Not your average, run-of-the-mill biography, that's for damn sure. First, I couldn't believe the amount of creativity that went into emulating the birth of Facebook and the simultaneous (somewhat) intimate relationship roller coasters. But, of course, I wasn't expecting anything less from director David Fincher either.
Mark Zuckerberg is definitely not a common character, especially one commonly pulled off by actors. This is why God invented Jesse Eisenberg. If Jesse's portrayal of Mark was any more believable you'd think Jesse really was a total asshole compared to his typecast soft-yet-brave roles. Mark is introduced as a fast-talking Harvard student with a dangerous anger and way of speaking that makes you think he enjoys talking to himself more than others. He is smart because he is both inside and outside every situation. He is fascinating to watch because of his unpredictability, and likable because he makes mistakes just like everyone else. My favorite line of his: "I can't stand here staring at that loop of Niagra Falls, which has nothing to do with the Caribbean."
His best and only friend, Eduardo Saverin, played with fragility by the British Andrew Garfield, is sweet, sensitive, and caring. Also smart, has his own funding from oil futures, and is never not in a button-down silk shirt. My favorite line of his?: "You better lawyer-up, asshole, because this time, I'm coming back for everything." Ahh, revenge.
Sean Parker, acted by Justin Timberlake, is somewhat of a lost cause on the inside. Paranoid, desperate for emotional connection lasting more than two hours, and devilishly likable, Sean weasels his way into the Mark-Eduardo relationship better than James Bond ever could. Having founded Napster at 19, he has his own history, and Mark can't help but be drawn to his consistent coolness. But Eduardo can see right through those tight blonde curls of his. Favorite line: "Amy, come quick! There's a snake in here! Okay, there's not a snake, but I have a question."
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. The Abercrombie & Fitch twins. Only better. Who knew someone as mathematically good looking as Armie Hammer could pull of such a complex role--times 2? Armie plays both Harvard students with body doubling by a real A&F model, Josh Pence. The brothers are rowing machines and always have their wits about them, never acting too quickly without thinking long and hard about the consequences. They're the ones who claim Mark stole their idea for Facebook and take him to court. Favorite line from Tyler: "I'm 6'5", 220 [lbs] and there's two of me." Cameron: "Oops, broke your 335 year-old doorknob."
Moving on to the man behind it all: David Fincher, who has a reputation for pewter tints in all his grim movies. This is the first one I've seen with a rather smooth, warm palette, it's almost fantastical. This review would not be complete without the mention of the rowing scene when the Winklevoss twins race and lose by less than a second (not really a spoiler). Why is this pivotal? The fucking camera lens has such a shallow depth of field, causing everything to look ridiculously 2D, you'd swear you were staring at a painting and not actual people. With the sharp-blurred focus, it's perhaps the trippiest scene in the entire movie. And no Fincher movie is complete without at least one scene giving off a that's-not-normal feel.
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