Genius is Double-Edged

Rating: 7/10 (16 January 2013)

This film attempts to serve multiple purposes. It tells the story of the founding of Facebook, employing flashbacks within the context of subsequent lawsuits. It's a character study of a peculiar boy-genius and his associates, and it offers a sociological depiction of elite universities. Finally, it includes implicit commentary on the mindset of the "Digital Generation." Aaron Sorkin can write well. Some may say that real people don't talk with the rhythm and glibness of "Sorkinesque" characters. In his defense, his goal is to entertain first and foremost. However, it's not unrealistic to attribute great lines of dialogue in clever streams of consciousness, to brilliant youth.
This movie employs many memorable lines, and makes us wish we could be half as witty in our daily interactions. There has been some criticism that some of the main characters exhibit an eerie coldness. I had no problem with that, given the fact that the ex-girlfriend, and the best friend, both show signs of warm humanity.
While Jesse Eisenberg is no stranger to roles as the socially dysfunctional nerd, this role required a darker edge, and he pulled it off to perfection. Particularly "driven" people are more likely to achieve their dreams than the rest of us, and Eisenberg skillfully portray's Zuckerberg's driven nature. Congratulations also to the Director for his role in bringing that out in him.
I particularly enjoyed the shots where the main character is trotting across campus with focused purpose. You actually hear the pitter-patter of his tiny footsteps to imply his drive.
Don't overlook the power of loneliness to scale mountains or level buildings. Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber of 1995, was a deeply frustrated individual. Much of that came from his awkwardness with women, and his inability to get a girlfriend.
Apparently girls were at the root of Zuckerberg's drive. His ex referred to his project as a "video game," while rejecting him. He immediately steps up his effort to expand, presumably to show off for her.
At one point the Zuckerberg character remarks to his associates that meeting someone of the opposite sex is the motivating factor behind many or most of our decisions in college.
His best friend gets positive recognition from an elite campus social club, and begins a relationship with an Asian girlfriend. Eisenberg does a wonderful job of portraying his character's brooding jealousy.
There is no "action," per say in this film, but it moves quickly. We do not see any back story involving the childhood of the characters. The father of twin students appears once, and the best friend refers to his dad once or twice, so it is not entirely one of those movies about kids that seemingly exist without parents. There is no reference to Zuckerberg's family.
We do get a decent shot of San Francisco and feel the contrast between the East and West Coast settings, with the use of a swimming pool and a few shots of a suburban street. There is no actual sex, but we do see a couple of implied sexual encounters.
What started as an arguably shallow social enterprise, evolved into a vehicle for families and friends to stay in touch, aritsts to promote their projects, businesses to share their latest concepts, and thinkers to discuss their ideas.
Facebook itself can be used for good, for evil, for vacuous mediocrity, and for profane narcissism. Zuckerberg has the free will to use his genius for whatever legal means he wishes, and we have the free will to use Facebook for whatever legal means we wish.
I recommend this film for anyone who enjoys quick, clever dialogue, likes technology, or identifies with underdogs.