Who's My Daddy?

In one of the most anticipated movies of 2010, The Social Network is Hollywood’s paternity test for the social network phenomenon Facebook. In a series of flashbacks, writer Alan Sorkin’s screenplay adaption of Ben Mezrich’s 2009 nonfiction book “The Accidental Billionaires”, takes the audience through two simultaneous depositions for lawsuits settling the most expensive custody battle of our time, who is the father of Facebook?

It all began on the Harvard campus in 2003 when undergrad computer programming student Mark Zuckerberg, (Jesse Eisenberg) launched the social networking site, TheFacebook on the Harvard campus. Yet, this was just six weeks after Zuckerberg was propositioned by fellow All-American Harvard hunks Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss (Armie Hammer) and their business partner Divya Narenda (Max Minghella) to create their social website, Harvard Connection. The Winklevoss/Narenda team didn’t take kindly to their billion dollar idea being stolen and lawsuit number one was born.

In the meantime, Zuckerberg named his generous friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), as CFO and co-founder of Thefacebook, revoking the titles once Thefacebook was under corporate multi-million dollar sponsorship, all thanks to Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake). After pulling the proverbial knife from his back, Saverin gets himself together along with a sizeable case against Zuckerberg filing lawsuit number two.

Sorkin, best known for the popular drama series West Wing, tries to untangle the complicated web of legalities and gives a watered down rendition of what could have been a very touching story. Even though the cast includes a collection of Hollywood up-and-comers, like Eisenberg and Garfield, the characters seem very one-dimensional. It is not until the very last scene we see the human side of the story.

However, Sorkin provides a few laughs and surprises, especially in Saverin’s girlfriend-gone-wrong Christy Lee (Brenda Song). Also noteworthy is the cinematography with its tight and often dim shots that gives an authentic cosy New England campus feel.

But will we ever know who Facebook can call “Daddy”? Don't expect The Social Network to reveal the paternity.