They all laughed at college nerd Mark Zuckerberg, whose idea for a social-networking site made him a billionaire. And they all laughed at the idea of a Facebook movie--except writer Aaron Sorkin and director David Fincher,... more » merely two of the more extravagantly talented filmmakers around. Sorkin and Fincher's breathless picture, The Social Network, is a fast and witty creation myth about how Facebook grew from Zuckerberg's insecure geek-at-Harvard days into a phenomenon with 500 million users. Sorkin frames the movie around two lawsuits aimed at the lofty but brilliant Zuckerberg (deftly played by Adventureland's Jesse Eisenberg): a claim that he stole the idea from Ivy League classmates, and a suit by his original, now slighted, business partner (Andrew Garfield). The movie follows a familiar rise-and-fall pattern, with temptation in the form of a sunny California Beelzebub (an expert Justin Timberlake as former Napster founder Sean Parker) and an increasingly tangled legal mess. Emphasizing the legal morass gives Sorkin and Fincher a chance to explore how unsocial this social-networking business can be, although the irony seems a little facile. More damagingly, the film steers away from the prickly figure of Zuckerberg in the latter stages--and yet Zuckerberg presents the most intriguing personality in the movie, even if the movie takes pains to make us understand his shortcomings. Fincher's command of pacing and his eye for the clean spaces of Aughts-era America are bracing, and he can't resist the technical trickery involved in turning actor Armie Hammer into privileged Harvard twins (Hammer is letter-perfect). Even with its flaws, The Social Network is a galloping piece of entertainment, a smart ride with smart people? who sometimes do dumb things. --Robert Horton« less
Very entertaining true story movie but sad what happened to the Harvard Twins and others.
Chad B. (abrnt1) from CABERY, IL Reviewed on 9/22/2012...
One of the worst films I'm seen in years. Andrew Garfield's performance is hideous beyond belief. Boring,pointless garbage is all this film really is.
0 of 5 member(s) found this review helpful.
Sharon C. (Sierrastar) from BLYTHEWOOD, SC Reviewed on 3/29/2011...
I thought this was a really good movie and it is really surprising how one mans idea turned into million dollars venture making him a billionair and connecting people all over the world. Now why didn't I think of that! It is worth the watch.
4 of 6 member(s) found this review helpful.
Steven H. (sehamilton) from BIRMINGHAM, AL Reviewed on 1/16/2011...
While a fan of David Fincher's work, this has to be the most over-rated movie I've seen. It's difficult to find any character to like or sympathize/empathize with. It all boils down to a social outcast stealing the idea for Facebook from twin brothers, using his friend to get start-up capital, and then getting chummy with a drug-addicted, morally-bankrupt self-promoter. And he does this while cheating everyone who helped him out of their due. The film alternates between the basic plotline and various depositions being taken in two lawsuits. Like those on Facebook who have hundreds of "friends" without having ever met or invested themselves in an actual relationship, the site's founder would not invest himself in getting to know others, but only called them "friends" in order to use them. Left me as cold as a friend "invite".