Have you ever logged onto FACEBOOK? Wanna know how it all started?

Last year, around this time, I was carrying on about how AWESOME I thought ‘District 9‘ was.

Now I’m gonna tell you all about my feelings towards:

“The Social Network”: also see: thesocialnetwork-movie.com

Has anyone ever heard of FACEBOOK?

Have you ever wondered how this phenomenon began?

Well, look no further.

‘The Social Network‘ convincingly answers most of these questions.

Click on the name and you will see the trailer with an incredible version of Radiohead’s classic ‘Creep‘, done in a symphonic cool choir way by The Vega Choir.

The Plot: (in a nutshell)

On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history… but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications.

At first, he achieves the unspeakable, 22 000 hits within the first 2 hours.

Then… well I don’t want to ruin it for you…

This super geek is beyond any computer nerd you have ever seen portrayed on the big screen.

You don’t know whether to like or hate him.

The overall theme & antagonist of the film is a little word called: GREED.

The sad craving to ‘belong’ is evident from the word go.

Although the film is centered around the phenomenon of Facebook & Zuckerberg, it also focus’ on the greedy characters that try to wrangle themselves into his success.

The only person actually deserving the recognition is the one that doesn’t receive it, (at first that is), Eduardo Saverin.

If you want to find out what the co- founder, Eduardo Saverin has to say about the movie, check this out, its a CNBC article that is superb!

I’m convinced this film will receive the following nominations at next years Academy Awards:

Film, Director, Adapted screenplay, Supporting actor (Timberlake), Editing, Music score , Cinematography , Sound editing.

The Film:

Produced by: Kevin Spacey (Executive Producer), the UBER Michael de Luca (take a look at the classics this man has produced) and more.

The film has already grossed close $85 Million in the USA alone.

The estimated budget was $50 Million.

It’s reached #1 in many countries so far and just wait until it gets released on DVD.

The Directing:

Directed by the legend David Fincher (Se7en, The Game, Fight Club,Panic Room, Zodiac,The curious case of Benjamin Buttonas well as the American version of The girl with the dragon Tattoo, as well as many music videos & commercials).

An interesting fact is that the director actually disapproves of Facebook. He’s not even on it.

Fincher has received critical acclaim from virtually every reviewer in the entertainment world.

He moulds the film superbly and for the 1st time in his resume of intense films, he makes one that actually portrays humans as themselves.

The Screenplay:

Based on the novel: The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, Aaron Sorkin , whom I believe is probably one of the greatest writers of modern day cinema & television, has masterfully crafted a script that is merely flawless.

The dialogue doesn’t stop for a second.

At first, you might feel like Eisenberg is speaking a foreign/ alien language.

He portrays Zuckerberg so accurately that one can only imagine that’s the way he speaks.

The Performances:

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield (who is also going to be the next Spiderman) and Justin Timberlake, (whom I believe has an Oscar nomination CONFIRMED). Timberlake plays the snappy cocksure Sean Parker,  co creator of Napster. His performance is insane!

If you want to read a great review on the performances, check out: www.pulpmag.co.za

Big Kudos to the Casting Director!

The Pace, i.e. The Edit:

The pace doesn’t lag for a second.

The intercutting at first seems a bit confusing, but it all comes together quickly.

The Music Score:

The dark interesting sound track is created by none other than Mr Dark himself, Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Here’s a little present for you. 5 free tracks from the soundtrack.

The Cinematography:

The film was shot on an HD camera called the Red Mysterium: (check out this cool article from American Cinematographer).

Other Contenders for next years Oscars:

Don’t get me wrong, the film has tough competition this year, including:

(I might as well give you a sneek peak at my predictions)

Click on the film name and view the trailer.
Darren Aronofsky’s: Black Swan, starring:  My favorite: Natalie Portman

The Coen Brothers: remake of the John Wayne classic: True Grit, starring Academy Award Winner Jeff Bridges (another defs Oscar contender for the lead role here, as well as in ‘Tron Legacy‘), Academy Award Winner Matt Damon and Josh Brolin.
I feel that this film will also be nominated for at least 8 Awards. Click on the link and watch the trailer. Me, personally, I can’t get enough of it! Especially the tune they use in it…
David ‘O Russell‘s: The Fighter: Starring: Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, both HUGE Oscar contenders.

This years Toronto Film Festival Audience Award (previous Oscar winners/ Nominees: Tsotsi, Slumdog Millionaire, Hotel Rwanda): The Kings Speech, starring Colin Firth (another Oscar contender).

Ben Affleck‘s: The Town

Tron Legacy: Trailer 1, Trailer 2. Music by Daft Punk.

Christopher Nolan‘s: Inception

Don’t forget about Tim Burton‘s: Alice in Wonderland and Toy Story 3