The Social Network

When the reviews came out for The Social Network, I really couldn't believe the amount of near perfect scores given by every movie critic. After watching it, now I do. The Social Network must be your movie to watch for 2010. It was funktastic. For those that live under a rock, The Social Network is generally about the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg and his journey from being dumped by girlfriend Erica (Rooney Mara) to creating one of the most highly used social networking websites in the world. The film moves in a non-linear fashion, with Mark being sued by his best friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) and the Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer playing both twins) . Mark's testifies to both lawsuits bringing the film back and forth from past and present detailing the start of Facebook with an idea from the Winklevoss and founding the site with best friend Eduardo Saverin.

This film is about Mark Zuckerberg and his journey. There are many who say that the film vilifies him and makes him look like a big asshole who steps on everyone else just to get to the top. I say the film shows him as who he is; human. And Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark with such great consistency, mirroring a man who has everything and yet a man just as average and ordinary as anyone else on the face of the Earth. When Andrew Garfield was slated to take over the role of Peter Parker in the Spiderman reboot, I was in doubt at first. Mainly because the only other film I'd ever seen him in was the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus but after seeing his performance in The Social Network as the betrayed and dejected Eduardo, my doubts have since disappeared. Even Justin Timberlake put on a believable performance as Netscape founder Sean Parker, playing a slick sleaze ball who we all want to hate and yet admire.

The script, the script really overtakes the entire film with infectious quotes and witty dialogue that you wish you could think of yourself. All thanks to screenwriter Aaron Sorkin who had been involved with writing political based movies like A Few Good Men, Charlie Wilson's War, The American President and of course the television series, The West Wing. The Social Network wasn't even a comedy and yet it made me laugh more times than some comedies I've had the displeasure of laying my eyes on. It was funny, witty and the actors performed brilliantlt.

However, even if a movie had a good script, a potentially untalented director could steer the movie into shitville and that's where David Fincher comes in. David Fincher is one of my favourite modern directors and The Social Network marks a departure from Fincher's other works (Fight Club, Zodiac, Seven) that have a depressing and bleak tone to them. Fincher constructs a story that is so fluid, there is never a dull moment. Usually, a film that operates in a non-linear fashion tend to be messy, but Fincher manages two present cases and interlinks them effortlessly with the past, making the film a joy to watch. The music score is infectious and as of now, is what I'm currently listening to. The vibrant soundtrack kicks in at certain moments propelling the film to a new level of style.

The movie was flawless. Not a hair out of place. Although, it never did feel like a perfect movie in a sense. I felt that the film didn't take the risks necessary to propel it into one of the greatest ever. After watching The Social Network, I could tell that the film was brilliantly good, but not as good as those in my top ten and it bugs me that it could. The Social Network could have been up there with Citizen Kane. However, its great the way it is and all the best at the Oscars. I am thoroughly divided for the Oscars this year.. I want David Fincher to win but at the same time want Christopher Nolan to win as well. Two of the most talented directors to ever be gifted into Hollywood.

Final verdict - Funny, memorable and will change the way you look at Facebook. Its a sad tale of the youngest billionaire in the world. When the movie ends, you don't expect it because you would have enjoyed every minute of The Social Network.

10/10