The Social Network
This movie came out in the final quarter of 2010, I watched it when it first came out, and ended up buying it, then selling it in a collection of movies to get trade in cash to buy more movies. I’d say I’ve seen it maybe four times. Well yesterday, I went back, because I just had the urge to watch it again, and I walked away with a new found appreciation. I mean, yeah, I knew the movie was great, but after watching yesterday, I’m convinced it’s perfect.
The Social Network is a perfect movie
I truly don’t know where to begin. So, I’ll guess I’ll start at the beginning. The opening scene, at the bar, with Jesse Eisenberg and Rooney Mara is fantastic. It’s the end of a relationship that really didn’t even begin. And in this scene, we get the first great one-liner. After all the back and forth, Mark (Eisenberg) commenting on her education, and past sexual history, she ends it all, but before she’s gone, she leaves him with a comment that starts out comforting, but actually pulls the rug out from under him. Erica (Mara) says “You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. But you’re going to go through life thinking that girls don’t like you because you’re a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won’t be true. It’ll be because you’re an a**hole.” And THAT comment sets a tone of what we’re in for.
Now, if you’ve seen the movie, (which I’m sure you have, because, if not, why are you here?) I’m not going to write out a play-by-play of every scene. That opening one sticks out. But that’s the thing, all the scenes stick out. Every time I recall a specific scene, I stop to think about how wonderful it is. The introduction of Sean Parker is well done, also. Waking up from (as what we know) a one night stand, he has a conversation with this girl, explaining who he is, what he’s done, and briefly, what’s ahead in the future. As he’s going to use her laptop, he sees the previous tab opened on thefacebook.com, leading him to meeting Mark Zuckerberg. And immediately, the distance that Andrew Garfield’s character puts between him and Sean Parker (Timberlake) is amazing, because, of course, Eduardo Saverin does not trust Sean Parker. He doesn’t believe that the facebook needs him, he doesn’t believe his friend Mark does either.
The editing for this film is extremely well done, giving you the information only as you need it, not before. When the moment comes for Saverin’s lawyer to reveal what his shares in Facebook were diluted down to, it’s striking, and it hurts. You see the agony of a friendship being torn apart, and you wonder how/why? Was it greed? Was it Sean Parker’s influence? Was there a true friendship there at all? The confrontational scene at the Facebook headquarters is probably my favorite scene in the whole movie. The emotion, the rage inside of Andrew Garfield that comes spewing out is raw, as he delivers another favorite line. He warns Mark Zuckerberg, “You better lawyer up, a**hole, because I’m not just coming back for 30%, I’m coming back for everything.” CHILLS.
And as the final credits are about to roll, you see that Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin settled for an undisclosed amount out of court. And reports say that had Saverin’s shares never been diluted down, his net worth would be around $35billion dollars, which is $33billion dollars more than where he is today.
The Social Network is about many things, but it is a fascinating tale of the fall of two friends’ relationships, and the most successful social networking site ever created. This movie is vicious, cunning, and so entertaining for its 121 minute run time, it never loses me. This film could be three or four hours and I would still watch it. Because it has, to me, the vibe that it could go on longer. All of the performances are incredible, I initially thought Eisenberg gave the best performance, but Garfield truly steals the show. I believe he should’ve gotten an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor. The film DID win Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score, and rightfully so. The Social Network is a masterpiece and I can’t wait to watch it again.
★★★★