A couple weeks back I posted on my mixed feelings about the premise behind David Fincher's "The Social Network." While i was intrigued, I was skeptical as to whether Fincher, masterful as he is, could draw much drama from the story of Facebook and its dorky creator.
I finally saw the film, and for the life of me, I'm still not sure if I was right to be apprehensive. On one level, my fears were justified. On another level though, "The Social Network" is a magnificent film.
Basically, I'm still where I was a couple of weeks ago.
When it comes to the language of film, few can rival Fincher. His biopic on Mark Zuckerberg is beautifully shot and well-told. The performances are all top-notch, particularly Jesse Eisenberg's dork-douche hybrid interpretation of Zuckerberg.
While the screenplay is highly fictionalized, most of the major points match the public record. Zuckerberg is painted as a driven, sometimes arrogant but always brilliant entrepreneur. Supporting players Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake are worthy foils, and the combination of performances and efficient rhythm make "The Social Network" an engaging if not riveting experience.
I say engaging rather than riveting as confirmation of what I'd originally suspected about the film when i first heard about it several months ago. The flaw at the core of this film is a subjective one: I'm just not all that interested in the creator of Facebook and his story. What can you do?