Movie Preview: The Social Network
When I first heard they were making a movie about Facebook I rolled my eyes. Past films capitalizing on technology trends were always corny and seemed to flop (The Net, Hackers etc.) Once I found out who the “they” were, I changed my tune. The Social Network was written by Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin is one of my favorite screen writers. He single handedly created and wrote almost every teleplay for the first four seasons of The West Wing. He wrote for the stage and screen, A Few Good Men, which doesn’t ever seem to get old after repeat viewings. He created and wrote the short lived and very underrated show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. (In the land of reality TV where the value of the writer and/or story is eliminated, it was great to see an original, pointed, political, intellectual show with good actors. Studio 60 was cancelled because people would rather watch someone eat bugs or cheat on their spouse.) Sorkin also wrote Charlie Wilson’s War and is currently writing a screenplay about John Edwards. Anyway, the point is, I love Aaron Sorkin, so The Social Network needed to be reevaluated. I read the script a few weeks ago and I can honestly say, I’m really looking forward to seeing this now.
I don’t care what you say, Facebook not only changed the internet forever, it changed the world. It changed the way we do everything and it changed how we interact with people. In 2008 the word Facebook was found in 10% of all divorce filings. Facebook doesn’t let the past die.
The Social Network tells the story of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerburg’s rise to fame. It starts in his dorm room at Harvard. After being socially rejected Mark creates a website within the campus that allows you to compare and rate pictures of the students. Things take off from their. It’s about deceit, greed and the all consuming drug that is power.
AS usual, Sorkin’s dialogue flows perfectly on the page. I only hope it translates well to the screen. I’m sure it will since David Fincher (Se7en, The Game, Fight Club) is directing, and Trent Reznor is composing the score.
The Social Network will be in theaters on October 1.
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