The Stars:

Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake and Arnie Hammer

The Story:

The latest work by director David Fincher of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Fight Club” fame, “The Social Network” tells the story of the creation of arguably the most prominent and powerful social force at work in society today – Facebook.  Told through a series of flashbacks, which brilliantly transform the well-known story into one that’s refreshing and captivating, the movie details the controversial inception of the social networking website by Mark Zuckerberg (Eisenberg) and friend Eduardo Saverin (Garfield), and its explosion with the help of Napster creator Sean Parker (Timberlake), as well as the numerous, well-publicised lawsuits concerning the ‘real’ founders of Facebook.

The Score: 5

Without a doubt one of the best movies of the year.

Justin Timberlake offers a convincing performance in a masterfully layered portrayal of Napster creator Sean Parker.  However, Eisenberg and Garfield undoubtedly steal the show with two of the best performances of 2010.  Eisenberg, with credits such as “Zombieland” and “Adventureland” to his name, is impeccable in his presentation of the socially inept, loathed and somehow still simultaneously pitied Zuckerberg; whilst Garfield completely inhabits the role of a Harvard student wronged by his friend, fallen victim to the runaway steam train of success.

The movie bears Fincher’s trademark flawless cinematography with every shot perfectly presented.  The dark, yet rich and enchanting imagery as seen in the shots of Harvard is reminiscent of his work in both “Fight Club” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.  As Fincher so often does in his films, the true meaning of the work is left entirely up to audience interpretation, adding a movement and uncertainty to the piece rare to bio-pics.

Screenwriter Adam Sorkin delivers a fast-paced script with cleverly-written, witty dialogue, characteristic of his work, which made projects such as TV series “The West Wing” so remarkably successful. 

While some have criticized the apparent ‘fizzling out’ of the plot at the end of the movie, what Sorkin has instead captured is the true loneliness and motivation behind Zuckerberg’s actions.  Instead, the audience finds room in their hearts to pity him as they eagerly await the rest of this unwritten story to play out.  Fincher and Sorkin have together managed the impossible feat – a two hour biopic that doesn’t feel like one.

There’s nothing not to “like”.

By: Heather Scott, Varsitylife