The Social Network: Review By ZanyZap

"The Social Network," a tale of obsession and compulsion, opens in a Cambridge bar midway through a fast-paced, 60-words-a-minute conversation between our story's protagonist, the characteristically cynical Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and his girlfriend, the justifiably confused Erica Albright (Rooney Mara). Topics change as quickly as the dialogue spills forth, and Erica becomes increasingly agitated with Mark's self-absorbed arrogance and unchecked delirium - as does the audience, albeit with hooked fascination. Meet Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard dropout, the CEO of the internet's premier social networking site, the world's youngest billionaire, and a narcissistic "*sshole" to anyone who attempts a connection with him. "There's a difference between being obsessed and being motivated," Mark says to Erica - practically simmering in her seat. Predictably, her relationship status switches to "single." She storms out of the bar, leaving our deeply brooding character not with recognizable guilt, or regret, but with something better - an idea.

Mark proceeds to perform the ritual "drink-away-your-sorrows" routine, but with an interesting twist: he is simultaneously blogging and hacking the Harvard network to create "facemash," which compares the hotness of Harvard gals by a side-by-side slideshow of pics. Within two hours, the site receives 22,000 hits and gives Mark Zuckerberg exactly what he wanted: notoriety.

Three such individuals notice his claim to fame, Cameron Winklevoss (Armie Hammer), his brother Tyler Winklevoss (also played by Armie Hammer) and Divya Narendra (Max Minghella), all members of a final club (a Harvard fraternity) that Mark desperately desires to join. They ask him to create, essentially, the exclusive Harvard version of eharmony, Harvard Connection, latter dubbed ConnectU. Mark does one better. He creates thefacebook with best friend and business partner, Eduardo Saverine (Andrew Garfield).

The film jump-cuts between two different law-suit hearings - one side being Eduardo Saverine, who was ultimately cheated out of the company, and the Winklevoss' plus Narendra, who firmly believe Zuckerberg stole their idea. In a room full of lawyers and Harvard grads, suits are the obvious and obligatory attire. Zuckerberg wears a fleece hoodie and flip-flops. The social awkwardness of the creator of the world's most popular social networking site is more than ironical - it's intelligent.

From here on out, the film can be drawn on a negative correlation graph. As the success of facebook, rises the rest spirals downward with a twisted slope. Controversy, rivalry, and jealousy pollute the air. Mark is not in it for the money - he created something cool, and doesn't want to tarnish that coolness. Eduardo, who made 300,000 dollars betting oil futures the summer after his freshman year, views facebook as a marketable company. And Sean Parker, a god in the eyes of Mark, a pain in the side to Eduardo, wants to "screw-the-man" for screwing him and his controversial, cyber-baby, Napster. A little money would be welcomed as well. The film follows the dark, encroaching path our three characters travel; and all the roadblocks along the way. Make no mistake, there are many.

Stepping past Mark's resentment, and Eduardo's resentment, and Sean's resentment, and the twins' resentment, and all the resentment packed into a two hour movie, ultimately, it boils down to one simple question: who gets to carry the business card that reads, "I'm CEO, Bitch."

Every scene down to the credits deserves recognition, but the film's intro, a brilliant tone-setter, was the most revealing. The opening scene reminded me of a similar episode in J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Both set in a lounge, both involving a baffled and ignored girl, and both intensified by rambling, closed-off, haughty individuals, the original comparison led to another - the likeness between Zuckerberg and Caulfied. Salinger's anguished protagonist has been described as fiction's leading anti-hero. Mark Zuckerberg defines the anti-hero. Even when we hate him, or know subconsciously that we should hate him, we applaud him. Aaron Sorkin's (The West Wing) brilliant, impeccable screenplay deserves an Oscar nod simply for the creation of the silver screen's most dynamic and beautifully drafted character since Vito Corleone or Citizen Charles Kane - the rest is just bonus points.

Credit also goes to the film's director, David Fincher, and a smart and sharp trio of twenty-year-old computer nerds and business men. With quick editing and flawless cinematography, Fincher's exploration of the controversial origin of facebook bursts with light, color, and inspiration. Those who have seen any of Fincher's past works, "Se7en," "Fight Club," "Zodiac," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin," know that his signature trademark, dark and shadowy visuals, add to the story. In this case, the visual elements reflect the dark side of the young men who will do anything and everything it takes to succeed and gain attention. With each film, Fincher continues to outdo himself, and "The Social Network" is no exception. It is without a doubt his best film to date - a soaring achievement, based on his phenomenal filmography. "Masterpiece" is the rare descriptive noun that almost always feels misused. "The Social Network" continues to defy the standard. It is a masterpiece, plain and simple.

The top three characters, Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), Eduardo Saverine (Andrew Garfield - set to play Spider-Man in the forthcoming reboot) and Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), take the cake. Each had likeable and unlikeable traits with which the audience could identify and understand.

Mark, a recluse and self-appointed hermit, is the brains. Eduardo, Mark's only true friend and plaintiff in the law suit against Mark for 600 million dollars, is the soul. He is the "nice guy" and along with Erica Albright (Rooney Mara) brings some much needed humanity into Mark's shallow world. Sean, played with ease and class by Justin Timberlake, is the connection. He has the charm and actually knows people - past leaving a random comment or reading a status update. Of the three actors, all deserve Oscar nominations and although the obvious choice is Andrew Garfield, it will be interesting to see who the Academy sides with - Team Garfield or Team Timberlake? Timberlake would be a pleasant surprise and perhaps an eye-opener to haters who cannot see past his 'N Sync, boy-band days. Welcome JT to Hollywood ladies and gentlemen, he's here to stay.

The supporting cast is also superb and seems to have a fun time keeping pace with the high-speed assault of dialogue delivered from our top trio. Rooney Mara, although having less screen time than the trailer suggests, is the heart of Mark's idea and inevitably the entire film. Each character, at least in some way, radically reveals a different aspect of Mark's personality, and Mara's role exposes the most important: his ability (or inability, rather) to connect.

Larry Summers as the President of Harvard has barely five-minutes of screen

time, but is remembered for his humor and wit. It also should be noted that Armie Hammer played Cameron Winklevoss AND his identical twin brother Tyler Winklevoss. The film industry allows a person to be in two places at once.

In a film where every actor keeps stealing the scene, you begin to forget who has it. Then it hits you: they all do. Pitch-perfect. Simply phenomenal. Impressive, even.

On the surface the film plays like a common overly dramatized thriller, but thanks to Fincher, Sorkin, and the outstanding cast and crew, "The Social Network" transcends average cinema and becomes that rare, inspirational Hollywood gem. It's less an origin story and more a character study. As the credits roll, seconds after the perfect and poignant final scene, you will have "friended" the characters. "The Social Network" and the website that inspired it all, speaks to society through computer lingo and chat slang. You can relate to the story. After all, based on the 500 million members registered to facebook, chances are, you are already together.

"Like" this movie.

A ZanyZap Production