Why I think ‘The Social Network’ should win best screenplay
I FINALLY got round to seeing ‘The Social Network’ last night. I was intrigued to see if the screenplay was a great as people claim it is….and I wasn’t disappointed. The razor-sharp dialogue from the outset immediately pulls you into the hierarchical, tribal world of Harvard. Even before the fade in, you get a sense of what a pedantic geek Mark Zuckerburg is, as he rattles off lines about the number of geniuses (genei?) in China.
The film is a great example of how to introduce characters. When we first see Eduardo (Andrew Garfield), he comes into Mark’s dorm offering commiseration after he’s read Mark has been dumped – the only character to seemingly offer sympathy. ”I’m here for you”, he says, mistaking Mark’s “I need you” for a request for emotional support, not, as it actually is, a request for coding help. So we immediately understand that Eduardo is concerned for Mark’s well-being.
I loved the way Justin Timberlake’s character, Sean Parker, is introduced. Waking up with a one night stand and having her work out your identity – a great plot device for showing some background info about the character, whilst also perfectly demonstrating his hedonistic nature.
In the version of the script I read (thank you Wiscreen Writers Forum for this version), Aaron Sorkin has a Paul Young song playing over the opening scene, but in the film there are industrial, electronic thuds and screeches played over the first few scenes and throughout…well it is scored by Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails. I personally love the ‘Nails so I really, really liked the soundtrack. I’d be interested to know if others did though, or whether you found it a bit too much? I thought it gave the film a darker edge. Anyway, Sorkin for best adapted screenplay at the Oscars, I say!
