The Social Network

I've been a bit slow to put something up on this one having seen it last week. It's the story of Mark Zuckerberg who became the youngest billionaire on the planet by striking lucky with Facebook. But was it all his idea and who got burnt in the process?

Now admittedly in it's purest form the story may not seem that interesting to many (I find this kind of thing fascinating) and the way the film unfolds is potentially alienating as it skips between three different strands; two lawsuits and the past events involved. But I thought there was life enough in the film to make it a fine watch.

Jesse Eisenberg's Zuckerberg is something of an enigma. It's hard to really warm to the character but a combination of wry wit and the fact he often seems to be something of a rabbit in headlights keeps you on his side. Just about. It's a strong performance and astute writing (from Aaron "West Wing" Sorkin) that pulls of the balancing act of the character.

But it's Andrew Garfield's role as co-founder Eduardo Saverin that more often than not you're sympathising with as he remains the level headed one just trying to keep control in the escalating phenomenon around him. There is also a stand out turn by Armie Hammer as the twin brothers who argue the site was their idea.

Justin Timberlake also continues to build himself a respectable acting career in his turn as Sean "Napster" Parker coming across as something approaching Tyler Durden for the IT crowd.

Away from that the film is of course as technically excellent as all of Fincher's work. Smart mise en scene and editing means we never lose track of where we are as the film jumps between the two lawsuits and the evolving story of the site's creation.

Added to this is an excellent sound design (note the slyly changing volume levels during the house party) with an off kilter soundtrack provided by Trent Reznor of 'Nine Inch Nails' fame that keeps the film always seeming slightly out of control as were the real life events.

And you would never guess that the Winklevoss brothers are one actor.

Good old Roger Ebert sums up it well when says ""David Fincher's film has the rare quality of being not only as smart as its brilliant hero, but in the same way. It is cocksure, impatient, cold, exciting and instinctively perceptive"