It shouldn't work.... but it does.

Rating: 8/10 (14 April 2012)

This is the kind of movie that shouldn't work on a number of levels. First the obvious of when word about first got out people were all "a movie about facebook? perish the thought!" and the story itself is basically the plight of privileged douchebags. You've got the head douchebag, Mark Zuckerberg, who in theory would be the protagonist because he well, invented Facebook and everything but given the story he's kind of the protagonist and antagonist rolled into one. Everything knows a guy like him: he's incredibly brilliant and gifted, but the problem is he knows it. All too well. If he had a theme song, it would be "intellectually gifted and I know it." He goes through the entire movie fueled by and in love with his ambition that he is almost a completely unlikable character (when he gets busted towards the beginning of the movie, he suggests the university should thank him for finding holes in their system). Next you've got Sean Parker, not as privileged but still plenty douchey. His thing is that because he has had some success he has confidence in himself much like Zuckerberg does and sees the opportunity to help mold Zuckerberg into a bigshot and ride his coattails in the process. Then you've got the Winklevoss twins, the tall and tan douchebags. Zuckerberg accurately (like I said, the man in brilliant, it's no accident he is where he is) states that the Winklevoss twins are suing him because they didn't get their way for once. Admittedly, the Winklevoss twins only sued Zuckerberg because of the bruise to their fragile egos and the fact that Zuckerberg made it possible for people to watch them lose a race on another continent. Lastly, you've got Eduardo, more privileged than some (he funds everything for the first half of the movie) but the least douchey in the bunch. In fact, he is the most endearing, earnest, and likable character in the movie. Like most college students, he's trying to join an exclusive club but agrees to help Mark because he's his best friend. Eduardo has the most conscience and is always the one to step in when he thinks Mark is crossing a line he shouldn't be crossing, but Eduardo is a loyal sonofabitch to a fault. Loyal until Mark doesn't reciprocate and at Sean's urging, screws his pal over. Eduardo is the one character who you feel sorry for and want to root for.
As you can see, there are so many things in this movie that should make it not work. But... it does. Beautifully. What it comes down to is that this movie is wonderfully written and superbly acted. Aaron Sorkin was at his element here because the dialogue moves along so quickly and effortlessly and the story is fun to follow and watch. Next, every actor does a phenomenal job with their part. Jesse Eisenberg, before this movie was cruising down the Michael Cera highway, playing a string of awkward, likable underdogs, but a lot less annoying than Cera. He truly shines as the pro/antagonist Zuckerberg, making it so he is a complete jerk, but an interesting fella, to boot. As Eisenberg said in an interview, it's liberating to play a jerk because you don't have to worry about offending anybody...because that's all your character does. Next up to bat is Justin Timberlake. I really don't know why people hate on Justin Timberlake, I mean, is it simply boy-band backlash? Guys, the world needs boy bands, too. More to the point, Justin Timberlake is legitimately a good actor, and perfect for the smirky, smarmy careless trainwreck that is Sean Parker. And then there's Andrew Garfield, aka Eduardo. While I had never heard of him before, he was a knockout as Eduardo and makes me look forward to see him as Spiderman. Lastly is Armie Hammer, who plays both Winklevoss twins. Another not very well known actor who is able to play both twins convincingly enough, you do believe they are two different people and are flummoxed when you look it up after and realize he played both. Especially because that means he had to row both sides of the boat. This movie, a story about privileged boys fighting, is actually a masterpiece. It is the kind of movie you watch so you can say you've seen it and look/feel smarter, but you'll actually enjoy watching it, too.