‘The Social Network’ – 1st World Reviews

At this point, those of you who saw David Fincher’s “The Social Network” did so because you knew it was about the guy who made Facebook. Now that the film has been released and opinions have been developed, most of you will see “The Social Network” because someone you know will tell you it’s the best movie of the year.

I am a biased David Fincher fan, not to mention an avid Facebook user, but the story of friendships and deceptions leading up to the creation of the social site would be interesting to anyone.

Everyone, no matter their interests, can enjoy “The Social Network” as just another movie. You don’t need to use Facebook to like the film; actually, you don’t even need to use computers. The concept of intellectual property theft is easy to understand no matter what you like.

The film does not overwhelm itself with technology jargon and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin did a fantastic job of adding energy to the plotline. Fincher, as usual, takes an already clever storyline and enhances its effect. The acting here is top notch, never pulling away from the reality of the story.

A notable Fincher scene from “The Social Network” uses an interesting technique to compare the lifestyle Mark is living to the one he wishes he could be living. The camera shifts back and forth from Mark working nerd-like over his computer in his dorm room (pictures above) to a Harvard Final Club party with bumping music, beautiful girls and rich, powerful Harvard students. Throughout the film, you get the idea that Mark has always been hunting for acceptance more than a paycheck.

Aside from the stylishly dark lighting from Fincher, the music also plays a major role in giving a dark energy to the film. Deep electronic bass line notes rumble through the quick-cut editing until a heavy beat pounds in. Whether we are watching the bus of girls who get picked up and “delivered” to Harvard or Mark just working at his computer, the music and light hint to us that something real is happening below the surface.

“The Social Network” is not about Facebook, but about the people behind it’s roots. Most people are unaware of the site’s shady beginnings, and this film will probably shock more than a few viewers.

Is this story fact or fiction? Well, it is both. Ben Mezrich, who wrote the original novel, gathered his research very carefully. In fact, he based a lot of his story on extensive interviews he did with one of the main players in the story, Mark’s original partner; actually, Eduardo is the narrator in the novel.

Eduardo essentially funded “thefacebook” from the start and was eventually pinched out with the help of carefully worded legal documents.

Having taken research from someone directly involved with Mark Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook, one can only assume that the major details found in “The Social Network” are essentially true.

Obviously, it is a “fictionalized true story,” a story that really happened but whose every detail could never be determined. Yes, a conversation here and there was fabricated, but the major events in the film seem quite real to me.

(SPOILER ALERT)
For example, I believe that Mark Zuckerberg purposefully delayed his 3 “associates” in order to release his own social site before they did. Getting there first is everything. I absolutely loved the scene in the film when Zuckerberg is finally confronted straight up about it, and all he can do is look out the window and say “it’s raining.”

I also believe it to be true that Mark Zuckerberg make a specific choice to cut out the person who funded Facebook in the first place and owned 30% of the company.

These types of details would not have made the film if they were untrue. Yes, this is a fictionalized story, but it is based on a real one.

Take from it what you will, but don’t believe you need to be a Facebookie to understand this film. It is already generating Oscar buzz and could be the defining film of this generation.

Don’t see “The Social Network” just because you like Facebook; see it because it’s a moving tale about modern humanity and will still be popular years from now.

If anything, go see it becuase it’s  directed by the same guy who made “Fight Club.”

1st World Review:  4/5