[Part 2 of the TSN/Zuckerberg/Wiklevoss Twins/Stahl/President Grant series. Part 1 is on 12/12/10]
The Social Network movie poster - Best Movie of 2010
2010 isn’t over yet, but I’m already claiming The Social Network as the best film of the year. I loved this movie! Besides the brilliant acting and script (including the requisite rapid-fire dialogue by Aaron Sorkin), there is no more compelling character than Mark Zuckerberg.
I have not seen the movie 127 Hours where the main character cuts of his arm–literally. Zuckerberg cuts of people’s balls–figuratively.
I’m sure many viewers of this movie perceive Zuck as the hero. But for me he is the anti-hero, the villain you LOVE to hate. Oh boy, was the Zuck character asshole-ish—as in self-serving and amoral. And totally enjoyable to watch.
The first part of the movie takes place at Harvard University. The second part takes place in Palo Alto, CA, where the FaceBook staff relocated.
A little background info: I went to Harvard (for one semester) and was thrilled to be part of that environment every single day.
During the first class, the teacher gave us a brief but mandated speech about the rules at Harvard. The topic was the school’s motto: Veritas, which is Latin for truth. The gist of the speech was: “Be honest.”
Previously to attending Harvard, I had taken a few classes at Stanford University (in Palo Alto, CA for the geographically challenged). On the first day of class the teachers also gave a brief but mandated speech to the students. The topic: sexual harassment. (I think we also were given a brochure about it.)
I remember thinking on my first day of school at Harvard that it valued TRUTH and Stanford valued not getting its ass sued with a sexual harassment claim.
And speaking of lawsuits…
While at Harvard, I lived in Kirkland House. According to The Social Network, so did Zuckerberg. I lived on the second floor in Room 42. Because of that, I think I have a legitimate claim to FaceBook—move over Winklevoss Twins and wood pellet salesman from NY!
It is quite possible that I left behind remnants of my DNA in Kirkland House, which could easily have contaminated Zuck’s DNA, giving him the creativity and writing ability (I write words, he writes code–close enough) to have produced FaceBook. Whaddaya think?
Let’s see, the Winklevii sued and received $65 million for their idea. I think a genetic material contribution is worth at least $1 million. OR a pair of Louboutins. Where’s my lawyer? I want my shoes!
(That “truth” part will be significant later… And another possible blog: what the previous resident of Room 42 left behind that I found…)
OK, back to the movie. Jesse Eisenberg as Zuck is superb in capturing the essence of a driven, brazen, take-no-prisoners—yet wanting—genius adolescent. Likewise, Andrew Garfield as the screwed-over best friend is equally superb.
Also terrific are Justin Timberlake as the so-slimy it oozes off the screen Sean Parker; Rooney Mara as the ex-girlfriend; Armie Hammer as BOTH Winklevii; Max Minghella as the snookered Harvard upper-classman; Douglas Urbanski as Larry Summers, the noodle-head President of Harvard University; and the two opposing lawyers played by John Getz and David Selby.
One of my favorite scenes: Zuck and his CFO best friend attend a business meeting with a corporate exec to secure ad revenue to fund FaceBook’s expansion. As the friend and businessman talk, Zuck slumps in his chair, full of petulance and boredom, making a weird clucking sound. The businessman (played by Aaron Sorkin) interrupts him to ask what sound he is making. Really funny.
Besides being a never-a-dull-moment entertaining movie, The Social Network is also an important movie—as it shines a light on America today. It is so darn relevant and so darn telling. It tells me that we (as in American society) are headed in the wrong direction.
I’ll expand on that observation in Part 4, where I compare Zuck to a previous American hero, President Ulysses S. Grant. But next up, Part 3 is about the retarded interview Lesley Stahl conducted with Zuck on 60 Minutes.
Stay tuned…
Kirkland House at Harvard University - Home to some very smart students (and a grateful one from CA)
My housing assignment:
I've carried this form in my wallet for 15 years!
