The Social Network
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Despite the fact that 500 million people use Facebook every day, surprisingly little is known about founder Mark Zuckerberg. With The Social Network, director David Fincher changes all that. Well written, expertly shot and beautifully acted, The Social Network is a riveting look at the rise of the world’s youngest billionaire.
We meet Zuckerberg (Eisenberg) at Harvard University where, with help from friend Eduardo Saverin (Garfield), he creates a website where students can rate the attractiveness of female undergraduates. The success of the site leads Zuckerberg to create Facebook. No sooner is it up and running than a trio of fellow students accuse him of stealing their idea.
When Napster co-founder Sean Parker (Timberlake) starts sniffing around, it stretches the friendship between Zuckerberg and Saverin beyond breaking point and lawyers have to sort out the mess.
The Social Network is a thought-provoking study of social alienation, ambition and betrayal that, coupled with a thumping Trent Reznor soundtrack, makes for a hugely satisfying experience.
4/5
Good for: Young entrepreneurs.
Watch The Social Network trailer here.
Review: Pierre de Villiers
