The Social Network on DVD now

Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich The Social Network documents the development and rise of Facebook. The film centers on Mark Zuckerberg an extremely talented Harvard student who by a series of events decides to launch Facebook at college. Facebook spreads like wildfire and soon expands over the world to become the phenomenon that it is today, making Zuckerberg the world’s youngest millionaire as well as bringing out his enemies.

A potentially unusual choice of subject matter for a film, an awkward socially isolated geeky genius creating a computer database admittedly one that changes the way the world now communicates but The Social Network is an interesting, informative film which deals with genius, jealousy and power in a very modern context. Eisenberg is great as the rather unlike able driven Zuckerberg who is a socially distant student and therefore more easily able to detach himself from his only friend Eduardo played by the next Spiderman Andrew Garfield. Even Timberlake is good as the napster inventor Parker – I was pleasantly surprised by his acting.

This film succeeds largely because of the amazing script which would manage to hold your interest even if you dont partake in social networking. It’s a modern tale of power and betrayal admittedly with its central character a billionaire who doesn’t even seem to change his clothes!

Well work a watch.

Director: David Fincher
Cast:

Jessie Eisenberg – Mark Zuckerberg
Andrew Garfield – Eduardo Saverin
Justin Timberlake – Sean Parker

Catfish on DVD now

Catfish is a documentary about Nev Schulman as captured by his brother, Ariel and their friend Henry Joost. What begins as a small interesting project soon becomes something much more intriguing. Catfish documents Nev as he begins an online relationship with Megan, a relationship where it soon becomes apparent that Megan is not all that she seems.

Nev’s a normal young guy and Megan seems to be and ideal match for him, he links with her and her family and friends through facebook. It’s a really well paced documentary in which you are as the viewer drawn into a facebook mystery of Nev’s relationship with Megan as he piece by piece puts together the evidence with his brother and friend that facebook sometimes lies.

What then follows although not all together surprising but it is quite scary especially the level to which the deception goes. Nev and friends expose the truth but you are left thinking how often does this happen in the virtual world to maybe more vulnerable people. Another remarkable element of this documentary is that you don’t hate the protagonist you are left feeling quite sympathetic to their situation despite the months of deception you know Nev has been exposed to.

Very telling for our times – in that respect it’s a must see.

Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman 

Cast:
Ariel Schulman           Himself (as Rel Schulman)
Yaniv Schulman          Himself (as Nev Schulman)
Angela Wesselman   Herself