The Social Network Review Thread (Spoilers)

[GreenScar]

UPDATE July 7

Aaron Sorkin's Facebook Script Might Actually Be Amazing

Ah yes, Aaron Sorkin's movie about Facebook. "Imagine going from nothing to a billionaire in less than a year. How do you even grasp that kind of success? How do you live a normal life? How do you address the constant lawsuits that eat into your everyday existence? And how do you do this at 22 years old?" That's not the official pitch for The Social Network, as it's better known, but it might as well be. That was written by Carson Reeves who just published an early review of Sorkin's screenplay on his blog. And what did he think of it? "I just read a script that amazed me. Easily going into my top 10." Apparently it's that incredible.

We first heard that Aaron Sorkin had been hired to write this script late last year. But everything changed when it was announced a few weeks ago that David Fincher would be directing it. It seems that no one can believe that a movie about a popular social website could actually be any good. But that's because no one knew what it was really about. Following that Fincher news we posted an update saying that it was actually based on a book called "The Accidental Billionaires" written by Ben Mezrich that chronicled the story of how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in his dorm room at Harvard. The Social Network is that exact story.

Without spoiling too much of the story, The Social Network starts with Zuckerberg in a bar being dumped by his then girlfriend because he keeps changing conversations. From there the creation of what is to one day become Facebook begins, as those who are familiar with the story know that it started as a "Hot or Not"-like site for Harvard women before being re-imagined as a social community. While Carson says the script doesn't have a framework, he explains that it often jumps in and out of a present day legal battle that involves Zuckerberg being sued by his former business partners for all $16 billion that Facebook is worth.

Now you might start to understand why this is a bit more than a simple story about a website. "It's a story about greed, about obsession, about our belief that all the money in the world can make us happy. But it's also unpredictable, funny, touching, and sad. It gives us that rare glimpse into the improbable world of mega-success." Comedy, in a script like this, doesn't sound too appealing, but apparently it works very well.

That Sean Parker he is talking about is the very same Sean Parker that founded Napster in the 90's. Yep, he is even in this, too! I don't want to give away any more of his story, because he's one the greatest parts of this and his introduction is a key part of the founding of Facebook. As I tried to say when David Fincher's name first popped up in connection with this project, a director of his caliber obviously wouldn't have even considered this if it weren't a great story (and a great script), so I'm not sure why everyone thinks this will suck. According to Reeves, Sorkin's script is pretty amazing, which is both shocking and exciting to hear.

Ever since that Fincher news hit, I've been trying to convince people that this might actually be good, and that it is definitely not what anyone is expecting. I'm glad I now have a real review of Sorkin's script to back up my initial gut feeling. After learning more about the real story and exactly what Zuckerberg has had to go through - mainly with losing his best friend and ending up in enormous legal battles with almost everyone else - I suggest you go back and re-read that list of questions in the introduction to this article. Those are the kind of fascinating themes that I believe Sorkin is trying to address and that Fincher connected with.

I am very interested to see how this continues to develop. After this review and all the previous news about the adaptation of "The Accidental Billionaires" and so on, I would be more than happy to see Fincher direct this next. Not only is the time right (with social networking being as popular as it is) but I just think this sounds like it could be a great movie. That is, as long as it's just as amazing on the screen as it is on paper.

It's too crazy to make up. I'm still scratching my head about this project...

We were baffled last Summer when Golden Globe nominated screenwriter/producer Aaron Sorkin had joined Facebook and announced that he was writing a Facebook movie for mega-producer Scott Rudin. Today Variety offers an unbelievable follow-up, filmmaker David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en, Benjamin Button) is in “advanced talks” with Columbia Pictures to direct the film, which has been titled The Social Network.


The movie will tell the story of how Harvard sophomore Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook with his dorm roommates, and how the social networking revolution grew to over 200 million members. Mike DeLuca and Kevin Spacey are also producing, and hope to have the film in production by the end of the year, if not early next.

Not knowing a lot about Zuckerberg’s story, I’m wondering if the creation of Facebook is enough to warrant a big screen film, nevermind one with David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin’s involvement. On the surface, the history of Apple and Microsoft has a lot more to offer, but was produced as a 1999 television movie (The Pirates of Silicon Valley). What has happened in the creation of the social networking website or the five years that followed that is so very interesting or dramatic? And why is technophile director Fincher interested?

[dcowboy7]

So no myspace movie ?

What about "revenge of twitter" ?

[redtornado]

They have seriously run out of movie ideas in Hollywood.

Up next, Blu-ray VS HD-DVD: The Motion Picture. Starring Lorenzo Lamas, Tara Reid, and Alan Thicke.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by redtornado

Up next, Blu-ray VS HD-DVD: The Motion Picture.

I would actually watch this.

[dcowboy7]

Im waiting for "Counting Sand" summer 2010.

[PH3AR]

I would rather watch a Myspace movie but im not gonna see either thou

[Mr.White]

What's next, a "Twitter" movie"?

[PH3AR]

I would love to see a Blu-ray.com movie!

[witheygull]

The greatest Facebook movie has already been made and you can see it here.

[Mike53421]

Originally Posted by witheygull

The greatest Facebook movie has already been made and you can see it here.

Haha that was pretty good.

[Uncle Leo]

Thats weird. Nolan just signed up for "You Tube the Movie-Reactions to 2 Girls 1 Cup"

[sfmarine]

How do you go from Seven to Benjamin Button to freakin Facebook?

[andyman1970]

Originally Posted by dcowboy7

Im waiting for "Counting Sand" summer 2010.

Don't forget about "Watching the Grass Grow" due in winter of 2012.

[Edo]

stupidddd

[Batman1980]

I sense a great disturbance in Hollywood, as though thousands of film makers all just suddenly slapped their foreheads...

[PH3AR]

Originally Posted by Uncle Leo

Thats weird. Nolan just signed up for "You Tube the Movie-Reactions to 2 Girls 1 Cup"

[OrlandoEastwood]

Originally Posted by redtornado

They have seriously run out of movie ideas in Hollywood.

Up next, Blu-ray VS HD-DVD: The Motion Picture. Starring Lorenzo Lamas, Tara Reid, and Alan Thicke.

I've all ready penned the script for it. It's two people; standing in a room. The man on the left side has shelves of HD-DVDs and the man on the right has shelves of Blu-Rays. They sissy slap each other for two hours and then the guy with the Blu-Rays hits the HD-DVD man square in the face like Brad Pitt in Snatch and then roll credits.

[Diesel]

We're being Punk'd right?

[OrlandoEastwood]

Originally Posted by Diesel

We're being Punk'd right?

On the Facebook or HD-DVD Vs Blu-Ray: Whoever Wins, One Wins?

[Irrob]

Wow this is silly as hell.