Tuesday

The Social Network Review - When Google Saved Facebook

The Social Network is a fascinating incursion into the minds of young men who invent stuff. In this case, it's David Fincher's, Aaron Sorkin's and Ben Mezrich's minds. The director, screenwriter and book writer of the movie concoct a wild, "I caught a Russian speaking fish!" story about Internet site Facebook.
Based on a True Lie
The (untold) story begins with Mezrich, a former Harvard alumni, presenting the idea of filming a movie about the rise and glory of the famed site. A few minutes later, the trio realize that the story is boring as all hell, and getting moviegoers into theaters will involve a taser gun or bribes. Then, someone throws in the idea of a hot nude scene by Facebook founder's girlfriend, who would be played by Brooklyn Decker or Megan Fox, or both. Sadly, young obsessive nerds focused on reinventing human interaction and voiding it of any physical contact don't have time for dating, and our three heroes are left again with nothing in their hands. Are they really, though?
In a split of a second surges the brilliant innovative notion which this iconic movie brings to our lives: based on a true lie. The formula is brilliant and simple: take a true story everyone knows happened and lie about it, a lot.
Refurbished Plot
In the movie, Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg, or maybe it's the other way around. Anyhow, just remember one of them is an actor and the other one owns your team, mall and bank. Using the new found fudging method, out goes young, revolutionary, genius programmer; in goes cunning, socially-inept, morally lacking, son of a bloody bitch bastard. So now you want to see the movie, right!? Exactly like they figured out.
The Mark/Jesse combo kind of stumble into creating the Facebook concept, apparently after a bad date and a Brazilian friend get mixed with a couple of rowing twins and the guy who invented Napster, played by Attila the Hun. It's all very fascinating, specially the part where everyone is getting back-stabbed by Evil Mark and Attila in a way that would make Jack the Ripper proud.
It Gets Emotional
After making us believe the founder of Facebook is a shmuck, we learn of the poor destiny of the hapless victims he maligned. It's a heartbreaking tale of young men stripped of billions of dollars and given only a few tens of millions in return. Personally, I cried. The injustice of it all.
We are led to understand that Mr. Zuckerberg, by then already 19 years old, has learned something from all his betraying, but it becomes unclear what. It doesn't matter, cause everyone watching the movie is intent on getting back home and deleting his Facebook page, then cleansing his computer with Chlorine bleach.
Press Google Then Save
A moment before freeing myself from Facebook and guaranteeing my place in heaven above, I decided to Google the names of all those involved, worried that those horribly wronged would have committed suicide or dove into alcohol and drugs. Good news, everyone.
It turns out the Brazilian Boy, a.k.a. Eduardo Saverin, owns more than 2 billion dollars in Facebook shares, which I guess makes him the first movie victim billionaire. The rowing twins party so hard, they even own a "where to party" site, and Sorkin the Screenwriter is known for the thought-provoking adage: I don't want my fidelity to be to the truth.
As far as sticking to your proverbs, The Social Network is an excellent lie. It doesn't get the highest rating cause our three prevaricating friends omitted the Brooklyn/Megan scene, which is an inexcusable crime. But it should get an Oscar for film editing or fraud. Also, work is already on for an animated film based on the true story of Buzz Lightyear's childhood plights. It's provisory name is Tall Story. We'll keep you posted.

No comments:

Post a Comment