Awk-berg!

In case you missed it:

Such a great moment!  Also, I think I'm starting to develop a little crush on Mr. Eisenberg . . . 


Update:  Video down.  Go here.

Go See The Facebook Movie

So here's the great thing about reviewing a movie like The Social Network (which will henceforth be referred to as The Facebook Movie because that's what everyone is calling it anyway)- I really can't spoil anything for you.  We all know the story, because we're all using Facebook.  Well, except for me.  And we all know that Mark Zuckerberg is a billionaire and kinda comes across like a jerk.  Or at least a little pompous.  But can you blame him? He created Facebook.

The movie opens with Mark and his girlfriend Erica hanging out at a Boston pub.  Their date quickly moves from a conversation about Mark's obsession with gaining membership to a final club to a heated argument that is the result of Mark's offensive communication style. This scene sets up the movie perfectly because we learn five crucial things about Zuckerberg (or at least this version of Zuckerberg): he's ambitious, he's arrogant, he's insecure, he's a genius, and he sucks at relationships.   

From there the film moves at a spectacular pace.  You won't lose interest for a second, and the movie is surprisingly funny- there's a delightful Karate Kid reference as well as a humorous psychotic girlfriend.  

All of the actors do an amazing job.  While Jesse Eisenberg (who plays Zuckerberg) will most likely receive the most attention (he's already getting some Oscar buzz) I thought that Andrew Garfield (who plays Facebook CFO Eduardo Saverin) gave the most emotionally provocative performance.  I know some of you might have concerns about Timberlake playing the role of Napster creator Sean Parker, but he's perfect.  I would also like to add (for those of you who have yet to consider this) that it's poetically just for the most hated man in the music industry to be portrayed as a complete tool by a musician.  

Speaking of music, the soundtrack (thanks to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) is perfect.  It's mostly electronic, but somehow seamlessly transitions into poignant tones for the emotional stuff.  

Finally, the best thing about The Facebook Movie is that it attempts to provide us with an understanding of Mark Zuckerberg's motivation for creating Facebook, which as is turns out is something that all Facebook users can surely identify with. 


He wanted to be noticed.  

The Social Network

I am not on Facebook.  I get tired of explaining why I'm not on facebook, because it usually turns into an overly intense lecture on why it's not good for me.  It's sort of like an alcoholic explaining why they can't have a glass of wine.  No one really wants to hear it.

I was hanging out with Austin about six months ago and one of his buddies (who I had just met) asked if I was on Facebook.  I told him no and hoped we could leave it at that. My "no" was immediately followed by a very concerned "why not?" 

Austin knows I get tired of explaining why I'm not into it (or why I'm very into it and shouldn't use).  So he shook his head, pointedly looked at me and said, "you don't have to talk about it."  

As soon as these melodramatic words escaped his lips we looked at each other and had a mind melt.  A very good prank was in the making.  

Austin's friend looked confused.  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit a nerve."  

Me:  It's okay.  It's just . . . hard to talk about it.  And it comes up a lot.

Austin: You don't have to do this.  

Me:  I know but, now I feel like I'm intentionally being mysterious.  

Austin's friend:  Okay, now I'm really curious.  What's the deal?

Austin: Don't feel pressure, but he's cool.  He won't make a big thing out of it.  

Austin's friend: What? What is it?

Me:  Mark Zuckerberg is my ex-boyfriend.  

Austin tried very hard not to laugh as I slowly but surely convinced his friend that I attended Harvard, majored in English, and had a tumultuous relationship with the founder of Facebook.  I also convinced him that Facebook was "practically my idea" because Mark had zero friends and I had tons tons of friends with whom I wanted to share photos and comments.  With faked bitterness, I explained to my gullible new pal that one night in Mark's dorm room I asked if there was any way to do this over the Internet and the next day Facebook was launched.  

I even convinced him that I provided the inspiration for the term "it's complicated."  

Me:  During sophomore year we were on what I guess you would call "a break" but we were still seeing each with some regularity.  One night Mark joined me and some friends at a bar and someone asked us if we were still dating.  Unsure of what to say, I looked at Mark who gave me zero help, so I finally responded with, "it's complicated."  Apparently this angered Mark, who was still holding a torch, and he never let me hear the end of it.  He would constantly mock me in high pitched tones, "it's complicated! It's complicated!"  

Austin's friend:  What a psycho. 

Me:  Tell me about it.  

Austin's friend:  So is that why you are not on Facebook? Because you don't want to give him the satisfaction?

Me:  I wish.  No, I literally can't get on Facebook.  Facebook won't let me create an account.  I don't know how he does it but I'm blocked.  

Austin's friend: What a jerk.  

Me:  I know.  

We kept up this ruse for a few months, but decided that since "my relationship with Mark" would probably be left out of the The Social Network that we would have to come clean.  We toyed with the idea of going to see the movie with our trusting friend under the pretense that the studio informed me that "my relationship with Mark" would be portrayed.  When this didn't happen I was going to storm out of the theatre. Eventually we decided this would involve waaay too much time and effort for something that would yield only mildly entertaining results.


Kinda like Facebook.