I finally watched The Social Network yesterday. I saw it on a plane so maybe not the best of conditions to appreciate the film, but I was none the less quite unimpressed by it. The acting is very good (a surprisingly deft Justin Timberlake stands out from the pack) and the script is talky and fast but this is actually a pretty boring story about a bunch of spoiled, good looking rich kids at Harvard trying to become even richer. It's hard for me to get invested in these kind of wankers and watching them sitting around typing on computers or giving testimony in a deposition is extremely dull stuff. The director David Fincher reins in his trademark visual flair and although Trent Reznor does the score it's not so you'd notice. There isn't much dramatic tension in the story of the creation of Facebook and what tension there is in the script seems forced and false. The attempts at humour were embarrassingly heavy handed (if you ask me humour has always been Aaron Sorkin's Waterloo) and if it hadn't been for the exceptionally fine work from all the young cast I would have stopped watching.
...
I have a theory about why The Social Network and not Winter's Bone is winning all the awards this year when for me Winter's Bone is the superior film. Americans, I feel, like to watch films about winners, not losers, and Winter's Bone is the story of a bunch of meth cooking hillbillies scrabbling to survive, whereas The Social Network is the story of millionaires who become billionaires, which, of course, is the true American dream.
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47 comments:
Good timing. I saw TSN last weekend and my thoughts are almost identical to yours. Foremost being the acting performances. Timberlake impressed me again. I thought he was excellent in "Alpha Dog" as well. I must, must read / watch "Winters Bone", thanks for the reminder.
Now, this weekend I saw "The Fighter" and I thought it was very good. Christian Bale and Melissa Leo deserve their Golden Globes. It was refreshing to watch a film with no fancy effects, childish attempts at bathroom humor, or gimmicks(the soundtrack was pretty damn good too). Just a good story with setting and acting carrying it.
I know Dickie & Micky, know their story etc.. but I was still impressed. It was laughable that TSN won the best picture over The Fighter.
Freaky! I watched this last night. It was a full-on snooze fest.
I haven't seen The Social Network, and probably won't, but I did see Winters Bone on your recommendation, and I liked it well enough. It was rather disconcerting, but it did stand out as a movie I don't think I'll forget soon either.
I haven't seen it, but I did read an interesting review of it in the NYRB by Zadie Smith recently.
It sounds about right for airplane fare. So you're all safely home and settled then?
Thanks for that review of The Social Network. We were going to skip that one anyway. We also thought that Winter's Bone was the best movie of the year. True Grit was good, but Winter's Bone was extraordinary.
This last week, I read Alan Glynn's Winterland, after reading your review of it here and Declan Burke's review. I saw different things in it, and posted my own very positive (if eccentric) review.
All of the trailers of upcoming movies looked rather dull if not annoying. Cowboys vs. Aliens may be the best of the lot.
Over the past few years I've become quite taken with Asian cinema, especially films from Japan and South Korea...quite good stuff coming out of there.
Wasn't a huge fan of TSN either. I'm sure it will win many oscars where The Insider went home empty-handed. Sorkin is a pretty middle-of-the-road writer whose writing is considered gold for some reason.
I haven't seen either of the movies you mentioned, but I think you've put your finger on a key element of the American psyche in your assessment of why TSN is doing so well and WINTER'S BONE isn't. Americans just don't have any patience with anyone but winners anymore.
it's sad.
Apropos millionaires, what did you think of Ricky Gervais at the Globes?
Yes, Adrian, you nailed it.
Sean
I have to say I was not expecting good things from Timberlake (havent seen Alpha Dog) but he was superb in this.
Yup I well definitely see the Fighter. Although I dont actually know the protags unlike your good self I do know the Lawrence-Lowell area pretty well and am looking forward to it.
Frankie
It certainly wasnt as compelling as the critics make it out to be.
Glenna
There's one particular scene near the end which none of us will soon forget.
Seana
Not quite home yet.
Yes good review from Z.S.
Is there anything she can't do that lassie?
Richard
Yes I'm pretty surprised that the Coens went the remake route, although its going to be one of their most successful films, maybe the biggest hit of their careers.
Cowboys V Aliens sounds like a great high concept (as did Vikings V Aliens from last year) but I wonder if it will work.
Matt
Yeah I went through a big Korean jag about a year back. Some good stuff there.
Sorkin's movie work is hardly transcendant but he gets praised to the skies doesnt he?
Both films are in the queue, but I suspect I'll agree with you on these two. Reminds me a bit of The Company Men. Saw the trailer, but can't manage the interest in a flick about a bunch of rich executive types with monstrous homes who get laid off from their monster salary jobs.
At any rate, our friend Greg brought my attention to a fantastic bit about being a writer here. Would truly love to hear your take on it. Cheers.
Dana
I hope the UK isn't going the same way. It used to be in Britain that the gallent loser was actually preferred to the winner. I used to love that stuff, but I think that times are changing in football, in art, everywhere.
I thought it was great that in the Bad News Bears and in Rocky the heroes actually lost in the end. But that was the 70's not now.
Rob
Heard about it but havent seen it. I wonder what its like to be surrounded by ass kissers all the time. It must really alter your perception of reality. Gervais's mild critiques were probably the only criticisms those folks will ever hear in their lives. Even in Rome during a Triumph there was always a slave sitting in the chariot whispering "you are but a mortal man and one day you will die."
Naomi
Thanks for that.
sorry, i'll try again. the article should be here. If this doesn't work, it's by Anis Shivani, and it's on the Huffington Post. It's called "New Rules For Writers."
HB
Definitely watch Winter's Bone.
Couldnt get the link to work.
Hmmmm, I dug TSN for sure, but it's not quite Best Picture material. To use an epithet I usually despise, it was very "relevant." Good performances are what kept that movie from falling apart, I think. And I got a kick out of the Winkelvoss twins, especially this line:
"I'm 6'5", 220 pounds, and there's two of me."
Brian
Ha! I thought the same. Best line in the movie.
HB
Got the link to work.
Jesus that guy talks a lot of sense. Hopefully that will go viral.
I agree with everything except for this line "the book will find its audience". No, sometimes it wont. Karma and good writing and luck wont save some great books, they will just wither on the vine and die.
I am not entirely with you on your premise, though, in this particular instance. I think the interest is also generated by our fascination, still, with being part of a time when this shift to digital has changed the landscape in a way we're all trying to get our minds around. I think it's a kind of traditional story arc, really. It's another version of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs in some garage. Sure he's at an elite college, but in terms of the larger world, he's still a nobody. The rise of the obscure will never fail to please.
In terms of awards, it's got to be true that the main reason that Winter's Bone didn't get the buzz that The Social Network did is all about the clout of the film companies and producers behind the projects.
I don't think the book will find it's audience either necessarily. Some are rescued from oblivion by later generations, but that is not much use to the authors, is it?
In re good books finding their audience, that strikes me as the sort of reflexive optimism against which it is so heretical to speak in America. This may be related to the American preference for winners that has come up in this discussion.
======================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Seana
And maybe thats why it would have been a good documentary a la Triumph of the Nerds, but in terms of drama...well I didnt notice any drama at all, except for the really artificial conflict the screenplay tried to impose.
I think Fincher will win the Oscar for best director. There's the sense that he's due and that maybe he should have won for Fight Club or Seven. At least it wont be Scorsese winning for his worst film...
Peter
Exactly. Many many good books just die and are never heard from again. Moby Dick died and it was only luck that rescued it in the 1920's. There is no law that a good book will find an audience, no law at all.
Right, it might have been a better documentary, but I'm talking about why people seem to have gravitated to it, and I don't think it's just thralldom to the rich and famous. I think it's a dream of the little guy or gal making it that's driving the interest.
The little guy making it is still a key plot for people over here in the states. That may be why TSN won.
I did see "Winter's Bone," and it is a good movie, although it has some real shocking moments; maybe that macabre side was too much for some audiences or the Golden Globes' voters.
But it does probably have to do with promoters, publicity and studios--and big bucks.
I like Melissa Leo; she was fantastic in "Frozen River," so I will probably see "The Fighter."
A friend of mine was underwhelmed by TSN, so much so that she didn't loan the dvd to me as she didn't want to recommend it.
When you talk about books that dont find an audience, I was thinking on RTE in Ireland they have a Late Late Show i think its called and they sometimes interview authors. Thats what is needed. Air time for people other that bimbo celebrities with teeth and boobs.
Well, I haven't seen TSN (that's The Sports Network in Canada and that I see all the time) but I think you're right about winners and losers - or winners and strugglers.
And I'd add to it America's devotion to the myth of the individual. I imagine The Fighter is a fine movie but will it be yet another in the long line of working-class heroes trying so hard to get "out of here?"
I actually liked the characters in that runaway train movie, Unstoppable, but I'm not surprised it was directed by a Brit.
Does the USA have anything like The Lonliness of the Long Distance Runner? Is it The Catcher in the Rye?
The working class here never seems to want to say, "Fuck you," to anyone in the movies and I find that odd because I hear it everyday ;)
One of the very worst things you can be in America is 'white trash'. Always has been. Winter's Bone is set entirely from within that culture with no hope of inclusion in the mainstream. Americans do like movies with white trash characters if they are successful--Coal Miner's Daughter or Norma Rae come to mind. Even the Beverly Hillbillies on TV!
...on RTE in Ireland they have a Late Late Show i think its called and they sometimes interview authors. Thats what is needed. Air time for people other that bimbo celebrities with teeth and boobs.
It would be nice to have a show like that in America, where authors could talk in some depth about their books. Craig Ferguson has had a number of fine crime writers on his show, Stuart Neville, Ken Bruen and Laura Lippman among them. That's great, and more power to him. But's it's an American talk show, so the bulk of the interviews is shtick and silliness. I with it could be otherwise.
I'm also reminded of a great old phrase I learned from a dictionary of catchphrases: "She's all tits and teeth, like a third-row chorus girl."
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Seana
Perhaps, but I have noticed that American soap operas and reality shows are all about the wealthy because America is an aspirational/envy driven society. The Harvard-porn aspects of TSN were probably a BIG selling point of the script.
Kathy
thats the reason I am going to give when people want to borrow my DVDs.
Oh She's the woman from Frozen River? Ok I know who she is now.
John
Wasnt Coal Miner's Daughter also directed by a Brit? It maybe takes an outsider to appreciate that culture for its diversity and richness.
Jane
One of the things that drove me insane about that Clint Eastwood female boxer movie was the portrayal of the white trash family members. Yes of course we all know people like that, but why is it always a grim stereotype of that culture which Hollywood gives us again and again and again.
Frankie
They do interview authors and it is a serious show sometimes. America has Charlie Rose but everytime I tune in he's interviewing Bill Gates or Warren Buffet.
Peter
Its also a little depressing how little an appearance on Craig Ferguson actually helps sell books. Probaby NPR is the best place for an author to be interviewed but their choices are very white bread and dull.
Michael Apted also directed Always Outnumbered, based on Walter Mosley's novel, and Thunderheart. Pretty good stuff.
They're planning on remaking Oldboy in the US. I don't expect good things.
Yeah, I guess authors hope to sell books and not just entertain the masses when they go on TV.
I think Ferguson talked to Stu longer than to some of the others, which might have something to to with his having taken out an option on the movie rights to his book.
Matt
And the marvellous 7 Up series.
Peter
And yes I forgot that Ferguson is actually a novelist himself and a pretty thoughtful guy. Maybe the most thoughtful of all those Late Night characters (?) although Conan went to Harvard and wrote for the Simpsons.
I didn't know Ferguson was a writer himself. I figured he had to be a thoughtful guy just because he has writers on his show, but in substance, the American talk-show hosts are indistinguishable. It's not that they're dumb; quite the opposite. One has to be sharp to figure out how to dumb one's self down that much.
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
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