friend request. Twenty six year old actor Jesse Eisenberg does an excellent performance portraying the troubled facebook founder, delivering all his looks of disdain and momentary triumphs into a believable character that no one would really care about if he hadn't brought The Facebook to the world. Although this movie seems of the moment, it features a time that already seems so far in the past. 2003, that awful Bush Presidency, no Facebook, wifi-less dorms, it was only seven years ago where in era of ever expanding social media tools and new fandangled gadgetry does the time go? "We lived on farms. We lived in cities. And now we live on the Internet" proclaims the sleazy Napster founder played by spot on in The Social Network by Justin Timberlake and it leaves the film with a feeling with having not captured anything of any real graspable cultural significance, instead just the fantasy world of young genius entrepreneurs just wanting to make friends, have a good time and outsmart the dastardly old money establishment by being even richer, obstinately set to have things their way and just as willing manipulate and toss others under the bus, but its written so excellently, scored stupendously, shot spectacularly and sure fun to watch that it's on the short list of awards for best picture this year no doubt.