Facebook has been held position as the most popular social media website for almost a decade, beating other popular social networks like Myspace, Twitter, and one more popular towards the adolescent crowd Instagram. This biopic directed by David Fincher, focuses on Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook; and the story behind how it became the enormously popular social website it is today. Beginning in the fall of 2003, Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) is a student at Harvard University who is dumped by his girlfriend Erica Albright (played by Rooney Mara). Upon the break- up, Zuckerberg creates a website known as “Facemash” where users compare girls online based on their attractiveness. The website’s high traffic causes a breakdown in Harvard’s computer network, resulting in Zuckerberg to place under academic probation. During this time, he builds up a social media network known as Facebook which soon leads to a global success and lands Zuckerberg to a billion dollar business. However, he also faces conflicts with his friends in the process, pitted against two lawsuits, one by his best friend Eduardo Saverin (played by Andrew Garfield), and the other by two brothers (both played by Armie Hammer) who accuse him stealing their idea.
Thanks to the masterful writing by Aaron Sorkin and superb performances by its gifted cast, this biopic sparkles the legacy of Mark Zuckerberg’s work and the story behind the creation of the globally popular website. Based by Ben Mezrich’s novel ‘The Accidental Billionaires’, the film introduces us to the main character in the opening scene as someone not too likable due to his attitude towards his girlfriend, and later his friends. His ways of running his newly founded business leads to him squeezing his best friend out of business and making more enemies in the process. So Mark Zuckerberg is proved to be have been not the most desirable person to work with, but very intelligent nonetheless. Jesse Eisenberg brings such a sensational performance in what becomes his first Oscar-nominated role of his career. He looks so natural in his role that you almost forget its him instead of the character he is playing. Andrew Garfield who plays the main character’s best friend that later turns into his enemy brings satisfaction to his role as well. Let’s also not forget Justin Timberlake playing Sean Parker the founder of the computer sharing service Napster who later partners up with Zuckerberg in his business.
The story works exceptionally well from start to finish, and the elegantly written screenplay by Aaron Sorkin should be credited for this. The film gently highlights the important points of the story based on the events that took place, and though there a few noticeable liberties taken from both the book and real-life events, Sorkin keeps the story solid and satisfying without overdramatizing or sugarcoating the events. The whole subplot dealing with the lawsuits against Zuckerberg are lavish the storyline, and director David Fincher handles this subplot in a solid manner.
The Social Network is one of the most intelligent and well crafted biopics ever put to screen, and demonstrates some of the best filmmaking from David Fincher. This is an A+ film that everyone is strongly encouraged to watch regardless of they are users of Facebook or not.
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