"The Social Network", David Fincher's much-talked about film about the founding of Facebook, offers a fascinating study of the correlations between power and isolation. At the heart of this mesmerizing story is Mark Zuckerberg, the brilliant, socially awkward computer wizard whose invention of Facebook sparked two lawsuits worth hundreds of millions of dollars from former business partners who claimed that Zuckerberg stole their idea. Facebook catapulted Zuckerberg to immediate fame and notoriety, and provided him with exorbitant wealth. It is fascinating to watch how Zuckerberg becomes increasingly lonely as the film progresses. He tries to maintain a cool, aloof exterior, deflecting any accusations with a series of wry remarks. But Zuckerberg's insecurity and unhappiness are evident. The alluring poster for "The Social Network" says it all: You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.
It is the strange juxtaposition of wealth, celebrity, and loneliness that makes "The Social Network" so intensely compelling. David Fincher, with help from a razor-sharp Aaron Sorkin screenplay and terrific performances from a cast of wonderfully talented young actors, has crafted one of the best movies of the year. Rather than coming across as a typical biopic, "The Social Network" plays like a breathlessly paced thriller. Each scene is filled with dramatic implications, and all of the characters are deeply flawed in one way or another. Thus, in a way, "The Social Network" is a thought-provoking morality tale.
The cast is uniformly excellent. Jesse Eisenberg is sure to get an Oscar nomination for his performance in the lead role. Eisenberg has been quietly making a name for himself with his strong work in films such as "The Squid and the Whale", "Adventureland", and "Zombieland". With "The Social Network", Eisenberg will become an instant star, and deservedly so. Andrew Garfield is tremendous as Mark Zuckerberg's best friend and business partner who goes on to sue Zuckerberg for $600 million, and Armie Hammer, playing dual roles as twins who sue Zuckerberg for intellectual property theft, is fantastic. The strongest supporting performance, though, comes from Justin Timberlake, who deserves to receive a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance as the vain, shady founder of the music-downloading site Napster. Anybody who doubts Timberlake's ability to carve out a successful career in film will be completely persuaded by Timberlake's brilliance in this movie.
"The Social Network" is not a perfect movie, but it is an endlessly captivating one. The story of Facebook's founding, at least as told by David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin, is a thrilling examination of material wealth, and how that wealth does not always translate to a happy existence.
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