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<center><font size = 4>part 8</font></center>
<center><font color = darkblue size = 6>THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010)</font></center>
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I don't like Facebook. I don't like how so many people unknowingly expose themselves and their weaknesses to the world, only to find some of those turned against them in time. Remember, the Internet isn't written in pencil, it's written in ink. With that line, The Social Network hit the nail on the head for me.
I wanted to see this film from the moment I saw the superbly put together trailer. It got me excited. Of course at that point I needed but one name: David Fincher. After 7 remarkable films, I simply knew this film would be made for me. And it was.
Aaron Sorkin is a genius. A) Biopics - and in some way this is a biopic, either of Mark Zuckerberg or of Facebook; you pick - are usually tedious and without a satisfying conclusion. B) It would have been so easy for Sorkin to choose sides and demand from us to agree with that choice. Well, as it turns out this film is neither tedious nor biased. The script allows multiple perspectives, contrasting views and thoughts, and most importantly, it defies the regular pattern of telling a story like this chronologically. Instead, we work from more than one 'present day' points and through relevant flashbacks we reconstruct the events as they appear to have occurred in reality and allow all involved the benefit of the filmmakers' neutrality. Also, consider the energy and content of the script. After two hours, if feels like four hours worth of script were squeezed in. The very first 3 or 4 minutes of the film, a dialogue between Zuckerberg and Erica Albright, went over more than 10 pages (!) of script, which is extraordinary. And yet the actors delivered.
Speaking of which, what a cast! Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Rooney Mara and many others simply nailed it. I can't tell exactly how faithful their performances were next to the real people, but apart from that: wow! Then there's Armie Hammer and, as he himself put it, there's two of him. We return for a moment to our earlier praise of Fincher's CGI work. One actor, one head, two different bodies, and the perfect twins on screen. You just can't tell which body belongs to who. These effects are amazing! Last but not least, Justin Timberlake. Wasn't into his music all those years ago, but the kid's got acting skills for sure. Sean Parker is by and large my favourite character in the film and this is mainly due to Timerlake's exquisite acting. Anyone can deliver the line "Drop the 'The." Just "Facebook." It's cleaner.' but his gestures and arrogance make them awesome. I've been a fan of Timberlake, the actor, ever since.
Music. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross put together a pulsating, modern, exceptionally adequate score. Nothing cheesy or generic. This music is simply great.
The Social Network deals with more than just the birth of Facebook but it mainly deals with the birth of Facebook and to be honest, I don't need a lot more. Despite my loathing of Facebook, the website and social phenomenon, I find the origin of Facebook as told by Sorkin and Fincher in this brilliant film, interesting and fascinating. And one of the great difficulties I have with this film, even after six or seven viewings, is deciding whether I like Marc Zuckerberg. I still haven't decided. That's one the film's major strengths, I think. As I mentioned before, Sorkin and Fincher make no choices whatsoever, they merely tell the story. We need to make up our own mind and it seems okay no matter what choice we make.
I recommend The Social Network to everybody. Witness the birth of something that within a matter of a mere few years has changed a gazillion lives on the planet. Witness the rise of a simple college student to the level of an Internet superhero. Fight the obvious thought: "why didn't I think of that?" All criticism towards The Social Network is lost on me. I find nothing to hold against it. Along with Se7en, this must be my favourite Fincher film.
<font color = red>Final score:</font> 9,5/10
DD's David Fincher retrospective score card:
Seven: 9,5/10
The Social Network: 9,5/10
Zodiac: 8,5/10
The Game: 8/10
Panic Room: 8/10
Alien³: 7,5/10
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button: 7,5/10
Fight Club: 7/10
I can promise you that she isn't shown in a derogatory way at all. If anything, quite the opposite. Very sympathetic towards her, shows the person behind the icon.
Haven't seen as many as I'd like to, recommendations would be welcome.
Well, you have made a great start with Some Like It Hot. One great comedy film with her and Jane Russell supporting is Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a hilarious romp indeed. I naturally prefer roles outside of her dumb blonde typecasting, making Niagara a perfect choice. It is very unique for her, as she is more villainous, and the suspense is very Hitcockian in nature. She looks like a perfect femme fatale in this one, and the first shot of her smoking in her bed, with nothing covering her but sheets is steamer than a sauna. Let's Make Love is another great choice, more a romantic comedy than really anything else. Very entertaining, and she is stunning as always in it. I hope to soon get into her deeper roles, like Bus Stop and The Misfits, where her role is more dramatic in the film.
I've seen Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and vaguely recall having seen Let's Make Love (though not well enough to 100% say I have seen it). I'll download all those now and rent what I can't find online. I've wanted to watch more of her work but hadn't known where to start, so thank you very much!
No problem. I can satisfy any Marilyn related wants and needs. :)
I haven't seen it, but I can see it just isn't Fincheresque just by trailers and clips. Fincher's films have such a grimy, gritty look, like Se73n, Fight Club, Zodiac, etc. I don't feel or see that with this film.
I found it dull too.
It was well made but the characters and story was pretty average.
I don't recommend this film to anyone. What a boring film,tedious film.
Mitch & Russell perfectly head this deft mix Film Noir & Comedy. Vincent Price (the films source of comedy later on) looks like he's having too much fun. His character is a hammy Shakespearean actor who always plays the dashing hero always in the thick of the action, now for the first time in his life, he's firing real bullets. As one character so wonderfully puts it:
"You are a pig. Or rather what becomes of a pig, when it's put between two slices of bread."
5. Robert Mitchum
1. The Big Sleep (1978)
2. The Red Pony (1949)
3. The Friends Of Eddie Coyle (1973)
4. The Big Steal (1949)
**5. His Kind Of Woman (1951) NE**
6. The Yakuza (1974)
7. Rampage (1963)
8. Farewell My Lovely (1975)
9. Two For The See Saw (1962)
10. Ryan's Daughter (1970)
11. Cape Fear (1962)
12. The Amsterdam Kill (1977)
13. The Enemy Below (1957)
14. Nightkill (1980)
15. El Dorado (1966)
16. Fire Down Below (1957)
17. Angel Face (1952)
18. Thompson's Last Run (1986)
19. Five Card Stud (1968)
20. Track Of The Cat (1954)
21. Anzio (1968)
22. Promises To Keep (1985)
23. Agency (1980
A bit unfair to judge a film one hasn't seen yet, wouldn't you say? ;-)
I can't believe some comments. Dull? Average story? Wow, I can't see how. Okay, personal opinion then: we'll agree to disagree and all that. But talking to some folks who are into professional filmmaking, TSN is considered by many to nothing but be brilliant. (Dull?)
Finally, spidey done right. Excellent film IMO 9/10.
I've only seen 2 Spiderman films (1 and 2). I think I like this one better, I like the actor playing Spiderman much more. The other one was just annoying.
I've seen it a few times before, but it's always an enjoyable, well-paced film. You can't beat Daniel Day-Lewis playing a villain, with a younger Dicaprio trying to rise his way through the ranks to get what he wants. The film has a great supporting cast, too, including Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, and John C. Reilly. I don't really care for some of the shots or effects in the movie, as random first-person views or quick swipes of blades prove to be inaccurate, obviously miss, and take me out of the action. But, on the other hand, the film does have some incredibly good shots, such as one in particular delivered by Gleeson in the beginning of the movie.
In the end, the film does a great job of building up and reaching an intense climax, and I've always had fun watching Scorsese's work. I give it:
7.5/10
I own the film on blu-ray. It was a birthday gift from a friend back in May, and I just opened it to watch it tonight.
What a coincidence... :O
Indeed. What channel was it on, FX? USA?
I'm looking for another film in my collection to watch tomorrow, but I'm not sure what. I haven't watched 'Public Enemies' in a good while, but I'm still shocked at how much I loved 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' on my first re-watch, and want to experience it again so soon, :)
Really enjoyed it, 7/10.
That's wonderful, and I am glad that you enjoyed it. She'd have made a great femme fatale, yes. And Bond girl.
Or as I call it: "What 007's Work Buddies Were Up To While He Is Drinking Martinis and Chasing Girls"
I like the film. It moves slowly like a film noir. It's pretty long and confusing though. After some scenes of endless conversations I found myself wondering "Is he the spy?" "Is he lying?" "Isn't he the one in Czechoslovakia?" It's about two times more mind-boggling than Inception. But I think it's weakness is also it's asset. It's not just meant to be watched. You have to internalize the film to enjoy it.
Shame it didn't get the awards it should have though, especially for Mr. Oldman at the Oscars. Overall I got to give it 3.5 out of 4 stars
Haven't seen it, but tried to read the book in an odd time where I wanted to read others, and just couldn't finish it. I was so bored by it I lost all sense of plot, and just put it back on the shelf. I will try to come back to it later though.
I've seen it and i didn't like it at all.
Like the book that you read, it's boring and so slow.