Monday, October 3, 2011

"Facebook Me"

If you haven't seen "The Social Network" yet...WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!? That movie is awesome. It's like "The Dark Knight" of interpersonal drama in true life. I'm ashamed that it took me so long to see it. And I want to minimize your self flagellation when you finally get around to seeing it.

Facebook.
The end of friendship as we know it. OK, that was a little harsh. But personal association was completely changed on February 4, 2004 in a Harvard dorm room. You know it. I know it. I'm not really going to talk about the rightness, wrongness, awesomeness, or lameness of the ubiquity of Facebook as a social media giant behemoth. I'm just here to talk about the people. The people, not necessarily as they are in real life, but just a chance to play with the beautiful spectrum of characterization in the film.

Mark Z- Tortured genius is the first way I think of the king of Facebook. Every moment on screen there's a profound internal tension between his successes and popularity, and the disconnect he feels from those around him. Nonetheless, he sees things that people overlook. He solves problems before they're problems. In ways which are elegant and Determined to succeed, he has a singular focus on the problem at hand.  There's a social challenge in Mark's every move. I have no idea who said, "The best revenge is massive success." But after a few social stumbles this man seems to have adopted it as life plan. But the end of the film plays more like the Randy Newman song, It's Lonely At the Top.


 

Eduardo S- Organized and effective, Eduardo unsuccessfully to incorporate conventional marketing and business organization to the infant Facebook. Fiercely loyal, he tries to enable, protect, and befriend Mark all at the same time. It doesn't work out nearly as well as he hopes. He wants to be an honorable person, but wants to make an impact at the same time. The tension which results, is prevalent throughout the film. Championing the safe play, Eduardo sees Sean Parker as a dangerous loose cannon (which he is), and not a brilliant marketeer (which he is). As a result, the two begin careening toward one another in a game of business chicken.




Sean Parker- The Sean Parker character in this movie reminded me of the episode of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, featuring the "Wild Card." Sean is charismatic. With unparallelled energy he blows into "the facebook" and brings a world of changes. The obvious? Nix the "'The.' Just Facebook. It's cleaner." The subtle? Redefine the friendship, that redefines "friendship." A touch of resentment and paranoia underscore his marketing brilliance. Sean just wants to, "Fight for [his] right to PARTY!!!"



"The Winklevi"- Between the two of them, they're a well rounded individual. With the idea that gave Facebook form, the Winklevosses see what's there to be seen. The simplest version of innovative thought. Take what's there and make it a little better. Make myspace exclusive, and that's about as far as they get. In fairness, these two are broad strokes people who think they are contracting the detail work. Looking to their network of connections, these two young men are opportunistic in the best possible sense of the word. They will change and improve things, to their own enrichment for years to come. And when their backed into a corner, the gloves will come off.



Marylin Delpy (The lawyer)- An almost invisible character in the film, Marylin is the silent reality anchor in this almost surreal litigation process. She reminds us that winning and losing aren't often what we think that they are. And, all business to you may be all personal to others.




This movie was a really cool look at the business of being personal.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for tuning in.













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