1. The Social Network (2010)
Not only the best film that David Fincher has ever made, but also one of the most important films of our new century, The Social Network is a movie that shows us how we live now, today, in the digital age. It is a film for our time, and a film that will define these years. Ive
already written about how several aspects of the film can be compared to Fight Club, especially in terms of new definitions of masculinity, but the film that The Social Network really reminds me of is The Godfather. Here we see an outsider, Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), drawn into an organization where he slowly seizes control, and then maintains it by any and all means necessary. Bridges are burned, ties are cut. Lifelong friends and temporary mentors are cast by the wayside. This is a film about a man claiming his American dream, his empire, and doing it without remorse. The Social Network is many different things, but above all it is a tragedy. We see people sitting in the same room as one another and not connecting, and yet, they battle over an invisible, untouchable space where people can connect and interact with one another. We see life moving from a material world into a digital one, where coding skills and friend counts are just as impressive than sports stats or family reputation. We see a level playing field for those who are left out by traditional terms of success, and yet, we see that someone had to level that field (and all others) so that this new reality could become a possibility. But of course, all of this is, to a degree, a fiction. We do not live on the internet, no matter how hard we try. And the most powerful, digitally connected and wealthy men can still be the loneliest in the end. The Social Network is a beautifully controlled film, directed perfectly in every step. This is Finchers towering achievement (so far), and regardless of where the rest of his career takes him, this film will stand forever as a reminder of the power and grace he brought to the screen when taking up residence in the directors chair.
As always, feel free to comment with your favorite Fincher films, revisions of my list, or any other thoughts on a great director and his work.