Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'The Social Network': Will the Facebook movie hurt Facebook's business?
The Washington Post ^

Posted on 09/28/2010 2:21:05 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, plotting Internet dominance with Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker in "The Social Network." After emerging from a screening last week of the highly anticipated "The Social Network" -- the dramatization of the evolution of Facebook that, for the record, is every bit as compelling as all the buzz suggests -- I overheard two women engaged in animated chatter.

"Such a jerk," I heard one of them tell the other, clearly referring to Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook co-founder who, as portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg in the movie, comes across as an opportunistic, speed-talking, insecure little weasel.

Then I overheard this same, clearly agitated woman say something really interesting. She told her movie-going companion that she would "never spend time on that Web site" again, implying that Zuckerberg's behavior -- again, at least as portrayed in the film -- had completely turned her off of Facebook.

The two women, ,who looked to be in their fifties, didn't necessarily strike me as the sort of online addicts that spend entire afternoons avidly "liking" comments and posting viral videos on their friends' walls. Still, the comment made me wonder whether "The Social Network" -- a film that very publicly airs all the ugliness involved in launching the Web site that made everyone in the world our potential friends -- will turn some social networkers against Facebook.

A look at other movies that have dared to criticize corporate entities suggests that Facebook will be just fine.

McDonald's continues to serve plenty of Big Macs and Quarter Pounders, despite all the unsavory details about its food that were revealed in "Super Size Me." During challenging economic times, apparently people still want their cheap burgers and fries, regardless of whether they temporarily affected Morgan Spurlock's health.

(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: facebook; justintimberlake; nsync; thesocialnetwork
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

1 posted on 09/28/2010 2:21:08 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

How is a movie about “facebook” groundbreaking? It is revisionist history to pretend that Myspace, Friendster, and even AOL did not exist long beforehand.


2 posted on 09/28/2010 2:22:59 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ask yourself,where does Saudi Arabia fit on a scale of "passive" to "moderate" to "extremist" Islam?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I’m turned off by the radio ad campaign that has pull quotes from the characters saying things like “this is OUR time!”

Ego driven hyperbole. Crap.


3 posted on 09/28/2010 2:24:26 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ask yourself,where does Saudi Arabia fit on a scale of "passive" to "moderate" to "extremist" Islam?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

The Fox News report on Zuckerberg by Megyn Kelly leaves little doubt that Zuckerberg is a thief. He was hired by the 2 brothers who invented it to write code, and instead, stole the whole thing. Crime DOES pay.....6.9 Billion worth, in this case.


4 posted on 09/28/2010 2:25:29 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

No because those of us who use it are addicted.

Must check for updates...


5 posted on 09/28/2010 2:26:10 PM PDT by TSgt (Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho - 44th and current President of the United States)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
A look at other movies that have dared to criticize corporate entities suggests that Facebook will be just fine. McDonald's continues to serve plenty of Big Macs and Quarter Pounders, despite all the unsavory details about its food that were revealed in "Super Size Me."

Super Size Me was a film targeted to people who wouldn't think of eating McDonald's in the first place. It played to their prejudices and confirmed their fears of meat and consumerism.

The Social Network is a dramatization targeted to a youth audience.

6 posted on 09/28/2010 2:26:52 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ask yourself,where does Saudi Arabia fit on a scale of "passive" to "moderate" to "extremist" Islam?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

7 posted on 09/28/2010 2:27:32 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (If Obama was the answer---that must have been one stupid question!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
Speaking of Moore, even the scathing "Fahrenheit 9/11" didn't stop George W. Bush from getting re-elected in 2004.

And what about the Hillary Clinton expose?

8 posted on 09/28/2010 2:28:23 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ask yourself,where does Saudi Arabia fit on a scale of "passive" to "moderate" to "extremist" Islam?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

movie sounds boring


9 posted on 09/28/2010 2:30:05 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
Fairly or not, "The Social Network" portrays him as a colossal jerk, one who -- spoiler alert! -- is willing to royally screw over a close friend in the name of creating an online network that's designed to -- irony alert! -- foster friendship.

A student at a school I attended sometime in the past century created a local social network for fellow students. He also kept a bit of an eye on what was being posted between friends "privately" and would delete negative comments emailed about him and otherwise violate privacy. He was permitted to graduate if I recall but he was exposed and punished.

Again, nothing new. Not even for New England.

10 posted on 09/28/2010 2:31:06 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ask yourself,where does Saudi Arabia fit on a scale of "passive" to "moderate" to "extremist" Islam?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise
I find the idea of facebook mind numbing. No reason to see the movie
11 posted on 09/28/2010 2:31:46 PM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
"The Social Network" stands poised to become the definitive cinematic commentary (at least for now) on the Internet age."

MORE bullstalin hyperbole. A film about the media's tossing Fornigate into File 13 until it was handed to Mike Drudge would be more "definitive" on what change the internet age has brought to mass media.

12 posted on 09/28/2010 2:32:50 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ask yourself,where does Saudi Arabia fit on a scale of "passive" to "moderate" to "extremist" Islam?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CaptainK; Revolting cat!

Is there Farmville animation in Facebook The Movies?

How about pokes?


13 posted on 09/28/2010 2:33:34 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Ask yourself,where does Saudi Arabia fit on a scale of "passive" to "moderate" to "extremist" Islam?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
From what I've seen, Facebook is like crack cocaine for a lot of people.

If you're interested enough in Facebook to go see a movie about a Facebook, nothing in the movie is going to make you give up your Facebook fix.

14 posted on 09/28/2010 2:49:54 PM PDT by Washi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

It’s not going to hurt it at all. Meanwhile, the fastest growing demographic on facebook (right now) is 65 and up.


15 posted on 09/28/2010 3:03:14 PM PDT by Paved Paradise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Washi

The SouthPark episode is all you need to skewer FaceBook.


16 posted on 09/28/2010 3:03:23 PM PDT by LetsRok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise

LOL.


17 posted on 09/28/2010 3:04:12 PM PDT by Paved Paradise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise
How about pokes?

The took the pokes out under the threat of a XXX rating.

18 posted on 09/28/2010 3:11:42 PM PDT by Fundamentally Fair (If exercising the right to free speech invites violence, then girls in short skirts invite rape.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

“Will the Facebook movie hurt Facebook’s business?”

I don’t know, but that reminds me I need to go check my facebook page RIGHT NOW!


19 posted on 09/28/2010 3:18:38 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Made from The Right Stuff!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Washi

I am on FB mainly so I can see lots of photos and vids of my grandson, but I would certainly not be interested in the movie.


20 posted on 09/28/2010 3:49:51 PM PDT by Bigg Red (Palin/Hunter 2012 -- Bolton their Secretary of State)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson