I realize I sort of neglected to say anything about The Social Network, David Fincher's new movie, which I realize may seem kind of odd considering how much I love Zodiac. But first, there's not a lot to go on:
And also, I feel kind of queasy getting hyped about a project based on a Ben Mezrich book, especially one that purports to reveal the truth of things. Mezrich is a terrible reporter, and has no compunction about speculating wildly to fill the gaps in that reporting. What we'll get in this movie is what the New York Times called Mezrich's nonfictionish account of Mark Zuckerberg's rise as a businessman, filtered through Aaron Sorkin's pen, and David Fincher's lens. Fiction can be revelatory. But I think this instance of it won't get us any closer to the truth. And it might take us farther away from it. The rise of social networking is a serious phenomenon. It deserves serious journalism, and serious filmmaking. I have no doubt Fincher will provide the later, but he's not building on solid foundations of the former.