Director: David Fincher
Year Released: 2010
Rating: 2.0
Boy (Jesse Eisenberg) loses girl because of his own hubris and acrid persona, starts on the process of creating a website to dehumanize women (FaceMash!) and then develops, with the 'help' of his friends (mostly by 'lifting' their ideas), a website ("Thefacebook") that acts as a virtual diary. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin takes liberties with the 'true story' of Mark Zuckerberg and the Facebook crew - which is certainly acceptable - and sprinkles in some excellent points about elitism, "exclusivity" and the endless effort of males to impress women, but these incredibly valid and timely comments get buried in the movie, as it loses itself in the minutiae of white children of privilege suing or fighting with other white children of privilege (for millions), their legal battles (intellectual property, anyone?) and their beer consumption. It's quite difficult to find much empathy in this conflict, and while Fincher's 'coldness' suits the Boston climate (and sense of 'disconnect'), it's evident that he and Sorkin miss out on wider cultural criticism, namely how creations like Facebook promote isolation and encourage 'stalking' (the last shot is a killer; the refresh button well worn in). Sure, the kids have billions, but they aren't happy - well, maybe Sean Parker (played with zeal - and sporting a handy Epi-Pen - by Justin Timberlake) actually is....
