The Social Network: Will it Be Popular with the Academy like Facebook is to the World?

When I first saw previews of The Social Network I was intrigued, however other films continually took a front seat to the story of the rise of Mark Zuckerman and his Facebook phenomenon. You don't need to have seen the movie, or read the book, The Accidental Billionaires to know the basics of the story. Mark Zuckerman started a social networking site with his friend from Harvard. The concept exploded way beyond campus, and Zuckerman stepped on a lot of toes on his way to becoming the billionaire Facebook marvel he is today.

With the exceptions of True Grit and 127 Hours, I have actually seen all the films nominated for Best Picture in the 2011 Oscars, and while they were all good, Oscar worthy films, I would be surprised if The Social Network took home the top prize. While I "liked" it, I wasn't wowed like I was by some of the other contenders.

The Social Network was nominated for a total of eight Oscars. In my opinion, it has a good shot at winning in two of the categories; Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerman and Best Adapted Screenplay. Eisenberg's potrayal of Zuckerman was spot on and consistent throughout the movie, and kept me thinking how much he really was a jerk, and although his brains may be worth billions, it doesn't mean he can't fall on his face like the rest of us. I found myself annoyed, inspired, and sympathetic all at the same time. Of course, to nab Best actor Eisenberg has his work cut out for him with Colin Firth, Jeff Bridges, James Franco, and Javier Bardem also in the running. The Adapted Screenplay seems to be a more probable win for this film. The story of Facebook has fascinated the world, and to tell the story so well is quitte an achievement.

Despite being co-founder and C.E.O of the largest online social networking website in the world, Zuckerman's social skills were actually quite lacking. We see him in the opening sequence having dinner with his girlfriend discussing strategies of getting into prestigious " final clubs" and no matter what she says his girlfirend cannot seem to say the right thing that will satisfy Zuckerman, and she breaks up with him.

Later she learns, along with several others that there is nothing so damaging as a genius scorned, especially if that genius has time on his hands. He insults her in his blog, and starts a little immature recreational hacking to boot.

Clearly, Zuckerman is superior to all his peers, although they too go to Harvard. He's very good at grabbing the seed of an idea, expanding it and running with it. While I am being facecious, there is some truth to this. Because great ideas are great, but unless you move forward and do what you need to to make those ideas grow and blossum into better ideas nothing is going to happen. Whether it was right or wrong or showed good form Zuckerman was relentless in focusing on the next step, and it gives ua all something to ponder.

With the right programming and funding -- and the right expansion on the initial idea any one of the major players could've done what Zuckerman did, but he did the one thing his contemporaries did not-- he moved.

Along with the story of Facebook, The Social Network also taps briefly into the story of Napster and the fall of it's founder, Sean Parker, who eventually became a partner in Facebook. In both Parker's case and Zuckerman's the initial motivation seems to have stemmed from a girl, while this may or may not be the case, it's important to find your motivation somewhere and run with it. As the poster says, "You Don't Get to 500 million Friends Without Making a few Enemies."