David Fincher’s The Social Network a superb film; a modern masterpiece – an excellent drama of well-drawn real life characters, compelling situations and a key event in recent history.
The movie sets out to show how a website that is supposed to unite people ultimately destroyed the friendship of its co-creators. It all begins at Harvard University in 2003 when Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) crashes the Uni’s internet service by creating a website where students can compare the hotness of their classmates. Two faces appear on the screen and they can click on who they think is the hottest. After drawing attention to himself with this escapade, Zuckerberg is then approached by the Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer): two posh, good-looking team rowers who want to employ him to make them a website where Harvard exclusivity is the name of the game. After this, Zuckerberg finds his best friend Eduardo Saverin and talks to him about building a website where people can make a profile for themselves and share details online with “friends” who they would invite.
Jeff Cronenweth’s exquisite cinematography gives the film a dark and claustrophobic sense of menace, but also brings out the seductive quality of the glamour, intrigue and fame that large amounts of money, attention and power can bring.
The Social Network (2010), directed by David Fincher, is released on blu-ray disc and DVD in the UK by Sony Pictures, Certificate 12.
