The Social Network

[quade 4]

Saw it at a sneak last Friday. This is the review I wrote when I got home. I want to say in addition to what I wrote that night, some of the exploration of the ideas behind social networks applies not just to Facebook, but right here at dz.com as well.

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I hereby guarantee, no spoilers follow.

The Social Network, a film about the creation of Facebook, requires an ensemble cast. If something is a success and involves 500 million people, it’s a safe bet it took more than one person to get there. Each person has his side of a story to tell. Mark Zuckerberg, the genius founder played by Jesse Eisenberg, just wants to make something “cool.” Eduardo Saverin, his roommate/co-founder played by Andrew Garfield, wants to make a million dollars. Sean Parker, ex-Napster founder/entrepreneur and a bit of the devil played by Justin Timberlake, wants to make a billion dollars. Along the way there’s an ex-girl friend, some Harvard jocks who thought Zuckerberg stole their idea and lawyers for everybody.

There is one more character I haven’t mentioned yet; Mr. Dialogue. While some film’s “other character” might be cinematography, location or music, few films require dialogue to play such an important part and nobody writes better dialogue than Aaron Sorkin -- nobody. It’s poetry delivered in terse wit. I doubt the real life Zuckerberg, Saverin or Parker could possibly be this clever, but you sure as hell would want them to be.

If you’re not a screenwriting geek, you may not know who Aaron Sorkin is. Sorkin wrote the screenplays for;

A Few Good Men
The American President
The TV series Sports Night (45 episodes)
The TV series The West Wing (154 episodes)
The TV series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (22 episodes)
Charlie Wilson’s War

Some people will go to see anything some particular actors or directors are involved in. I will watch and listen intently to anything written by Sorkin. There’s a musicality to it, a rhythm and then a whack up side the head.

With dialogue being such a vital part to this film, I was a bit surprised by the audio mix in places. Sure, I know it’s supposed to be a crowded bar, but I’m not here to listen to the band; I’m here to listen to Sorkin!

Ok, great, enough about Sorkin damn it! How was the film? Great. I can see why the real life Zuckerberg might even be a little pissed off by it. The real life Zuckerberg has reportedly defriended Sorkin. Not because it puts Zuckerberg in a particularly bad light, in fact, I think it’s damn near flattering, but because when Sorkin digs into some certain aspects of why Facebook is so popular, it shows a bit of an ugly side. Regardless of whether or not those reasons are the real reasons, they’re the reasons people coming out of the film will have stuck in their heads. Those reasons are not all flattering to the users either. In fact, they’re a little mean.

Of course, Sorkin wouldn’t be doing his job as a writer if he didn’t explore those aspects and he does it beautifully by use of the ensemble format.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[mutumbo 0]

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How was the film? Great.

ANNND the short version for those of us whmoe none of that other stuff means much to. . . lol

but seriously, a great write up about the film.

Thanatos340(on landing rounds)--
Landing procedure: Hand all the way up, Feet and Knees Together and PLF soon as you get bitch slapped by a planet.

[CarrieByTheSea 0]

Great review.
I am excited to see it, though I admit I have never had a Facebook page, Myspace or any other "social network".

I, too, LOVE Aaron Sorkin but I also like a good band so hopefully the audio is decent.

"Nature is cruel, but we don't have to be." ~ Temple Grandin

[quade 4]

Thanks.

Once upon a time somebody asked me how it was possible to review a film and not give any spoilers, since that is what most people do. Anyway, that's how.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[mutumbo 0]

Youre welcome. Yeah you did just that, an EXCELLET write up without revealing the whole plot or surprises of the movie.

Thanatos340(on landing rounds)--
Landing procedure: Hand all the way up, Feet and Knees Together and PLF soon as you get bitch slapped by a planet.

[skymama 37]

I saw Aaron Sorkin in an interview today. He said while others say that social networking has brought people together, he thinks it has drawn them apart. I think he makes a good point. I look forward to seeing the movie.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[nigel99 617]

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Thanks.

Once upon a time somebody asked me how it was possible to review a film and not give any spoilers, since that is what most people do. Anyway, that's how.

thanks I wasn't interested until your write up. The fact that it is the same person who wrote the screenplay for West Wing sold me (that series was genius).

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[wildcard451 0]

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Thanks.

Once upon a time somebody asked me how it was possible to review a film and not give any spoilers, since that is what most people do. Anyway, that's how.

thanks I wasn't interested until your write up. The fact that it is the same person who wrote the screenplay for West Wing sold me (that series was genius).

Yeah. I love that show. Great show, even if it is bunch of damned liberal hippies.

[mutumbo 0]

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I saw Aaron Sorkin in an interview today. He said while others say that social networking has brought people together, he thinks it has drawn them apart. I think he makes a good point. I look forward to seeing the movie.

i can see that argument, the amount of bullshit that gets started over things on facebook and myspace, is absolutely insane

Thanatos340(on landing rounds)--
Landing procedure: Hand all the way up, Feet and Knees Together and PLF soon as you get bitch slapped by a planet.

[NWFlyer 2]

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I will watch and listen intently to anything written by Sorkin. There’s a musicality to it, a rhythm and then a whack up side the head.

Me too - total Sorkin groupie here - have Sports Night and The West Wing DVD sets and can re-watch any of the episodes and it'll bring a smile to my face.

Went to see The Social Network with the SO last night ... we were both yawning pre-show hoping we could stay awake through the movie (yeah, so we're old and lame). As soon as the movie started, I don't think either of us gave another thought to being tired - the movie was far too engaging to nod off. Great stuff. The writing was fantastic, as expected, and I also thought all the acting was fantastic. I suspect Timberlake's going to continue to surprise and impress me with his range of talents - he has that certain something that lights up a screen.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[metalslug 36]

I have only got around to this movie recently.
Although I mostly enjoyed it, I did wonder just how much fiction was added to it, since there appeared to be a lot according to post-movie comments from the real players.

The actual circumstances of the lawsuits and the deposition that forms the centerpiece of the movie structure, aswell as the leverage that each plaintiff has to eventually win their settlements, is very likely fiction itself, since all real-life parties signed NDA's.

With non disclosure agreements in place, where does the material for the book and screenplay come from?
It is entertainment, but for anyone who really wanted to know about dirt behind facebook, this is probably not the movie to find it.

[Shotgun 1]

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It is entertainment, but for anyone who really wanted to know about dirt behind facebook, this is probably not the movie to find it.

I should have this movie in the mail today. I have to admit that I only ordered it because I wanted to see Justin Timberlake. I would totally turn cougar for him. But, after reading quade's review, now I'm expecting to be entertained with an actual good movie too. As for how factual it is, I usually assume even "true story" movies have added and subtracted things for entertainment value.

[ryoder 1,590]

Read this, and you can see where the POV originated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Social_Network

It a nutshell, it was from Eduardo Saverin, the guy who put in the first $19,000.
And it doesn't take much digging to see his stake in the company is much larger than when they diluted his shares down to nothing, so it is obvious how they settled his lawsuit.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[ryoder 1,590]

Read this before you watch the movie:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_club

I'd never heard of "Final Club", so I was kind of lost in the first scene.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Shotgun 1]

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Read this before you watch the movie:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_club

I'd never heard of "Final Club", so I was kind of lost in the first scene.

Thanks... Yeah, I hadn't heard of a final club either.

[NWFlyer 2]

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I should have this movie in the mail today. I have to admit that I only ordered it because I wanted to see Justin Timberlake. I would totally turn cougar for him.

He's great in this movie. Of course, I'm also a total Aaron Sorkin groupie, too, so anything that has Sorkin behind it will usually get me into the theater.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Shotgun 1]

Wow, that was a good movie! You're right about the dialogue; it did stand out. It added a bit of unrealisticness (is that a word?) to the movie, but it upped the entertainment value by quite a bit. I also enjoyed the cinematography (particularly the regatta scene) and the sound. Trent Reznor was an interesting choice for the music - went well with the sort of dark tone of the film.

And now I have this strange desire to go delete my facebook account . . .

[quade 4]

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Wow, that was a good movie! You're right about the dialogue; it did stand out. It added a bit of unrealisticness (is that a word?) to the movie, but it upped the entertainment value by quite a bit.

Most good films have what's known as "heightened reality." The people are; better looking, more intelligent and speak more clearly and concisely than reality. Even in films where the characters are uneducated nobodys, you'll notice that usually they are still more wise and erudite than the average person you probably work with.

Most of this has to do with time. If dialogue in films was actually like reality, it would be boring as hell and take WAY to long to get to the point.

Great screenwriters like Sorkin are amazing at this in that even though it's not the way people speak in real life, you sure as heck wish people did.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Shotgun 1]

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Great screenwriters like Sorkin are amazing at this in that even though it's not the way people speak in real life, you sure as heck wish people did.

I haven't seen any of his other stuff that you listed. I'll have to check some of it out.

And, man, if Zuckerberg speaks that way in real life, someone needs to slap him. I found his character to be rather annoying. But then I guess most of the characters were sort of annoying, in an entertaining way (if that makes any sense?). If I were any one of the real people in the story, I don't think I would appreciate this movie too much.

[Amazon 7]

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Wow, that was a good movie! You're right about the dialogue; it did stand out. It added a bit of unrealisticness (is that a word?) to the movie, but it upped the entertainment value by quite a bit.

Most good films have what's known as "heightened reality." The people are; better looking, more intelligent and speak more clearly and concisely than reality. Even in films where the characters are uneducated nobodys, you'll notice that usually they are still more wise and erudite than the average person you probably work with.

Most of this has to do with time. If dialogue in films was actually like reality, it would be boring as hell and take WAY to long to get to the point.

Great screenwriters like Sorkin are amazing at this in that even though it's not the way people speak in real life, you sure as heck wish people did.

There is a simple fix to that, only hang out with those people who do not embarrass our species on a daily basis.
Unfortunately you have chosen to be a moderator where that can be a severe challenge.

[MikeJD 0]

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Great screenwriters like Sorkin are amazing at this in that even though it's not the way people speak in real life, you sure as heck wish people did.

There's a fine line, isn't there? I agree that The Social Network stays the right side of it. Whereas, let's say Juno, didn't. At least, not for me.

David Mamet is another favourite screenwriter of mine. If you read his dialogue on the page it's highly artificial, but when it's performed you get carried along by the sheer pleasure of hearing it spoken.

[Shotgun 1]

I had not heard of Aaron Sorkin before this thread, but I just watched the latest episode of 30 Rock (on hulu), and he was on it.

[NWFlyer 2]

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I had not heard of Aaron Sorkin before this thread, but I just watched the latest episode of 30 Rock (on hulu), and he was on it.

Okay, time for a Sports Night and West Wing marathon, then!

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Shotgun 1]

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Okay, time for a Sports Night and West Wing marathon, then!

It looks like I would have to get an actual dvd to watch either of those, so I don't know if that's gonna happen. (30 Rock's my one "tv" show that I watch regularly, partially because it's readily available online.)

[quade 4]

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Okay, time for a Sports Night and West Wing marathon, then!

It looks like I would have to get an actual dvd to watch either of those, so I don't know if that's gonna happen. (30 Rock's my one "tv" show that I watch regularly, partially because it's readily available online.)

A Few Good Men, The American President and Charlie Wilson's War on Netflix DVD are also written by Sorkin.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver