THE SOCIAL NETWORK: TWO-DISC COLLECTOR’S EDITION (Sony, 2010) D: David Fincher, w/ Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield. Rating: NNNN DVD package: NNNNN Rating: NNNN
Here’s a triumph of style over substance. There’s nothing particularly compelling in the story of how Harvard computer nerd Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook, and the lawsuits that ensued, but writer Aaron Sorkin, director David Fincher and a brilliant cast headed by Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg make it work on sheer talent.
Most of the movie is a string of flashbacks launched by questions and answers in two different deposition sessions, a device that allows for quick movement between smart dialogue scenes that force us to pay attention or risk losing the plot. Zuckerberg is being sued by the Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer), who claim he stole their idea, and by former partner Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), who lost millions through share dilution.
Zuckerberg and Saverin’s friendship forms the emotional core of the movie. Eisenberg and Garfield make it work despite the fact that Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg – a magnetic performance – is thoroughly despicable.
In their commentaries, Fincher and Eisenberg strive to present Zuckerberg as not despicable. They’re not entirely convincing, but their insights do much to enhance the movie.
EXTRAS Director commentary, writer and cast commentary, feature-length making-of doc, six more making-of items. Widescreen. English, French audio. English, French, Spanish subtitles.
