Review: The Social Network

Directed by: David Fincher

Written by: Aaron Sorkin

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella

Rating: [5/5]

Crafting stories around something as ever-changing as social media and the internet makes for quite the challenge of placing a timestamp that becomes dated almost immediately. It makes a moving target difficult to properly aim for. However, The Social Network takes this task on and delivers not only something relevant for the time but also incredibly prescient in the way the world would evolve with something that has permeated itself into all of our lives culminating into a distinguishable masterwork. 

Following a break up with his girlfriend, in a drunken stupor, Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) crafts a website where users can rate and select which women was more attractive garnering the attention of many on campus. When given the idea to create an exclusive social network at Harvard, he along with his best friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) seek to build something that could change the world of interconnectedness. 

Dropping in 2010 but having the staying power to remain in relevance far later, The Social Network tells the story of the rise of the famous social media website, Facebook. Not only through the procedural steps of what made it something so popular but also all of the individuals involved who felt they deserve a piece of the prize. Through meetings revolving around litigation and looking back into the creation of it all, this feature presents quite the journey with every bit of it leaving a meaningful impact. 

With all of the characters involved, this feature does a sublime job of presenting several of the perspectives of these characters and how they ultimately feel wronged by what Zuckerberg did to them through the creation of this site whether it’s felt through stealing the original idea, or getting frozen out by corporate actions. Through the narrative, we see both sides certainly have a point in the arguments they make with the journey of Eduardo Saverin having the saddest fall because not only did the financial relationship become an issue with Zuckerberg and Facebook, but ultimately their friendship deteriorated. 

Displaying the way things began between them in their closeness makes the ultimate fall that much more tragic, almost Shakespearean. We witness the moments of unbridled glee and giddiness as they construct something they know will make a difference out there in the way individuals communicate with each other. It has this excitement most start-ups possess where everything they do goes into growing a product they believe in showing these two truly cared for each other. Fairly quickly in the feature, these two stand across the table during a deposition indicating things go horrifically wrong for them, but as we navigate through the flashback we learn exactly why. This gives Andrew Garfield the opportunity to give what remains the finest performance of his career. 

Portraying the charismatic Saverin, Garfield displays the ways he truly cares for Zuckerberg and seeks to take care of him before things go off the rails later in the film. He has a passion for things done and the hurt Garfield expresses during those difficult conversations makes that impact very clear. As shown in his incredible scene at Facebook HQ where he confronts Zuckerberg for his latest action, the man had a fuse he know how to light whenever necessary and Garfield drives it home with a definitive slam of a laptop. Impeccable work by Garfield in this role. 

With all of the perspectives shared, the singular experience meaning the most lies with Zuckerberg himself, who still remains the leader of this company as it has surpassed everyone’s wildest dreams. The depiction has drawn some opinions including from the real man himself in combatting the reality of what we see on screen, but through this feature, we get the presentation of a man who simply wants to fit in amongst the elite. This presents itself clearly with the desire he has to join the exclusive finishing clubs at Harvard. He seeks validation by everyone he aspires to draw a connection with which powers much of his motivation in the feature. It ultimately makes him such a sad character to watch as someone who hides his emotions behind the walls of presenting this stoic persona he can barely hold onto when someone confronts him for being a flat-out jerk. 

This gets made explicitly clear in the opening break-up scene where Rooney Mara delivers some of the most skewering lines of dialogue ever written. Not only does she break down the façade of this persona but lays out the true reality of this young man and where he lies in the world. With all of his fame and success, he still seeks the simple old money validation of individuals who do not see him as worthy of joining their cliquey boy’s club. While Zuckerberg experiences moments of joy throughout the feature, the narrative ultimately posits whether or not he’s experiencing true happiness. All of this work and notoriety, but with the enemies made and relationships severed, he remains an unhappy jerk. 

Quite the character to bring on the screen because of what Zuckerberg has exploded into even after the premiere of the film and Jesse Eisenberg does an immaculate job in bringing him to life. Through his mannerisms and overall presentation of this character, Eisenberg portrays the emptiness behind his eyes and the sarcasm displayed to deflect from his true feelings. He definitely says some zingers on others but also presents the most punchable face around as nothing more than a child in moments. Not only matching physical similarity with Zuckerberg but his overall demeanor signifying one of the premier performances of the century and most certainly of Eisenberg’s career. A role he was born to play and he certainly did not squander the opportunity. 

Presenting this gargantuan feat comes an excellent collaboration of filmmakers all operating at the height of their powers to craft this exceptional feature film. Aaron Sorkin’s script for this film through its skewering and manageable way to explain everything going on for individuals not as familiar with the coding world remains his magnum opus. From the opening scene between Zuckerberg and his girlfriend Erica Albright (Rooney Mara) to every conversation held between the tech genius with Eduardo and Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), cuts through the meat of this story. No mincing of words, when things need a blunt response, allows for many jaw-dropping exchanges among these characters. 

This all gets brought together by David Fincher as he delivers his typical sharp style of direction in this feature in collaboration with cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth. For a film mostly taking place in rooms with people talking Fincher, ensures everything has a dynamism and pace to it to keep each scene incredibly engaging. Not a single minute feels wasted and the way he stages certain conversations continues to up the ante of what they speak about, especially with the personalities involved and the combustibility of their emotions in such an integral moment of their lives. Difficult to stamp any film as Fincher’s definitive best with the host of masterful works he has under his belt, but at the moment of this review, this feature has to sit at the top. This could easily change with another viewing of Gone Girl or Se7en. 

Remaining one of the most important and defining films of the 21st century, The Social Network gets so much right about the social media age and how elements of it have evolved since the early stages. Chronicling how public perception of Zuckerberg has evolved since this feature makes for a richer experience going back on it where individuals can have their criticism of whether the film landed too hard or softly on the man at the center. The final line delivers some generosity while the rest of the narrative skewers him fair ways allowing for several readings of this film, but make no mistake that this film’s perfection continues to shine. Sublime work by all involved and an unquestionably unforgettable experience only getting better with each new viewing.