During the film season there are usually the odd movies that really inspire us. Usually, in the spring we get the dramas and the animated films that make our hearts melt, summer is the time for the huge action blockbusters and the fall is when the holiday oscar movies arrive. So movies come and go, some make in imprint on our emotions and some simply show us a good time, but sometimes there is a movie that simply defines cinema and stands the test of time. Some movies bring innovation and excellence to the screen and there are few that have done this. When David Fincher announced that he was making the movie about facebook written by master scribe Aaron Soren, I didn't know what to expect. I actually don't think anyone knew what to expect. Let me just start by saying, this movie better win best picture at the oscars, this is a brilliant achievement in film making. This is a powerhouse of a film, it sneaks up on you, and it will blow you away.
This movie is directed with such grace and tact, it packs a huge punch with the subtlety of a jungle animal slowly watching it's prey. It's vibrant, exhilarating, poignant and the most important movie of our cyber decade. It's the story about a young genius who show's the world how to connect, an entrepreneur that makes billions of dollars, and a friendship that is sacrificed for one thing, facebook. Let's back up just for a moment and get some context right. Facebook is the number one social networking site that was started in February of 2004 by wiz kids Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin. It was exclusive only to Harvard University when it first hit the internet and it spread, like a virus all over the world, this movie is about these people, the creation, and the spread, but it's also about how those events impacted the lives and relationships of all parties involved. I know what you still may be thinking though, how good can a movie be when all it's about is silly Facebook? The reason why this movie is so important is because it's about our generation, the cyber generation. The generation where computer nerds run the world and become the rock stars, the generation that lives, breathes and operates on the internet, so if you love checking you're Facebook every day, why wouldn't you want to see how it was created?
"The Social Network" has some of the hottest stars right now, and this isn't silly "Twilight" where the stars are easy to look at but have no cinematic punch, these boys and girls know how to act. Jesse Eisenberg taps into a new collective self as the boy who plays Mark Zuckerberg. He has grown out of his nimble supporting roles as such in "Adventureland" and "Zombieland", he has created a beautiful monster in this film, he will get an oscar nod if not an oscar. Andrew Garfield plays his right hand man, Eduardo Saverin, and this boy came out of nowhere and really shocked me. He is versatile, and creative with his character here giving a jaded performance that rocks the screen. Rooney Mara is another newcomer who plays a pivotal role as the girl who dumps Zuckerberg, and the opening scene shows how brilliant of an actress she really is. Justin Timberlake gives the performance of his career, clear and simple, he is truly an actor, nominate him please. Fincher wields his cast like an arsenal of mass destruction, this movie gives every craving of good acting that anyone has ever had for a film in a long time, that satisfaction a movie should give.
The best part of the film and script is the patience shown by the writer and director. I really don't care if this movie isn't true at all, it plays out like a parable and gives many lessons that are important in our lives. It's a story about a man's baby that no one can take away from him, not even the dreaded Winklevoss twins played by Armie Hammer Jr. By the way Armie will get a nod too. If it were up to me this movie would win every major award. This is a tour de force, Fincher shows a brilliance in his story telling, when the movie opens we are sitting in a bar listening to a girl break up with a boy. If the credits rolled after this scene, I would be satisfied, this scene is breathtaking. It not only sets the tone for the entire film but it haunts the audience even after the credits are rolling. The showcase of acting is just stellar, the directing is patient yet fervent, and the writing is just as witty and action packed as "Transformers" dreamed to be. This movie doesn't point fingers, it tells a story, a heartbreaking story of how dreams are sometimes not worth it, or are they? If Zuckerberg didn't have a dream then Facebook wouldn't have been invented. This film packs imagination and inspiration, you will be energized and blown away after sitting through this one. This is what cinema is all about, the power, grace and tenacity, this is more thrilling than the greatest thriller, more important than any documentary, and more dramatic than Shakespeare. This movie will test you, surprise you, disgust you, inspire you, and make you believe in the magic and power of film.
This was the one gem that came out of 2010, after a decade of amazing advancement in technology, and cyber business, it's good to stop and reflect that our humanity is much more important than some silly Social Networking site. Would you rather have 500 million Facebook friends? Or one really amazing real life friend that you can connect too instead of "poking" "The Social Network" asks this question, you be the judge.
This movie is a gourmet feast for movie lovers. It will stand the test of time.
