The Social Network

David Fincher's "The Social Network" is tantalizing in its frenetic energy. Aaron Sorkin's lighting-fast dialogue blazes through the air from the opening scene, and from the point at which its revealed that Facebook was still just a germinating idea in late 2003, with the knowledge that it first took SPU by storm in early 2004 and the knowledge of what it has become since there's no way not be drawn in to the culture of Harvard, the desire of Eisenberg's portrayal of Zuckerberg as a friendless genius crazing recognition, and the taut legal battles that erupted after Zuckerberg and Facebook became monsterously profitable. Yet, even before it became monstrously profitable, the conflicts over Facebook erupted as a result of broken promises, broken friendships, and a desire to be recognized and included in the exclusivity that only success can bring. The film is an adept psychological drama, examining how and why Facebook became so appealing, and one of the geniuses of the film is how little time is actually spent examining the digital Facebook but really spent examining the wants and needs of Facebook founders, which universally apply to the majority of Facebook users. The narcissm, addictive personalities, jealousies, and egos of the main players in the drama highlight the main problems with Facebook and social media. Never once is "fun" or "practicality" addressed when designing and refining Facebook.

Yet, while it is a compelling story (apparently very fictionalized from what sounds like a rather straight-forward legal battle), I found myself immersed in Fincher's beautiful directorial decisions with the camera and the intensely subtle score by Trent Reznor. These elements combined made it feel like not so much the "film of the 2000s" that captures the spirit of the modern 20-something generation but the quintessential American tragedy of the 2000s. I didn't find anything new or revolutionary in the film's themes or emotions, but I found myself relating to them, and sadly contemplating the ways in which the trends present in the film exist in even more exaggerated fashions in modern American culture, with no signs of slowing down.

9/10

Sleepers (1996)

A long drawn-out epic which tells the sickening story of what happened when a prank that went too far landed the boys in a kid's prison. If I were to say much more I would be giving too much away. This is definitely a movie you want to set aside a good long chunk of time to watch and then mull over.

The acting (and it is a star-studded cast) is brilliant, the story is enveloping. A well-told tale of (oh so sweet) revenge. I'm not sure how I hadn't seen this for so long, how it had escaped my radar.

This movie truly and deeply shows us the Kevin Bacon we all so deeply and fearsomely love to loathe.

10/10

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Brooklyn's Finest

This movie was absolutely fantastic. The drama created across three threads of story lines makes for a superb fiesta of movie-watching awesomeness. The actors, the parts, the story, all flow smoothly and left me wanting more. If ever a movie demands a sequel, this one does.

9.5/10

IMDB Link

movies! movies! movies!

Once again, I have a huge backlog of movies to review so you'll have to settle for snippet reviews and number scores. Not that anyone actually relies on this blog for their movie info or anything. I just like to flatter myself.

9

Excellent film. Felt a little short. Left me wanting more.

9.25/10

A Perfect Getaway

Solid movie, held my interest throughout. Nice twist, albeit somewhat predictable for seasoned movie-watchers.

7.25/10

District 9

Really unique, not what I expected at all. The way it was filmed can get a little irritating at times, but overall really well done.

8/10

Extract

Mike Judge comedy starring Jason Bateman? Sounds promising. Falls pretty flat. Below average.

5.5/10

Gamer

A future world that is chock-full of plot holes. People control other people as video game characters. Not the greatest entry for Michael C. Hall (aka Dexter Morgan) but not terrible.

Still, definitely below average.

5.75/10

Jennifer's Body

Crappy teen horror. I don't know why I watched it.

3/10

Law Abiding Citizen

What develops as a potentially cool plot is explained away in the tritest of manners. Screenwriter fail, big time.

4/10

Saw VI

The Saw series has become so incredibly predictable. More of the same. The sixth was supposed to be the LAST Saw, but it seems to set itself up for ANOTHER sequel. Please, no more.

3.75/10

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball

I don't think this one ever made it to theaters in the U.S. Actually, not as "direct-to-video" as I expected from it. Decent shoot 'em up film.

7/10

Staten Island

A quirky and oddly amusing film. Seems a little green, but gets points for originality.

8/10

The Invention of Lying

Ricky Gervais is the only person in the world who is biologically capable of lying. Suspend your disbelief. I really don't like Jennifer Garner.

5.5/10

Surrogates

An OK movie but ultimately very forgettable. Seriously, I remember almost nothing about this film.

6/10

The Hurt Locker

Actually I was quite impressed with this movie. It begs the question, "Why the hell are we still over there?"

9/10

The Hangover

Hey, it was a very funny movie. That's all I can say.

8.75/10

Whiteout

Boring Antarctica thriller. Makes you cold just watching it.

6/10

(500) Days of Summer

Perhaps it was the story. Perhaps it was the presence of the beautiful and talented Zooey Deschanel. Maybe it was the fact that the soundtrack was well-done while avoiding being a cliched "indie-movie soundtrack." Or maybe it was the fact that as a whole, the movie managed to somehow avoid falling into the "indie-movie" cliche while still being original and well-done. Whatever it was, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.

9/10

IMDB Link