Sunday, October 3, 2010

The Social Network: Revenge of the Nerd

Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder
Mark Zuckerberg in the 'Social Network.'


So I checked out The Social Network the other night (AKA, "Facebook was my idea"!! "No it was mine"!! "No, MINE"!!!, etc., etc.), and I have to say it was good stuff!!! Not just because it's about how this social obsession we all seem to share came to be, but mostly because like "Titanic," it's a story you pretty much know the start, middle and end to, but it makes you feel like you have no clue what's coming next.  Oh yeah, and it manages to give a little glory (however beleaguered) to the real Internet Superstars that have cropped up in the last decade or so (and no, I'm not talking about that Leave Britney Alone!! kid -- thankfully, he had nothing to do with this film).
For those who don't already know and the rest of us who do, The Social Network chronicles the story of how Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook (then called, "thefacebook.com") as a sophomore at Harvard University, and the classmates who claimed FB was originally their idea. As to be expected, there's oodles of legal messyness and verbal bitchslapping going on all throughout, but it's so intelligently done I felt it drove the film, which was the best way (screenwriter) Aaron Sorkin could have done it.
And as for those aforementioned Internet Superstars, all the major players are present: there's Zuckerberg reppin' FB (played by Jesse Eisenberg), the ever-smarmy Sean Parker of Napster fame (played by Justin Timberlake) and there's even the obligatory (at least in a film like this) ode to Bill Gates (played by some dude who obviously isn't the real Gates, but close enough).
Knowing that Zuckerberg wanted NOTHING to do with the movie, Eisenberg's portrayal of him is that of a socially inept loner with quick wit, a sharp tongue and an even sharper business sense. As has been widely publicized  by now, the movie opens to a restaurant scene in which Zuckerberg's girlfriend dumps him, which then sends him into a flurry of Internet "strike back" tactics that eventually lead him to the idea for FB. Whether this is how it happened or not, it completely mirrors (poetically so) what social networks provide: a platform to be heard and seen in a way that transcends the boundaries of our usual roles, "ranks" and relationships. I can't really say I was rooting for him, but there are some relatable qualities about Zuckerberg here, albeit not very redeeming ones.

JT as Sean (ewww, cooties!!!) Parker
Timberlake as Napster founder Sean Parker makes clear that Mr.-Napster-for-that-ass licks hairy rat balls, dude!!! Before this flick, I had very little knowledge about Parker beyond the TV news clips of him being dragged through the courts for simply trying to bring free music to the masses (btw, get a life Lars Ulrich of Metallica), but if the movie is to be believed, Sean Parker is a Douche Bag with a capital "D"!!!! Mad love to JT for bringing his popstar swagger to the role, though he showed us all that Parker is a coat-tail riding douche of epic proportions!!! (I dunno, maybe the crazy amount of times I've watched "D*ck in a Box" really brought out the d*ckweed in JT as Parker, lol.)
Anywho, every good story has a silver lining and for me that silver lining was Andrew Garfield, who plays Facebook co-founder and Zuckerberg's longtime friend Eduardo Saverin. As the proverbial "nice guy," Garfield nails the bleeding heart Saverin and makes us all (ok, maybe just me) want to bang him several times daily fall madly in lust with him. Check him!!!



Yum, yum, and even more YUM!! Andrew Garfield
plays Eduardo Saverin in the 'Social Network.'

2 comments:

Brittany Bella Graham said...

I just saw "The Social Network" the other day... Yes, late I know. And Andrew Garfield IS a cutie! Def eye candy.

www.BeautyisPoison.blogspot.com

GirleeCat said...

That's awesome! I don't know about you, but i thought it was a great film despite being about fb. And yesss, AG is a hottie for reaal!!! =-p

Post a Comment