By Tyler Slawson
Contributing Writer
By the time you are reading this, you have probably been on Facebook at least once today. You may have logged on a dozen times already. Chances are, you’ll probably be back on again before the day ends.
People have become fascinated with Facebook since its founding in 2003. Almost as fascinated as they have been with the film portraying the Internet mega-site’s founding, “The Social Network.”
The plot follows Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg), founder of Facebook, as he creates Facebook after being inspired by several of his previously successful ideas, which were, in turn, inspired by his sadness after being dumped by his girlfriend.
Thanks to the help of several of his friends and Napster founder, Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), Mark successfully founds the site we all know and love as Facebook.
The film is also interplayed with several scenes in deposition rooms in which Mark is questioned by several lawyers in regards to the lawsuits filed against him. The drama gains intensity throughout as more of an uproar is created.
The film is very well written (not that we could expect anything less from Aaron Sorkin, whose credits include “Charlie Wilson’s War” and NBC’s “The West Wing”).
While many people have argued that Mark is a jerk, I disagree.
From the very beginning scene, it is very apparent that Mark is incredibly smart. He is so smart he is out of touch with those around him. Therefore, during the scenes which he comes off as a jerk, I feel really sorry for him. Plot Rating: A.
The filmmaking is right on with the screenwriting in its quality. There are some fascinating shots particularly toward the beginning in which the camera slightly follows our character home from the opening scene at the bar.
The shots and their angles really keep us on the edge particularly in what could easily be dull, legal scenes.
The score is great for this film, and each piece touches on the scene in just the right tone and picks us up where the film is at emotionally.
The acting is impressive, and many of the film’s stars are already signed to other potential blockbusters. Andrew Garfield has been cast as Peter Parker/Spiderman in the “Spiderman” reboot, and Rooney Mara has been cast as Lisbeth Salander in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”
Brenda Song, known to many for her role in the Disney Channel show “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” makes a nice transition into her very adult role in this film. I can’t wait to see more from her. Filmmaking Rating: A
I do not suggest this film for families. The plot would be too dull for children.
Additionally there is a lot of adult content that would not be suitable for children, including cursing and teen partying.
In one party scene, strip poker, drinking, cocaine usage and a brief shot of two girls kissing are some of things shown. Drinking is a constant occurance outside of the party scenes as well.
The IMDb reports that the content was scaled down quite a bit in order to get a PG-13 rating. However, it still should have been rated R.
Within the past few years, the MPAA’s rule was that the “f-word” could be used once in a PG-13 film. It was used a couple of times in this film. Going by that rule alone subjects it to the R rating. Family Rating: D
The film is really great and is very relevant to college students.
The two-hour running time isn’t anything you should worry about. It is a very enjoyable and entertaining two hours of your life.
It is also slightly educational. While films are often disputed over their accuracy, the film is based on the 2009 book “The Accidental Billionaires” by Ben Mezrich.
Additionally Sorkin said in a recent Entertainment Weekly article “If we know what brand of beer Mark was drinking on a Tuesday night in October seven years ago when there were only three other people in the room, it should tell you something about how close our research sources were to the subject and to the events.” Final Word: See it.
Photo from filmofilia.net