[Kinda Review] The Social Network

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 12:24 pm

The Social Network keeps the streak alive.

What streak is that? The Fincher streak. Many have heard me talk about this, so if this is a repeat, forgive:

David Fincher, one of my favorite directors, has an amazing streak going, where his movies alternate, unblinkingly, between greatness and mediocrity. It's amazing! Let's go back through history and relive the STREAK:

Alien 3 (**) - The worst of the Alien movies, and an inauspicious beginning for the young Fincher. He has even gone so far as to disown it himself, so it feels like it might possibly not have been all his fault.

Se7en (****) - KaBAM! Fincher blows the world away with a movie that has had every film fan asking this question for over fifteen years now: What's in the booooox?

The Game (**1/2) - I haven't seen this in a while, but I remember it being a fun little piece of fluff, while not terribly noteworthy. Some, however, felt it was the worst movie of all time!

Fight Club (*****) - In my top five movies of all time, and one of the greatest works of 20th century American art. As fresh and mindblowing as it was in 1999.

Panic Room (***) - Certainly not bad, and I enjoy movies that try to keep things in a very limited space, but would anyone dare call this movie a great movie? Except for when Jodie Foster yells "FUCK!"?

Zodiac (****1/2) - ALSO one of the greatest movies of all time, and the first time Fincher was able to make greatness without constantly dicking with camera tricks and stuff. A long, long movie, that goes by in a blink.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (**1/2) - Interestingly, his first movie to gain widespread critical acclaim, even getting a Academy Best Picture nomination, is his most boring, least-rewatchable effort to date. This ALSO is a long movie, but unlike Zodiac, it feels every bit of its length. That's what she said.

Which brings us to:

The Social Network (****) - I sighed with everyone else back in 2008 when we learned his next movie would be "about Facebook". THINGS I DO NOT CARE ABOUT: 1) Facebook, 2) movies about Facebook.

But as Zodiac showed that Fincher can make a movie about what sounds like a dull topic (hunting the same killer for 20 years with no resolution) positively spellbinding, here he shows it was no fluke, as we have yet another spellbinding movie about a bunch of nerds sitting in rooms either programming, talking about programming, or talking to lawyers. The entire movie is comprised of people sitting in rooms and talking. The dialogue-heavy aspect is no surprise, given writer Aaron Sorkin's profuse writing style. And it's about a website.

And somehow, even with his most visually restrained (I counted only one real noticeable camera trick, though it is a cute one) movie to date, Fincher has made this the most entertaining, exhilirating movie I've seen in quite a while.

And if Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Facebook founder and sperging dickhole Mark Zuckerberg, doesn't win Best Actor, I will punch Finsternis in the face. His portrayal, along with the snap-tastic writing, slick direction, and epic soundtrack by Trent Reznor, make this two hours of hardcore, high quality, adult-style entertainment.

Facebook still sucks.

But the STREAK IS ALIVE!

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:33 am

Fincher, fucker · Post by **Fincher, fucker** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:47 pm

If you look in your soul you'll see that you're wrong about The Game. Here's the thing about The Game: you have to buy the conceit, otherwise why bother watching it. You also have to forgive it the fact that it cheats, even having agreed upon the kind of movie and story it's going to be. But that said, the thing is polished to within an inch of its life. Fuck every other director who doesn't put that kind of care into his or her movies.

Ditto Panic Room, and for the same reason.

There. The more you know.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 9:17 pm

Also, The Game's soundtrack isn't by Trent Reznor. Hi I'm on the Internet, my "opinions" are "facts."

Ditto Panic Room, and for the same reason.

It's alllll sooo ironic and amusing!

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 9:36 am

Fincher, fucker wrote:If you look in your soul you'll see that you're wrong about The Game. Here's the thing about The Game: you have to buy the conceit, otherwise why bother watching it. You also have to forgive it the fact that it cheats, even having agreed upon the kind of movie and story it's going to be. But that said, the thing is polished to within an inch of its life. Fuck every other director who doesn't put that kind of care into his or her movies.

Ditto Panic Room, and for the same reason.

There. The more you know.

Dear Fincher Fucker: I'm wrong about the Game because, I didn't give it four stars? Or didn't count it among his elite movies? Do you count it among his elite movies?

I mean, I'll watch it again, and of course it was very polished -- Alien 3 was very polished.

Fincher, fucker · Post by **Fincher, fucker** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:58 pm

Well now I feel bad because I don't think I actually really read what you wrote.

So I guess I'll just say that The Game is at least worth ***, not ** 1/2.

I am so sorry about everything.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 7:27 am

It is OK, FF! We can still be friends! All of us!!

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 11:01 am

It's now on DVD, so I bought it and watched it again. It's a fucking flawless movie, and I demand everyone watch it, and I am pleased that it has won, and will win, every award worth winning.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:01 pm

Will I like this movie more than, 'There Will Be Blood on my Rounders'?

THE
TWO FOR TWO
AARDVARK

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:14 pm

I don't know, you never gave your opinion of those other movies.

But anyone who doesn't think TSN is extremely awesome is a CRAZY PERSON.

Crazy person.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 9:30 pm

I don't want to watch a movie about Facebook with music from Trent Reznor.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:06 am

I know you don't. It's so goddamn good, though. Well, okay, I guess you're not going to see it.

It's so goddamn good, though.

SO GODDAMN GOOD.

Tdarcos · Post by **Tdarcos** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:13 pm

pinback wrote:BUMP

Ben, is this some sort of obscure reference to TVTROPES.ORG?

PS: Have you ever looked at TVTropes? Fascinating, because they point out so many of the design patterns and plots of literature and media. Some I hadn't even thought of. I notice a lot more about how shows work thanks to TVTropes.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:47 pm

pinback wrote:I know you don't. It's so goddamn good, though. Well, okay, I guess you're not going to see it.

It's so goddamn good, though.

SO GODDAMN GOOD.

Okay, I'll watch it.

ICJ · Post by **ICJ** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:22 am

I started to watch it. I got an hour into it. I turned it off.

I would like to watch the entire thing with my gal.

Yes it's very good. Spellbinding. Aside from being a reprehensible asshole, not even kidding, to every fucking friend of mine that comes here, you are right about this film.

(Ok the permission bit scene was stock. But that's a tiny pimple on a flawless model.)

(I was delighted that I followed along with all the technical jargon! I learned enough Unix in the last year to get everything at the start and I already knew the parts in the class, having taken digital computer management twice, and by working at AMD.)

It took all my willpower to turn it off. I just really want to use my new tv for something.

Tdarcos · Post by **Tdarcos** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:00 pm

pinback wrote:Fight Club (*****) - In my top five movies of all time, and one of the greatest works of 20th century American art. As fresh and mindblowing as it was in 1999.

Ben, the first rule of Fight Club is "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." Wait, that's The Bible. Or is it The Godfather? Ah well, The Bible, The Godfather, who cares what work of fiction it's from?

pinback wrote:Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Facebook founder and sperging dickhole Mark Zuckerberg... make this two hours of hardcore, high quality, adult-style entertainment.

I didn't know The Social Network was a porn flick!

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:10 pm

Tdarcos wrote:
pinback wrote:Fight Club (*****) - In my top five movies of all time, and one of the greatest works of 20th century American art. As fresh and mindblowing as it was in 1999.
Ben, the first rule of Fight Club is "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." Wait, that's The Bible. Or is it The Godfather? Ah well, The Bible, The Godfather, who cares what work of fiction it's from?
pinback wrote:Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Facebook founder and sperging dickhole Mark Zuckerberg... make this two hours of hardcore, high quality, adult-style entertainment.
I didn't know The Social Network was a porn flick!

NOTHING YOU SAY IS FUNNY. Do you know that? Are you aware of that? Do you understand that things you have said in this post that I'm quoting are essentially the opposite of what humor is?

I really want you to tell me that you know and understand this.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:22 pm

Oh yeah, by the way, Dragon Tattoo kept the streak alive. Three stars, tops.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:26 pm

Nooooooo I had high hopes for it! Didn't Rooney Mara get that tattoo on her body in real life? Can't that be worth two stars?

[Kinda Review] The Social Network

[Kinda Review] The Social Network

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