Why Movies Are Better Than Real Life - Casting The Social Network

Nathan here.

Having recently viewed The Social Network (David Fincher, 2010), I can safely say that it certainly lived up to its gargantuan hype and overwhelming critical approval. One thing that struck me most about the film was its casting; the whole ensemble sparring off of each other nicely and delivering Aaron Sorkin's (oftentimes verbose) dialogue with precision. I was convinced Harvard was all Ralph Lauren and acapella choirs, but I had little idea how much like Hogwarts it was, only with more halogen lighting and rowboats instead of broomsticks. Thanks David Fincher!

Also - one especially magnificent detail was costume designer Jacqueline West's decision to have Mark Zuckerberg complete his robe-and-pyjama attire with a pair of Y-3 Yohji Yamamoto sandals. Kudos to the details!

However this post is not meant as a proper review; a considered one should follow in the next few days. What I wanted to highlight in this post is how the casting of the ensemble seemed to elevate the material through a collective handsomeness. Yes, we may be viewing unlikeable characters doing despicable things, like betraying and talking condescendingly to each other; and yes, a lot of the film is centered around unengaging activities such as computer programming, spamming, blogging (I do mine usually without pants) and going to university lectures. For example, one scene showing computer programmers hacking off against each other (?) has them doing so with shots of alcohol and a chorus of fellow excited computer geeks around them, and the incongruity of the two activities seemed absolutely convincing to me, as if it were so sad it must be true. This isn't like Swordfish (Dominic Sena, 2001), which had that ridiculous scene of trying to make computer hacking thrilling(!) and sexy(!) by having Hugh Jackman's character receive a blow job while simultaneously stealing the president's phone number? I think Swordfish was the name of a computer virus, maybe a bank account. What a stupid title for a movie that isn't about food or animals or directed by an Iranian. I don't remember that movie at all actually, but I do recall the ludicrousness of that particular scene. Woof!

Anyway, I digress. The original point I was trying to get to is that the hypnotic casting of chins and cheekbones, and in the case of Andrew Garfield, eyebrows, combines with the talent of the actors and the script and the pacing to make for an engaging film, contrary to the banalities of the subject matter and the relatively obtuse characterisations which are ultimately drawn.

Left: Mark Zucker-BLERGH amirite?

Right: Jesse EisenBABE (I don't think I'm doing this right)

 Left: Eduardo Saverin? More like Ed-LARD-o.

Right: Andrew (An-DROOL) Garfield

Left: Cameron (?) Winklevoss. Or the other one. WHO CARES right?

Right: Armie Hammer (ME)

Left: Sean Parker (Ugly-balding-baby-head who looks like Jerry Bruckheimer's abortion)

Right: Justin Timberlake. More like Limber-Take (?)

But seriously though, even the relative stunt casting of Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker is totally apposite to the way the character invigorates the narrative of the film. He is portrayed as a slimy, charismatic rock-star type, and no doubt the audience's awareness of Justin Timberlake's pop persona outside of the context of the film communicates everything we need to know about the Sean Parker character in a convenient shorthand. It's actually difficult to imagine a perhaps more capable character actor of the same age group managing such a feat with the role based on performance and characterisation alone.

So congratulations to Laray Mayfield and your casting prowess, for transcending the original material you were given with and helping to shape a film we can all appreciate at least on face value alone. And by 'material you were given' of course I mean the real-life mugs of the Generation Y-ers the film is based on. Not to self, billionaires - lay off the pork belly confit with scallop reduction, swordfish steaks, foie gras pies and 80 year-old scotch! It's making you look puffy around the face.

Also the real Mark Zuckerberg looks like a Street Shark.  The brown Whale shark one, Big Slammu.