With absolutely no factual data to back up this claim I’ll say this;  I believe the reason that Hollywood doesn’t make more movies based off of computers is that while geeks will swear to flock to it either in praise or brutal criticism at technical errors, most of those geeks well, being geeks will be happy to sit at home, save their nine dollars and pirate that shit for free.  On the other hand, every day, mainstream movie goers really don’t care that much. It’s a lose-lose people! They don’t gravitate to a bunch of nerds hunkered down behind computer screens creating something with a (kind of) shared vision.  Well, they don’t unless the movie is essentially named Facebook.  I mean, then everyone can relate, right?

The Social Network is the true(ish) story of how Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) went from a relative unknown at Harvard made a name for himself creating a baby Facebook for college campuses, which eventually grew into one of the most successful companies in the world, valued today at over $25 billion dollars.  With a ‘b’.  Of course, you can’t achieve that kind of success without some hardship, controversy, and disagreements along the way.  The film chronicles Zuckerberg’s rise to internet superstardom by flipping between three different scenarios- a lawsuit brought against him by his former business partner and best friend, Eduardo Saverin, another lawsuit claiming intellectual property theft by the Winklevoss Twins and Divya Nerendra, and finally, all of the events leading up to these proceedings.  The Social Network is almost entirely focused on this aspect of Facebook’s creation.

One thing that immediately stood out for me is that save for Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, there really isn’t a big name anywhere in the movie.  They’re all actors that you find familiar, but have difficulty placing.  Of course, their fame doesn’t dictate their acting chops and every performance throughout is nothing short of stellar.  Timberlake in particular proves once again that he’s no one-trick pony and deftly handles his role.

This is a David Fincher film (Seven, Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and as such has an immediately distinctive visual style.  Fincher’s work has always had a cold, sterile feel to it and this is no exception.  It’s actually really brilliant as well, considering that Facebook naturally conjurs up imagery of social interaction, closeness, friends, family and so on, but this isn’t about the use of Facebook- this is about its inception and frankly, the process by which everyone’s favorite social network came to be is one rife with controversy.

While connected is what everyone feels while using it, Zuckerberg is anything but.  He’s an egomaniac that is ruthlessly driven to do something spectacular no matter what the cost and no matter what anyone else thinks to the point that this determination he harbors ultimately separates him from almost everyone around him.  He’s awkward, cold, and calculating, but the fascinating thing is that there are small cracks in his armor where he’s just a regular, fun-loving kid.  These moments of yearning, where it’s clear that Zuckerberg wants to reach out to those around him are peppered only lightly throughout and their subtlety is masterfully executed by Eisenberg in its portrayal.

Punctuating these moments is an excellent score by Trent Reznor.  His trademark industrial sound interspersed with melodic tones at first sounds out of place, but the more you understand that this is, at its core an irony highlighting the juxtaposition between the most successful platform to bringing people together and the lonely, digital exploits of a struggling young man it all comes together quite nicely.

The Social Network is a film that is immediately relatable to almost anybody.  It’s a fantastic story (even if liberties are taken) that’s well acted and directed.  It’s got enough humor throughout to satisfy, a hint of underdog, and even if Zuckerberg is a self-absorbed asshole, he’s certainly a lovable one.  At the end of the day this is a solid film that’s endearing because of the memorable characters and difficulties that we’ve all struggled with at one point or another.

The Social Network is awarded 10 out of 10.