If anything, The Social Network (2010) is a prime example of taking a marginalized concept and associating it with the right creative minds to formulate an intricately entertaining result. Sorkin’s script is filled with wittingly scathing dialogue and fully developed main characters, when you mix that with Fincher’s visual style it becomes the concise consolidation of all the right components. The Social Network (2010) is more than just a film about the foundation of Facebook, it’s about alienation, greed, and the silicon daydreams of the 21st century.
Mark Zukerburg’s character (Jesse Eisenberg) goes from eating dinner with his girlfriend Erica at a crowded bar to being alone in a deposition room clicking the refresh button on his computer. This beginning and end fully encapsulate the disparity that exists between online social networking and reality. All the notoriety in the world is never going to get him back the girl and the best friend he has lost along the way. It’s not all misfortune though, Sorkin knows how to get humor from each situation that he can and Fincher keeps the non-linear storyline moving at a balanced pace.
Another factor that adds to the film is the soundtrack. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross lend the heartbeat to all the proceedings. The ominous tones and electronic beats are calculatingly cold, adding another layer to the themes of the plot.
How much of The Social Network (2010) is non-fiction is irrelevant. It does not set out to be a true life account of an event or the lives of others. Instead it is more interested in the underlying notions of the virtual world we visit from day to day and the greed of a new grassroots digital industry. Are you logged in yet?
