2010 - The Social Network
It seems I've been slacking off again and left this blog to gather more dust. But I'm back! Granted, it was over a week ago that I actually watched the below film, which just goes to show how difficult it's been to find time for this silly (but incredibly important) project. And, of course, since this is the first post since the Oscars, I have to at least briefly comment on my winner predictions. I managed to correctly predict 16 of the 23 categories. Not a great score, but considering three of my errors were the short film categories, which often feel like a crap shoot, I'll take it.
Let's rejoin our look at the 2010 Best Picture nominees with...
The Social Network
Director:
David Fincher
Screenplay:
Aaron Sorkin
(based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich)
Starring:
Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Brenda Song, Rashida Jones, Rooney Mara
Academy Awards:
8 nominations
3 wins, including Best Adapted Screenplay
At two separate depositions, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (Eisenberg) recounts his version of the events surrounding the creation and subsequent success of the renowned social media website. In what was ostensibly a reaction to being dumped by his girlfriend Erica (Mara), Zuckerberg employs his exceptional coding (and hacking) skills to create a misogynistic website that allows his fellow Harvard students to rate images of their female peers. The site becomes immensely popular, leading twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (both played by Armie Hammer) and Divya Narendra (Minghella) to ask Zuckerberg to join them in developing a Harvard social and dating site. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg is working on his own social networking site with the help of friend Eduardo Saverin (Garfield), who throws in the initial financial support. Leaving the Winklevoss twins in the dark, Zuckerberg and Saverin steam ahead with Thefacebook, though the two don't see eye to eye on some major business decisions, including the involvement of Napster founder Sean Parker (Timberlake).
Aaron Sorkin's distinctive dialogue style is on full display here. From the very first scene, his signature rapid-fire wordplay tickles our ears and minds. Just like an episode of The West Wing, every character is an expert at clever and biting comebacks. I appreciate that some have criticised this style, finding it irksome that everyone talks as if they're the smartest person in the room, but contrivances aside, it's undeniably entertaining. Dramatic license and all that. And to be fair, most of the characters are Harvard-educated, so on many occasions, they very likely ARE the smartest people in the room.
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Of course, with David Fincher at the helm, any similitude between the characters feels trivial thanks to the riveting thrill ride that is presented to us. And just like a thriller, it is both gripping and uncomfortable with a beautiful yet expertly unsettling score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who won an Oscar for their trouble.
Also assisting in making the characters distinctive from one another is a superb cast at the top of their game. Andrew Garfield shines in his breakout role as the tender soul who is pushed to his limit. Justin Timberlake deftly crafts a cavalier bully that isn't quite as tenacious as he seems. It is Jesse Eisenberg, however, who carries the film with an especially powerful portrayal as the genius with a seemingly impenetrable exterior. Eisenberg delivers such a deceptively nuanced performance, diminishing his character's outward display of confidence with a near-constant uncertainty behind his eyes. And don't miss Aaron Sorkin himself (pictured) in a cameo role as an unimpressed potential Facebook investor. Along with the aforementioned win for Best Original Score, The Social Network also picked up Oscars for its film editing and Sorkin's screenplay, all of which were thoroughly deserved.
Let's rejoin our look at the 2010 Best Picture nominees with...
The Social NetworkDirector:
David Fincher
Screenplay:
Aaron Sorkin
(based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich)
Starring:
Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Brenda Song, Rashida Jones, Rooney Mara
Academy Awards:
8 nominations
3 wins, including Best Adapted Screenplay
At two separate depositions, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (Eisenberg) recounts his version of the events surrounding the creation and subsequent success of the renowned social media website. In what was ostensibly a reaction to being dumped by his girlfriend Erica (Mara), Zuckerberg employs his exceptional coding (and hacking) skills to create a misogynistic website that allows his fellow Harvard students to rate images of their female peers. The site becomes immensely popular, leading twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (both played by Armie Hammer) and Divya Narendra (Minghella) to ask Zuckerberg to join them in developing a Harvard social and dating site. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg is working on his own social networking site with the help of friend Eduardo Saverin (Garfield), who throws in the initial financial support. Leaving the Winklevoss twins in the dark, Zuckerberg and Saverin steam ahead with Thefacebook, though the two don't see eye to eye on some major business decisions, including the involvement of Napster founder Sean Parker (Timberlake).
Aaron Sorkin's distinctive dialogue style is on full display here. From the very first scene, his signature rapid-fire wordplay tickles our ears and minds. Just like an episode of The West Wing, every character is an expert at clever and biting comebacks. I appreciate that some have criticised this style, finding it irksome that everyone talks as if they're the smartest person in the room, but contrivances aside, it's undeniably entertaining. Dramatic license and all that. And to be fair, most of the characters are Harvard-educated, so on many occasions, they very likely ARE the smartest people in the room.
.jpg)
Of course, with David Fincher at the helm, any similitude between the characters feels trivial thanks to the riveting thrill ride that is presented to us. And just like a thriller, it is both gripping and uncomfortable with a beautiful yet expertly unsettling score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who won an Oscar for their trouble.Also assisting in making the characters distinctive from one another is a superb cast at the top of their game. Andrew Garfield shines in his breakout role as the tender soul who is pushed to his limit. Justin Timberlake deftly crafts a cavalier bully that isn't quite as tenacious as he seems. It is Jesse Eisenberg, however, who carries the film with an especially powerful portrayal as the genius with a seemingly impenetrable exterior. Eisenberg delivers such a deceptively nuanced performance, diminishing his character's outward display of confidence with a near-constant uncertainty behind his eyes. And don't miss Aaron Sorkin himself (pictured) in a cameo role as an unimpressed potential Facebook investor. Along with the aforementioned win for Best Original Score, The Social Network also picked up Oscars for its film editing and Sorkin's screenplay, all of which were thoroughly deserved.
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