Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Real Richie Rich


So I just saw The Social Network and I would have to say that all of the reviews are right. It is really good, and to be honest, I didn't know how to feel going into it. I was sure it was going to be a pretty interesting story (I mean, the guys is the worlds youngest billionaire), but I also felt like it was a little too soon. It was sort of like when VH1 had I Love the 90's in 2004. Too soon? Yeah I sort of felt like it it then, and it kind of felt that way again in this movie. As soon as it ended, I was sitting through the credits (I always do) and I asked my friends, "So when is the sequel coming out?" It is kind of like when a band releases a greatest hits only to release another album or 10 in the following years. The guy is only 26 years old, there is the potential to have a bunch more interesting things happen to him. I am only a couple years younger, but I certainly wouldn't want my biopic to come out yet. Granted, I haven't done anything to warrant a biopic and maybe he didn't want the movie to be made now either. Based on this article it seems as though he didn't. What is fantastic about the timing however is that it resonates so much with people of my age group. Facebook was still pretty new when I came to college. In fact, my freshman year of college was Facebook's first full year of operation. Back then it was called The Facebook and it was only your school. The whole time I was watching I couldn't shake the feeling that the movie was in some way about me, us collectively who had/continue to use Facebook so avidly. I mean a major idea, or even character, in the film is the growing masses who use and then become addicted to Facebook, much like crack...

The acting was surprisingly great. Jesse Eisenberg was phenomenal. He really played Zuckerberg as a deep character simultaneously hiding and being ruled by his at times childish emotions. He is both a petulant child and wunderkind (I have always wanted to use that word). I felt especially dumb when he was explaining how easy it was to hack into Harvard's system and write a program. It was kind of like
Nick Burns. The only other movie I have seen him in was Zombieland, which was totally awesome. He actually showed some real versatility from his character in Zombieland. I sort of figured he was just another Michael Cera, but after The Social Network I don't think anyone would think that again. Andrew Garfield, who played Eduardo Saverin, also put up a memorable multidimensional performance. It was also really cool that they had Armie Hammer play the Winklevoss twins. I had a tiny inkling one of the first times they/he appeared on the screen that it was one guy, after all, what are the odds that they would find blond Adonis identical twins? After a few moments though, I thought it was indeed possible so kudos to the CG team for really coming through there. Also kudos to Hammer who did each scene twice and he played the Winklvoss's as two distinct characters and not a stock set of identical twins who finish each other's sentences...although I think they did do that once.

There are a few other odds and ends that I want to talk about before I head into my big grand finale of a conclusion. First was the music. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (whom I had never heard of before but has a pretty sweet name) made an awesome score. It was both compelling and haunting when it needed to be. It is also worth mentioning that I am interested in seeing if this film in anyway effects Facebook usage. Is it just sort of like a two hour add for Facebook, or will people be turned off by Zuckerberg's actions and not want to use the site as much. It should also be noted that this is indeed a film, so its always hard to tell how much is true and what is there to put asses in seats. One of the movie's producers even went so far as to
say, "there is no such thing as the truth." I think that is kind of an idiotic thing to say. There was a truth, it might not be what sells the movie, and it might not even be what I would want to see but I would argue that it is there so take that for what it is worth.

Now, it didn't strike me until a few days later, but
The Social Network kind of fits in with the likes of There Will Be Blood and Citizen Kane. Now The Social Network is really good, but I don't think it is quite as good as either of those movies...that would maybe be blasphemy. It does have a lot in common though. A man in his younger years goes into business for himself and makes boatloads of money. Check. This same young man ends up tanking the only real human relationship that he has, essentially setting him adrift in his own man-made ocean of greenbacks. Check. Due to his own self destruction, the now wildly filthy rich old man becomes a hermit in his own mansion. Well, it hasn't happened yet, but as I said, "When is the sequel coming out?"

Thanks for reading, and keep watching.