The Social Network is the supposed warts-and-all story of precocious college dropout Mark Zuckerberg; the man who created the world's most prominent social media platform Facebook from the comfort of his own room. With fictional elements thrown in here and there, director David Fincher recruits Jesse Eisenberg to play the offbeat innovator whose site snowballed at a staggering rate to earn him billions whilst he was still in his twenties. Andrew Garfield plays his friend Eduardo, and Justin Timberlake has a nice role as the eccentric Sean Parker - the inventor of Napster (remember that?) and the self-proclaimed party king of computer programming world. The Social Network portrays how Zuckerberg's creation went from a college fad to a global phenomenon, demonstrating how the fight for Facebook's rights were dragged through the courts along the way. What's Dark About It? Whilst not being dark in a sinister sense, The Social Network does reflect how greed, betrayal, and mistrust have the ability to consume people when large amounts of cash are on the table. Mark Zuckerberg isn't portrayed in the kindest light either, with him coming across as intellectually arrogant and increasingly egocentric as his invention gathers momentum. Is It Any Good? Critically acclaimed, and it's easy to see why. The Social Network, for all intents and purposes, should be a strictly esoteric film, but David Fincher's slick direction makes sure that's it's anything but. Riveting from start to finish, the movie delves into the ironic cynicism and nastiness that existed behind a gregarious creation that aimed to promote connection between people. Stuffed with fine performances and some wonderful dialogue, it remains one of the best films based around contemporary technology ever made. Which other movies have looked at the internet's dark side? And were they any good?
