FILM REVIEW: "Social Network"

[Rachel Galvin]

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By Rachel Galvin</b>

I went into this film with high expectations and left disappointed. Perhaps, it was simply because the film was not was I had anticipated. The storyline is basically the beginnings of what has become a billion-dollar enterprise -- Facebook. The plot is revealed through flashbacks intermixed with two "current day" simultaneous lawsuits. Although Jesse Eisenberg's (Zuckerberg) performance is definitely award-worthy and Napster Creator Justin Timberlake is fun to watch, something about all the characters made me simply not care about them. Perhaps it was because especially Zuckerberg's performance is almost too realistic. His personality so walled off and inaccessible that it seems impossible to get in, so you give up trying. And I don't think he smiled once... or at least I don't remember a smile. He came off as miserable, too in his head with ADD tendencies and a definite antisocial air. I know people that are like him, that's the scary part. But even they have another side. In the end, I simply saw him as pathetic... genius, but pathetic, with a grudge as big as Texas toward anyone who gets ahead. He really was made out to be a insecure, small man, grasping for notoriety only to somehow get back at people or to gain respect or something... you aren't sure what, and also to just fulfill the nerdy pleasure of writing good code.

The back and forth Mamet-esque banter, grew tiring at times like watching a tennis match or enduring a "Who's on First" blip. At other times, one-liners by Zuckerberg were powerful punches and his brutal honesty made you feel like he just scored one for the team.

We already know what happens basically in this film so there was not much suspense, although, some of the double cross and betrayal was interesting, albeit never explained. One of my favorite roles was Christie, who plays a psycho girlfriend -- again too realistic with just a bit of the over-the-top edge. I know people like her... again scary.

Overall, it is interesting to see the clear differentiation between the old boy network and the next generation. Zuckerberg's inner workings and concepts --watching the wheels turn -- that alone make this film watchable. But I do not agree with most critics that hail it as a masterpiece. Coming out of the screening, I did not hear one positive comment. One woman said, "It was ok... I would pay money to see it." Another later said, "Well... yeah..." and laughed, unable to describe her obvious disappointment with the picture.

Not that the film is flawed. It is brilliantly acted and the dialogue, although exhausting, certainly could easily be classified as ingenious by some who like that sort of thing. The cinematography is good and so is the editing. The music was great. It was also fun to see Frat party initiations and parties. I think it was a good picture. I just felt that I could easily get up and go to the bathroom and not bother coming back, just did not hold my interest.

[Matthew Newman]

I enjoyed The Social Network and also saw Case 39. I kind-of agree with you 2% on what you have said about the film. Like, "one-liners by Zuckerberg were powerful punches and his brutal honesty made you feel like he just scored one for the team," and "In the end, I simply saw him as pathetic... genius, but pathetic, with a grudge as big as Texas toward anyone who gets ahead. He really was made out to be a insecure, small man, grasping for notoriety only to somehow get back at people or to gain respect or something... you aren't sure what, and also to just fulfill the nerdy pleasure of writing good code." I saw the film due to the reason of Jesse Eisenberg and how he would pull it off. If you think some parts are Oscar worthy, I think the same too.