The Social Network (Fincher, 2010)
Apologies if this entry seems a bit brief.
I’ve been recording tonight’s At the Movies for RNZ this morning and now find myself in a part of the Wellington CBD that has poor shithouse cellphone coverage.
Add to that, all my selections for an “on this day” post turn out not to be available on a New Zealand streaming service.
As we all know by now, it’s almost impossible to find something specific but if you can put up with generic true crime documentaries based on podcasts, they’re coming out our ears.
Finally found something that would load and that I have an opinion about!
With a new David Fincher (quietly) in cinemas this seems like an appropriate film to call out.
Turns out I was lukewarm at the time (but wrong, it ended up in my best of the year lineup for 2010):
Torn from the blogs (and a best-selling book by Ben Mezrich), The Social Network is the heavily mythologised story of the invention of Facebook and the legal tussles over the plentiful spoils. Sorkin is in his element, here: He doesn’t write action or gun-battles, he writes smart, literate people arguing over ideas and it’s an unending pleasure.
It really helps that his script is supported by able direction from David “Fight Club” Fincher who propels the story forward at blistering pace. Hugely entertaining, but with less insight into the modern world of virtual communities and social media than one might have hoped. Perhaps that film is still to come from somewhere.
Where to find The Social Network
Aotearoa: Streaming on Prime Video
Australia: Streaming on Foxtel, Stan and Paramount+
UK: Digital rental
US: Streaming on Paramount+
