The Social Network (2010) - Review of 4K Ultra HD

      The Social Network, 2010.

      Directed by David Fincher.

      Featuring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, and Max Minghella.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The Social Network is now available as a standalone 4K Ultra HD release, having previously been included only in the Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 2 set. This edition also comes with a code for a digital copy and Blu-ray discs that contain all additional features (including a second version of the movie from 2011). It offers a wealth of fantastic bonus content. Strongly recommended.

      To be transparent, I’d like to mention that I was employed at Meta, previously known as Facebook, from 2016 to 2022. This isn't a review I would have crafted during my time there, and honestly, it wouldn't have been one I’d have written after leaving, as I would have preferred to keep the door open for a possible return. However, due to recent events, my perspective has changed.

      With CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg eliminating many aspects that once made the company an enjoyable workplace (so many of my coworkers were intelligent and wonderful people), conducting arbitrary layoffs (sadly, some of those previously mentioned colleagues were affected), and showing allegiance to Donald Trump (that infamous photo of him alongside Bezos and others at the inauguration will be remembered), I find it hard to envision going back to work there.

      This context makes revisiting David Fincher’s film, The Social Network, especially relevant for me as it commemorates its 15th anniversary. Mark was, honestly, quite personable and even demonstrated a sense of humor during the internal company events I attended (albeit, he was speaking to an approving audience), but he has since revealed a different side, showcased in this film. As Maya Angelou said, when someone shows you who they are, believe them.

      Zuckerberg and his associates often argue over the details portrayed in the film, but they miss the point of such a biopic. The essence of The Social Network lies in tracing the company's swift ascent in the early 2000s and illustrating how many individuals unveil their true identities when significant wealth and power are at stake. Thus, even if screenwriter Aaron Sorkin fabricated particular interactions, viewers should focus on what the scenes convey about the characters, based on their actions and dialogue.

      Ultimately, the complete title of the 2009 book that Sorkin used as the basis for his screenplay is The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal. This encapsulates The Social Network, which chronicles Zuckerberg's journey from his Harvard dormitory to the early days of The Facebook (as it was initially called) in Palo Alto, California. Throughout this evolution, we witness him treating people coldly and calculatingly, as if he were applying an algorithm to every interaction to achieve the most favorable outcome for himself.

      The Social Network had previously been accessible on 4K Ultra HD as part of the Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 2, and my understanding is that this version contains the same discs found in that collection, but now presented in an attractive Steelbook package (which also includes a digital copy code). The only additional features on the 4K disc are three theatrical trailers, allowing the film ample space to showcase its picture quality. It seems that Fincher implemented a few digital tweaks, but nothing particularly stood out in that aspect. As with his other works, his use of digital effects is typically nearly flawless.

      Additionally, the film is available on a bundled Blu-ray, which I believe is the same disc released in 2011. The only extras on that Blu-ray are two commentary tracks—one featuring Fincher and the other with Sorkin and cast members Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer, Justin Timberlake, and Josh Pence.

      The commentary with Fincher is certainly an engaging listen. The group commentary was recorded in several sessions, introduced by an unidentified moderator who outlines the participants. Consequently, the group track avoids the many pitfalls often found in such commentaries, such as vague references to inside jokes, veering off-topic, or merely describing the on-screen visuals while reminiscing about the filming process.

      The remaining extras are included on the second Blu-ray, starting with the excellent documentary How Did They Ever Make a Movie of Facebook?, which runs for 92 minutes and provides an in-depth look at the film's production that is often lacking in home video releases today.

      Other bonus features total around 70 minutes and delve into aspects such as cinematography, sound design, score, and a multi-angle examination of the club scene where Sean Parker, known from Napster, persuades Zuckerberg regarding his vision for "The Facebook." While this may not have occurred exactly as depicted—much like many moments in The Social Network—that's not the film