The Social Network

Adapted by Aaron Sorkin from Ben Mezrich's nonfiction bestseller The Accidental Billionaires, director David Fincher's acclaimed drama centers on the conflict between Facebook co-founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg and three of his Harvard cohorts over the ownership of Facebook. As in Akira Kurosawa's multiple-perspective classic Rashomon, each of the central players justifies his recollection about how it all began and later became a worldwide, culturally defining phenomenon. From the first scene, it's obvious that brash, brilliant, socially inept Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) yearns for acceptance. Dumped by his girlfriend, Erica (Rooney Mara), Mark hacks into the university's computers to trash her online, presenting photographs of Erica and other Harvard women while asking viewers to choose which is “hotter.” The operation instantly goes viral, crashing the system, but not before it's noticed by the über-entitled Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer, Josh Pence), who recruit Mark to design a Harvard dating website. But Zuckerberg thinks bigger and, bankrolled by his Brazilian-born best friend/roommate Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), invents Facebook, after which ruthless Napster entrepreneur Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) brings in investors to elevate, and perhaps exploit, the fledgling service to an astonishing level. While the narrative particulars revolve around computer technology, this is a fascinating human story, encompassing loneliness, loyalty, friendship, greed, envy, and betrayal. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include two audio commentaries (one by director David Fincher; the other with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and various cast members), the feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary “How Did They Ever Make a Movie of Facebook?”, five production featurettes on topics ranging from cinematography to music, and a multi-angle scene breakdown of the “Ruby Skye VIP Room” sequence. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function. Bottom line: an excellent extras package for one of 2010's best films.] (S. Granger)