Fictionalized but still fascinating portrait of a 21st-century phenomenon

Rating: 8/10 (28 September 2014)

Seems typical of our new century that a product whose original selling point was "exclusivity" is now being consumed by over a billion people. For once, Aaron Sorkin's turned out a script where the characters aren't a whole lot smarter and quicker and funnier than any group of people could possibly be (cf. The West Wing, The Newsroom). His portrait of Mark Zuckerberg as a geeky outsider who can't relate to women may not have much to do with the real MZ— ex- captain of the Exeter fencing team who's been in a stable relationship since his sophomore year in college—but Jesse Eisenberg does a great job reimagining him as a remote, high-functioning sociopath who keeps his eyes on the prize at all times. Justin Timberlake does even better as Sean Parker, the Napster bad boy, who made sure that the Facebook stayed cool and didn't sell too many ads for the Harvard bartending course. Haven't seen 'em all, but this one seems like Fincher's best since Fight Club. And not to worry too much about Eduardo and the Winklevii (pitch-perfect performances, btw)—looks like they all managed to land on their feet somehow...