The Social Network (2010)

In this article, we will be looking at 2019’s book “1001 Movies to See Before You Die” and going through each film in a random order that I have chosen. We will be looking at what constitutes this film to be on the list and whether I think this film deserves to be here at all. I want to make perfectly clear that I won’t be revealing details from this book such as analyses by film reporters who have written about the film in question, so if you want the book itself you’ll have to buy it. But I will be covering the book’s suggestions on which films should be your top priority. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that everyone reading this article has probably watched many of these movies anyway. But we are just here to have a bit of fun. We’re going to not just look at whether it should be on this list but we’re also going to look at why the film has such a legacy at all. Remember, this is the 2019 version of the book and so, films like “Joker” will not be featured in this book and any film that came out in 2020 (and if we get there, in 2021). So strap in and if you have your own suggestions then don’t hesitate to email me using the address in my bio. Let’s get on with it then.

The Social Network (2010) dir. by David Fincher

I have seen this film so many times and I, to this day, have no idea why I watched it that much. The dialogue though, is probably the reason. I thought the dialogue, though not very realistic, was actually pretty clever and honestly, did try to imitate real-life conversation as much as possible. Again, not great, but clever. It stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer and many more. This legal biographical drama is one of the strangest films to come out of the end of that decade and really, I think it should be shown more in dialogue writing classes. Aaron Sorkin is a pretty great writer and David Fincher, as much as I love his directing - did his best to work with it. He has, though, done better.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a massively favourable consensus that reads the following:

"Impeccably scripted, beautifully directed, and filled with fine performances, The Social Network is a riveting, ambitious example of modern filmmaking at its finest.”

Three years before his upsetting death, Roger Ebert also reviewed the film and stated the following in the Chicago Sun-Times:

"David Fincher's film has the rare quality of being not only as smart as its brilliant hero, but in the same way. It is cocksure, impatient, cold, exciting and instinctively perceptive.”

Peter Travers of the Rolling Stone Magazine reviewed the film and praised it greatly for its ability to link in with human emotions:

"The Social Network is the movie of the year. But Fincher and Sorkin triumph by taking it further. Lacing their scathing wit with an aching sadness, they define the dark irony of the past decade.”

Even though, The Wall Street Journal writer liked the film, calling it almost ‘perfect; - he also noted that the film had some major improvements to make if it was going to be seen as a good adaptation of the book it was supposedly based on. He stated the following:

"The biographical part takes liberties with its subject. Aaron Sorkin based his screenplay on a contentious book, Ben Mezrich's The Accidental Billionaires, so everything that's seen isn't necessarily to be believed.”

It won many awards afterwards, including the following: the Academy Awards, BAFTAs, Awards at the Hollywood Film Festival, Chicago Film Critics Association, London Film Critics Circle, the National Society of Film Critics, New York Film Critics, Toronto Film Critics Association, Vancouver Film Critics Circle, St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association etc. Yes, there are a lot of them and there are more than what I have made.

I still will not understand why David Fincher did not win best director at the Academy Awards because he worked really hard on that movie and though it was not his best, you can see the effort he put in and it was huge. That is the only regret I have for this film.