Movie with Abe: The Social Network

The Social Network
Directed by David Fincher
Released October 1, 2010

Those unfamiliar with or actionably against the notion of Facebook shouldn’t fear that they will feel out of touch with or disinterested in this film. Stars Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, director David Fincher, and writer Aaron Sorkin acknowledge that they have barely ever used the social networking site, and less famous star Andrew Garfield admits that he used to be a typical user but has since broken free. This isn’t a film that tries to be clever by mimicking the workings of the site in its storytelling; instead, it’s a brilliant portrait of a whole host of high-achieving everymen with a competitive interest in creating the next big thing.

Left to right: moderator Todd McCarthy, writer Aaron Sorkin, Star Jesse Eisenberg, director David Fincher, stars Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake at a Q & A for the film
Sorkin, the creator of “The West Wing,” has, more than anyone else, left his distinct imprint on this film. The first scene includes purely dialogue and apparently consisted of nine pages acted out in a mere four and a half minutes, using Eisenberg and future Americanized “Girl with the Dragon Tatttoo” star Rooney Mara spouting off Sorkin dialogue in signature speedy fashion. The film doesn’t proceed forward at an alarmingly or even recognizably quick pace, but so much plot is impressively packed into a mere two hours that encompasses 160 script pages.

The cast, like the script, is entirely excellent. Eisenberg’s nebbishy, nervous attitude makes him the perfect person to play the pompous yet likeable Mark Zuckerberg. Timberlake is actually terrific as Napster founder Sean Parker, and Garfield, who will soon be just as well known as his costars when he stars in the “Spider-Man” film reboot, is simply fantastic as the moral center of the film, Zuckerberg’s partner, Eduardo Saverin. The smaller roles are also shrewdly cast, starting with Mara in the film’s opening scene as Zuckerberg’s girlfriend and highlighted by Armie Hammer as twin rowers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. Most astutely, they all work successfully with Sorkin’s script and respond well to Fincher’s direction, crafting an extremely on-the-ball and memorable ensemble.

“The Social Network” is a movie that’s rousingly entertaining, witty, and undeniably enjoyable. Its story is filled with despicable characters, all of whom don’t seem to comprehend their self-absorbedness, and it’s that very obliviousness to the way others perceive them that makes the experience such a blast. The film simultaneously follows Zuckerberg as he is sued separately by former friend Saverin and the Winklevoss wonder twins while chronicling Zuckerberg’s creation of Facebook, and it’s incredibly revealing to see the depositions occur while being privy to as much as can be speculated about what really happened in the run-up to the lawsuits. It may not be an authorized biography or the straight truth, but it would be near impossible for the real story to be as fantastically written or spectacularly presented as this.

A-

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: The Social Network

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

The Social Network – Opening October 1, 2010



Even before this teaser trailer debuted a couple of weeks ago, this movie had a lot going for it. It’s certainly a popular subject, since likely everyone in the entire universe knows what Facebook is, and if they haven’t heard of creator Mark Zuckerberg, they will have after this movie comes out. The talent behind the film is impressive, spearheaded by David Fincher, directing his eighth feature film after “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Zodiac,” “Panic Room,” “Fight Club,” “The Game,” “Se7en,” and “Alien3” (I’m excited to report that I’ve seen them all). If it’s possible, the screenwriter’s identity is even more thrilling. Aaron Sorkin was the creator of “The West Wing” and was responsible for the incredibly quick, smart, and clever dialogue on that show. The content of the trailer, however, is what’s particularly impressive. It’s a definitive teaser, without actually providing a real look at the style, look, or scenes of the film. Instead, we get a blurry image of Zuckerberg slowly coming into focus as a number of intensely memorable quotes are spoken. It’s much more dramatic than you’d ever expect, but that’s what makes it so intriguing. I had worried that it might be too gimmicky, trying to mimic familiar Facebook memes. Instead, it’s anything but. This is an origin story about characters, and from the looks of it, it’s going to be fascinating. I got chills watching the trailer the first time, and I’ve seen it as a least several times since then, with the same result every time. The most memorable exchange is Zuckerberg’s response to the question “Do I have your full attention?” – a resounding and indignant “No.” Jesse Eisenberg seems like a great choice to play Zuckerberg, and I think it will be a star-making role for the already-impressive performer, who broke out in 2002 with “Roger Dodger” and “The Emperor’s Club” and has continued to deliver great turns films like “The Squid and the Whale” and “Zombieland.” As the sole star of this movie, I think he can do great things. I can’t wait for this; what do you think?