You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.
by Alex, Smile.ly Community Manager, 8/4/10
Many people scoff at the idea of a “Facebook movie.” I’m no more obsessed with the social networking phenomenon than anyone else, but as a film buff, I’m extremely excited for the October 1 release of The Social Network – yes, the Facebook movie. Why? Simply look at the all-star production crew, combined with what seems to be a genuinely compelling story of young entrepreneurs with an innovative idea that changed (and is still changing) the way we browse online.
First, it’s directed by David Fincher, the Academy Award-winning visionary behind Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Fincher has a unique method of filmmaking involving dark characters and themes, with dimly lit set designs to complement them. I’m eager to see how he’s going to use this technique to portray Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, and I don’t see it being the most flattering depiction of the notorious Harvard dropout.
Second, The Social Network was written by Aaron Sorkin, the equally brilliant screenwriter behind the TV series Sports Night and The West Wing, and the films A Few Good Men and Charlie Wilson’s War. Now that Sorkin is on break from TV writing, I’m interested to see where he’s going to continue his career in film with his stylish brand of snappy, quick dialogue. The screenplay was leaked online last year, and while I’m going to restrain myself from reading it to keep my first viewing a spoiler-free experience, it’shere for anyone who wants a sneak peek.
The screenplay is based on the nonfiction bestseller The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal by Ben Mezrich, who also wrote Bringing Down the House, the story of six MIT students who won millions by card counting at Las Vegas (the book was later adapted into the 2008 drama-thriller 21). The Accidental Billionaires tells the tale of Zuckerberg’s alleged stealing of the idea for “The Facebook,” and details the subsequent controversy and legal whirlpool that ensued as it grew larger and larger. The site now has over 500 million users keeping in touch with their friends, sharing their crazy party photos, and keeping tabs on their exes. But as the catchphrase on the film’s promotional poster says… “You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.”
The Social Network should be an engaging look at how Zuckerberg apparently cheated his way to becoming the world’s youngest billionaire, and how Facebook began as a small “hot or not” site for audiences to judge the attractiveness of female Harvard students and later became a worldwide social revolution in just a few years. Other big names attached to the project are co-producer Kevin Spacey and actors Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones, and Jesse Eisenberg as the lead role.
(images courtesy of Wikipedia.org and Amazon.com)
Are you going to see the Facebook movie? Which films are you most looking forward to seeing this fall?
Alex is a smile.ly Community Manager. He is not friends with Mark Zuckerberg in real life or on Facebook. He enjoys long walks on the dinner and candlelit beaches.
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