There’s an unwritten rule that says that ex-pop video directors make poor movie directors. For every Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich,Where The Wild Things Are), there’s a McG (Charlies Angels 1 &2). David Fincher had a difficult start in movies: hired after his work with Madonna to make Alien 3, he suffered from “too many cooks” syndrome-producers stood over his shoulder as he tried to follow in the footsteps of James Cameron. After the critical panning the movie took, Fincher exiled himself, until the script for Seven gave him the opportunity to prove his mettle. A majestic film, he has since produced unique movies in style-Panic Room, The Game and especially Fight Club. His masterpiece is Zodiac, sadly not seen by the audience it deserves.

The Social Network comes as a marriage made in heaven: Fincher’s style coupled with the writing of  The West Wing’s Aaron Sorkin.  It tells the story of how Facebook made its creators very rich, but also how it disintegrated their friendship along the way.  Its a film very much unafraid to use acting and dialogue to power it: there’s no sudden bursts of action to liven things up, it knows its audience and isn’t afraid to pander to them.  It is a film to match the likes of All The President’s Men (1976), and more recently The Insider (1999).  All the main cast are excellent, Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield as the co-founders of Facebook have big futures ahead of them. The surprise package is Justin Timberlake as the thorn that comes between them, suggesting that  he will have two very successful careers should he pick the right scripts.

Its safe to say that when awards season comes around in early 2011, The Social Network will be a conender for all the major gongs. Dont miss it.

By Steve on October 23, 2010