The Social Network review

Director – David Fincher, Screenplay – Aaron Sorkin

Cast – Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake

One of Hollywood’s legendary directors David Fincher brings to you a gripping film, revolving around the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg (played by a very talented Jesse Eisenberg). What works? Everything. From the very gripping, brilliant and intelligent screenplay to the direction, performances and first class cinematography and editing.

Fincher has delivered masterpieces, and this is certainly not his best piece of work, but that doesn’t mean he will be discounted for this. He extracts some of the finest performances from the entire cast. Both Eisenberg and Garfield are an absolute delight to watch, and Garfield is worthy of an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and is an actor to look out for in the forthcoming years.

Fantastic dialogue delivery by Eisenberg (who fits the role of a geek to the hilt), and a very impressive screen presence as well as an emotional performance by Garfield, keeps you engrossed in the film from the word go, till the film ends. Justin Timberlake can’t be left behind, because he is the guy who delivers the arrogant, sexy, dreamer and executor to the billions of Facebook with so much charm, you cannot forget him.

The film is completely driven by the witty dialogues, and of course the two main forces are these phenomenal actors. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin is the heart and life of the film, because he does not allow a single dull moment in the film. It will be no surprise if he sweeps the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

With soft lighting, consistent yellow/brown tones throughout the film, and classy frames, cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth delivers striking, breathtaking images that stay with you long after the end titles roll. Having shot the entire film on a Red One camera, he makes an impact and how!

Smart, sharp editing with the best creative inputs by the editor for a film that moves at breakneck speed, makes the film highly enjoyable. Trent Reznor scores this heart pounding soundtrack, which gives pulse to the situations in the story. Not an overbearing score, but one that blends with the screenplay and breathes life into the film at the post production stages, for a real treat on the big screen. He deserves plenty of recognition for his extraordinary work.

With David Fincher putting together classic moments, he triumphs in every single aspect of filmmaking. Admirable because he delivers a flawless film of and for the new generation. Fincher’s cinematic vision is strong, bold, deep, powerful, all of it. The film is demanding, and it works on many levels.

There is not a single division or a moment that the film lets you down with. Fincher so beautifully explores this evolving culture and the social networking community, and he engages you with compelling storytelling. He breaks norms and shows the way to magnificent “new generation” filmmaking.

The Social Network is total cinematic power from the shores of Hollywood. And when the film ends, you want to say “Can’t it just keep going?”

Swarupa Pillaai