The Social Network isn't a movie I expected to like. Too many sentimental and sensationalized dramas in the past have made me suspicious of the phrase "based on a true story," and I didn't expect the story behind Facebook and the world's youngest billionaire to be so exciting. In this case, however, I'm glad to be proven wrong. The Social Network is that rare movie that's expertly written, acted, and shot without feeling the least bit like Oscar bait.
The first thing that stands out about this movie is the script. Characters and dialogue are both expertly written, and yet they both feel so natural that they hardly feel like they were written at all. Every character has a unique personality and intentions, and the main drama comes from the interplay of these ambitions. There are no obvious heroes and villains, just people with understandable flaws. It's rare that a movie can pull this off without some unsubtle social message about how people relate to each other. How accurate this movie is to the true story, I don't know or care, but for what it's worth The Social Network doesn't feel the least bit sensationalized. That in itself is an impressive feat considering how often movies try too hard to force a story shape onto real events.
For a movie that's 95% conversation, it never drags. If anything, director David Fincher paces it like another high-tension thriller. Aside from maybe Buried, no other movie this year has been able to accomplish so much with dialogue alone.
The only scene that feels like it doesn't belong is the rowing match set to Hall of the Mountain King. For a film that so expertly avoids cliches and fake drama, it's odd to see a scene that looks like something out of a Gatorade commercial. Another thing I don't like is that some side-plots feel like they're left hanging somewhat toward the end. Like I've said in my Dark Knight review, I could nitpick for hours if I wanted to, but when the movie gets so much right, what's the point?
The visuals are impressive, especially in the first half that centers around the Harvard campus. Out of countless movies to use the campus, this feels like the one to bring it out to its full visual potential. It's nothing worthy of a best cinematography award, but worth admiring nonetheless. The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is infectious yet tasteful, and this is coming from someone who's never gotten into Reznor's music.
And what impressed me possibly the most is the ending, which reinterprets the movie as a character study about Zuckerberg's self-discovery. It comes naturally yet it's such a revelation that it almost feels like a plot twist. And I have to give respect to Jesse Eisenberg for giving such an impressive performance. Again, knowing close to nothing abut the real Mark Zuckerberg, i'll leave that aspect for other people to judge. Eisenberg plays Zuckerberg as an aloof genius who's easy to hate and admire all at once. He's a complex person to say the least, always thinking two steps ahead of the surrounding world yet believably confused about about the choices he's made despite a cold exterior. As the movie sums him up in the end, "You're not an asshole, Mark. You just try so hard to be."
The supporting cast, which includes Rooney Mara, James Garfield and Justin Timberlake, is also very solid. Timberlake especially, whom I've had every reason to underestimate until now. It certainly helps that they all have such a strong script to work with, as it really feels like even the smallest roles have some personality in them.
In short, The Social Network is an easy movie to love, both as art and as entertainment. Minor gripes aside (because what good would a critic be without them?) this isn't my personal choice for the year's best picture, but I could hardly complain if it won.
Score:
No comments:
Post a Comment