“The Social Network” is many things. It is the story of the origin of Facebook, a scathing (though dramatized) portrait of its creator Mark Zuckerberg and a vivid social commentary. Under the masterful direction of David Fincher (“Fight Club,” “Benjamin Button”) and the biting, brazen wit of Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay (“West Wing”), this film is a near-perfect thicket of wit-wars and double-crosses.
“The Social Network” is an almost Shakespearean drama of ambition, ingenuity and betrayal. It is an impeccably crafted, highly tense narrative that begins (of all things) because of a girl. The pace of the film establishes itself in its genius opening scene, when Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and his girlfriend, Erica (Rooney Mara) argue over beers in a local bar. Condescending, cold and† frustratingly brilliant,† Zuckerberg is obviously irked by his inability to get into Harvard’s prestigious super-fraternities called “Final Clubs.” When the debate goes irreparably south and Erica dumps him, Zuckerberg gets his revenge by furiously blogging. In the process, he created a demeaning Web site called “Facemash” that compared the relative hotness of Harvard women using a complicated mathematical algorithm. This, as fate would have it, was the beginning of the cultural phenomenon called Facebook that now reaches 500 million Internet users worldwide.
Frankly, this movie is sexy. It’s propulsively energetic, tack-sharp and surprisingly suspenseful considering that much of it is located in deposition rooms and in front of computer screens. With the sardonic genius of Sorkin and the visual pizazz of Fincher, the film comes to life as an engrossing, urgent parable for our time.
For all its cultural implications and emotional complexities, this film is full of stellar performances, the most notable of which is Eisenberg’s depiction of Zuckerberg, whose antisocial, withholding persona completely contradicts the charismatic heroism such characters usually require. Even at his most awkward and excessive, Eisenberg manages to make his Zuckerberg likable, and that’s a real accomplishment. The cast also includes Brenda Song, of Disney fame. Although she gives a solid performance, there’s something a bit wrong about watching a tween queen doing unspeakable acts in a Harvard bathroom. Justin Timberlake is surprisingly strong as Zuckerberg’s slimy, manipulative, yet charming business partner and Napster founder Sean Parker. Also noteworthy was Armie Hammer, who played both Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, the golden, Ken-like, rowing twins with family money. But the most gut wrenching performance came from Andrew Garfield, who plays Zuckerberg’s former partner and best friend, Eduardo Saverin.
This†film†is†current,†and†the†possible†analyses†are†endless.†But†however†topical†and†culturally†significant,†that’s†not†the†point†of†the†movie.
This†film†isn’t†about†Facebook.†It’s†about†Mark†Zuckerberg,†who†is†reminiscent†of†Jay†Gatsby†ó†only†Daisy†Buchanan’s†green†light†is†replaced†by†a†”refresh”†button†as†he†waits†for†his†ex-girlfriend,†Erica,†to†accept†his†friend†request.†As†with†Helen†of†Troy†and†other†stories†of†greatness,†it†all†began†with†a†girl.