The Social Network
In anticipation of The Social Reckoning, E and I revisited The Social Network this weekend. I had only seen it once before, but it’s lived rent free in my mind for 16 years, as its iconic, raging soundtrack, Sorkin’s ridiculously word-filled script and David Fincher’s expert hand created a borderline masterpiece for the time. All those things still hold true in 2026, but the luster has worn just a bit in 16 years, and perhaps that’s why Sorkin wanted to revisit the world he created. Some humanity was given to Sorkin’s Zuckerberg in The Social Network, and with hindsight of who we know Zuckerberg to be now, it’s hard to get that taste out of your mouth in a re-watch. Some of the, oh that’s so clever dialogue bits don’t land the same way. But, as purely a piece of art, it largely still works, and is still nearly a masterpiece.
-Z
This didn’t quite hold up to my memory of it, and I think it comes mostly down to the fact that it feels a bit overwritten without much breathing room - this style hasn’t completely held up. It’s also really interesting to think about how Zuckerberg's public image has changed since 2010 and how that also impacted my rewatch and view of his character here. But still, this is a great film with great performances, and the fact that it came out when it did should make it a historical document of its time.
-E
