Review: The Social Network

Its weird to think that a few years ago there was no Facebook, no updates, no liking, no tagging people pictures but nowadays everybody seems to be doing it. It seems inevitable then that a film about the website's creator, Mark Zuckerberg, would be released sooner or later. Adapted from the book 'The Accidental Billionaire', 'The Social Network' has good pedigree as it is directed by David Fincher and adapted by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin. The non-liner plot structure flicks between two legal battles that Zuckeberg is having one with his former best friend and Facebook co-creator Eduardo Saverin who wants his credits back on the website and the other with rowing twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss who claim that Zuckerberg stole the idea for Facebook from them. The whole creation of Facebook, which started when Zuckerberg didn't take his break-up with his girlfriend very well, is all told in flashback. Zuckerberg is never portrayed as a particularly nice character but at the same time Sorkin and Fincher and always keen to point out why he did what he did whether it be through jealousy or through influence. The influence comes via Napster creator Sean Parker who spots a good idea when he sees one but at the same time wants to get the level-headed Eduardo out of the way and concentrate on getting through to Mark. Through Sean's involvement Eduardo is screwed out of the Facebook phenomenon and wants revenge and that's where the legal issues come in.

At first I found the plot structure of The Social Network a little jarring as I wasn't quite sure who it was suing Zuckerberg and why. However, after I fully immersed myself in the movie, I found myself really rather enjoying it. Jesse Eisenberg was a great choice to play Zuckerberg as he looks very nerdy but at the same time is a strong actor who is able to sink his teeth into some of the less attractive parts of Zuckerberg's character. Although he does some truly awful things we are able to sympathise with him in a way and that's partly due to Eisenberg who makes Zuckerberg seem like a real human being. Andrew Garfield's Eduardo is the film's heart really as Eduardo is a geniunely nice guy and sticking by Mark through most of the film he reveals himself to be a true friend. Justin Timberlake also does well as Sean Parker, perhaps the film's only real villain, he combines an easy charm with some real talent when we see the darker side of Parker's psyche. Armie Hammer is also great doubling as the Winklevoss twins he is able to make each of them a little different and has the air of haughty authority down. However the real star of the film is Aaron Sorkin whose script is full of humour and character. From the opening scene in which Zuckerberg is dumped, Sorkin gives us his trademark snappy fast-paced dialogue which fans of The West Wing will be used to. One scene in particular in which the twins confront the President of Harvard about Mark's website reminded me of several scenes from the Washington-based drama.

There are a couple of very minor flaws, firstly that most of the film is set indoors and it does feel very claustrophobic from time to time. And also that this is a very male-dominated film the only real female characters are, soon-to-be-Girl-With-The-Dragon-Tatoo, Rooney Mara as Mark's ex-girlfriend and Rashida Jones as co-council during the legal scenes. These are small quibbles because in the end The Social Network is possibly the best written film of the year so far and must surely be up for some gold come Oscar time.