Twenty-one years ago, Facebook launched as a networking site for Harvard students. Six years later, in 2010, David Fincher released his second film based on a true story, “The Social Network.”  

“The Social Network” follows Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) as he begins work on a website that eventually turns into Facebook.  Six years later, Zuckerberg is at the receiving end of two different lawsuits, one of which is with his former best friend, Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), who helped start and fund Facebook. 

 One night, after his girlfriend breaks up with him, Zuckerberg comes back to his dorm and creates “FaceMash,” a website where Harvard students could rank girls on campus based on their attractiveness.

The Winklevoss twins, played by Armie Hammer, hear about his website and decide to hire him to code and create a networking website for Harvard students only. Zuckerberg agrees and “begins creating” the website, when his own website, with a very similar premise, comes out less than a month later.

We watch as Zuckerberg continues to work on the website as Saverin tries to get enough funding for the project. Then, we get to the climax of the movie, where Zuckerberg dilutes Saverin’s shares of the company to almost nothing. 

What ensues is the most valid crashout in cinema history.

Saverin takes the computer from Zuckerberg and shatters it on the desk. Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), who is now also an owner of Facebook, throws a jab at Saverin’s attire, to which Saverin responds with one of the best lines in the movie: “Sorry, my Prada’s at the cleaners. Along with my hoodie and my fuck-you flip-flops, you pretentious douchbag.” 

The film switches between the present, where Zuckerberg is in the middle of the two lawsuits, and the past, where we see the moments that incited said lawsuit. 

Throughout the movie, the score takes an almost “main-character” position, perfectly capturing what each character is feeling at that moment in the movie. You know something big is about to happen when you can hear that sad little piano song, “Hand Covers Bruise,” playing in the background.

Out of the eight Oscars it was nominated for, “The Social Network” took home Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, which I totally agree with. 

Even if you don’t really care about Mark Zuckerberg or Facebook, “The Social Network” is still a captivating watch, full of betrayal, ambition and drama. 

Categories: Arts & Entertainment