David Fincher’s 'The Social Network' is not so much about Facebook as it is about inspiration, betrayal, the weight of human relationships, the cost of success, and so much more. It just so happens that Facebook’s creation story is a good way to explore these themes. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin brilliantly tells that story through multiple perspectives, and Fincher’s direction showcases great narrative editing.
The film kicks off with a rapid-fire, dialogue-heavy scene between Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend (Rooney Mara). The interchange lays its protagonist bare while still keeping him intriguing and hints at the motives that would drive him to create one of the most popular, influential, and lucrative inventions of all-time. The Zuckerberg presented in 'The Social Network' is almost a tragic figure. Every mean-spirited barb he throws out is something we wish we had the wit to think if not say, and yet the script and Eisenberg’s performance makes us pity the man who feels like he has to say such hurtful things in the first place.
'The Social Network' is a story that is mostly told through two depositions for two different lawsuits. One lawsuit is from the classic "preppy men of privilege" twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (Armie Hammer) and their partner Divya Narendra (Max Minghella) who contend that Zuckerberg stole their idea for Facebook and forestalled the creation of their vision for the site. The other is from Zuckerberg’s former friend and business partner, Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), who got squeezed out when his skills at managing the financial side were overwhelmed. Through this layered storytelling, the notions of heroes and villains are laid aside and we see that on the road to the creation of this monumental website, there’s enough credit/blame to go around. It is a wonderfully told modern saga that resonates with all the drama of classic tales.
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