But it's hard for me to like a movie that doesn't give me hardly any characters to admire.
Even in a gangster flick, there's got to be somebody I can connect with or someone I can look up to. Even in a horror film, I look for someone to empathize with or cheer for -- someone who I hope survives. The same goes for an action/adventure movie or a drama or a comedy.
I think most of us look for worthy characters somewhere in any movie -- that's where we make our emotional connection.
In this regard, the new film The Social Network doesn't give us very much to like or admire.
This film is based on the true story of Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook. I say "based on" because I am informed that the movie is largely told from the standpoint of those who eventually sued Zuckerberg.
The genesis for the movie is the book, "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich.
Zuckerberg is depicted as a bright, flip and socially-challenged student who is also somewhat bitter and maybe even vengeful.
The film switches back and forth between Zuckerberg's days at Harvard and the later legal battle over the intellectual rights attached to and the origin of the ideas behind Facebook.
Zuckerberg's primary opponents in the case (Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss) are presented as stereotypical, moneyed wasps -- greedy, well-bred and soulless. Zuckerberg's partner (Sean Parker of Napster renown) is manipulative, boastful and ultimately oppressive. Nearly every character in the film seems self-absorbed and avaricious. The students at Harvard are shown as amoral and hedonistic. The President of the University (Larry Summers) is played as an arrogant old fool -- but an old fool with a vest interest, nonetheless. Even Zuckerberg's Asian girlfriends seem to be in it for whatever they can get. And of course the lawyers come across as you would expect -- tedious, scheming and destructive.
Is this what university life is really like?
Is this truly the world of learned professionals?
Are America's so-called "best and brightest" really this empty, this nihilistic?
And although Hollywood has always been derisive of capitalism, are there no limits to its disdain?
Alas, there are two characters with some redeeming value -- and they are all we have to latch on to in The Social Network. One is Zuckerberg's first girlfriend (depicted only briefly by Rooney Mara) who wisely dumps him and later publicly rebuffs him when he tries to get her back.
The second is Zuckerberg's best friend, Eduardo Saverin (beautifully portrayed by Andrew Garfield) who sticks with Zuckerberg way longer than anyone would or should. Thank goodness for the endearing Mr. Garfield and the lovely Ms. Mara.
But they can't save the film because their characters are simply overwhelmed by others.
It doesn't matter that these people are smart. Ultimately, most of them are unprincipled and devoid of genuine depth. On top of all that, the script is hopelessly smug.
And the film goes on way too long.
In the last scene, as the law suit over Facebook's origin is being settled, a lawyer looks forlornly at the world's youngest billionaire, Mark Zuckerberg and says: "It's not that you're an asshole. It's just that you try so hard to be one."
Make of that what you will.
Or maybe you simply want to stay at hope and watch an old Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracey flick.
2 comments:
This is a very interesting take on the film that I haven't seen with the thousands of other reviews. I agree with your take. However, I disagree when you state, "This film tells the true story of Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook." Not quite. It's fiction based very loosely around a few subjective interpretations and recollections of events. The information for the movie was provided by the people who sued Zuckerberg and outsiders who could only speculate, many of them insanely jealous and had axes to grind. Take a look at the reviews of the book on Amazon, most of them written before anyone ever knew it was going to be turned into a book. I stand in the minority when I say, I don't really see the bad picture around Zuckerberg in the movie. He hacks the computer system (one that was made for public use at Harvard, everyone there already had access to the info) and compares pics of girls. If that is the worst someone does in college than I don't think the world should be turned upside down. I know the whole women aren't objects argument, but we're talking about college boys here, not the most unusual thing for them to say I think this girl is hotter than that girl. Keep in mind that while he was doing this, the private club that was rounding up hot girls for a party where one could argue that just as bad or worse activities objectifying women were going on - where's the judgement on them? What the movie doesn't depict is the world changing technology that he has brought to us that has connected us with long lost friends, leveled the playing field for entrepreneurs trying to reach consumers, and helped thousands of charitable good causes raise tens of millions of dollars. Not to mention all of the jobs created surrounding Facebook (think Farmville developers). Admittedly he has some character flaws, but name one world changing entrepreneur (or average joes for that matter) that doesn't, I think it's a requirement for such types. Also, I would investigate Sean Parker more to see what an amazing guy he is, rather than just basing assumptions off of the movie. But again, your post does an excellent and unique review of the movie, as long as we understand that the movie is fictional drama and not a historical documentary and that movie goers should judge not lest they be judged.
Kwan:
Thanks for your insight.
You have made some very valid points.
I've amended my review accordingly.
Dan
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