The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 1 - 'The Social Network’ - The Big Picture Recap

Podcast: The Big Picture

Published: 2025-12-31

Duration: 1 hr 14 min

Guests: Sam Burgwhistle

Summary

'The Social Network' is hailed as a modern 'Citizen Kane,' capturing the rise of Facebook and the internet's societal impact. Sean and Amanda argue it is a comfort movie that critiques the ruthlessness of tech moguls.

What Happened

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins crown 'The Social Network' as the best movie of the 21st century, drawing comparisons to 'Citizen Kane' for its depiction of a media mogul. Directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, the film is based on Ben Mezrich's 'The Accidental Billionaires,' detailing the creation of Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg.

Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Zuckerberg is a focal point, delivering a performance that is both defining and unsympathetic. The film's narrative explores the lawsuits by the Winklevoss twins and Eduardo Saverin, painting a picture of ambition and betrayal within the tech industry.

The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is highlighted as a pivotal change in film music, combining sadness and propulsion to reflect the internet age. Fincher's precise filmmaking and Sorkin's sharp writing are praised for creating a 'machine of a movie' that critiques the ethical vacuity of the tech world.

The movie is described as a docudrama and mass allegory, contrasting the exclusivity of Harvard's final clubs with the democratizing potential of the internet. It captures a cultural shift from personal to digital interactions, symbolized by a party scene interrupted by technology.

Sean and Amanda discuss the film's lasting impact and its cultural significance, noting that it changed perceptions of Facebook and the internet. Despite its success, the film lost the Best Picture Oscar to 'The King's Speech,' a decision still seen as controversial.

The hosts reflect on the film's release during a pivotal moment in their lives, as Facebook was becoming mainstream. They also talk about the film's visual style, achieved through the use of the Red One camera, and the symbolic ending on a friend request, highlighting the social dynamics Facebook introduced.

Key Insights

• 'The Social Network' was directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, based on Ben Mezrich's book 'The Accidental Billionaires,' which chronicles the creation of Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg.
• The film's score, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, marked a significant shift in film music by combining elements of sadness and propulsion to reflect the internet age.
• Despite its critical acclaim and cultural impact, 'The Social Network' lost the Best Picture Oscar to 'The King's Speech,' a decision that remains controversial.
• The film utilized the Red One camera to achieve its distinct visual style, capturing the cultural shift from personal to digital interactions, symbolized by the ending scene focused on a Facebook friend request.