tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140620589553798561.post5226544710602435753..comments2011-04-04T19:28:47.622-07:00Comments on Shawn Michael Adams Online: The Social Network, Apache Servers and My ThoughtsShawn Michael Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02864970203054548807noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140620589553798561.post-4815213847967022272011-03-03T21:50:51.668-08:002011-03-03T21:50:51.668-08:00Shawn,
I think Aaron Sorkin's native strength ...Shawn,<br />I think Aaron Sorkin's native strength resides in writing radio plays because incredible torrents of information are conveyed in A Few Good Men, The American President, Sports Night, and (at least) the first half of The West Wing verbally, by distinctive voices in shows and movies that are surprisingly visuals-optional. Check into any of those entertainments, drop the audio to zero, and see if you can follow the story of the episode or film. Then try the same episode with the sound up and your eyes closed. I think you'll find that over 90% of stuff that matters is communicated aurally.<br /><br />I think that pattern changed before Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Distinctive and recognizable voices still bear the multiple burdens of exposition, tone, color and character development -- but visual events matter more.<br /><br />In The Social Network, the first several minutes are barely audible. The force the viewer to concentrate on the actors' words and visual performance in an innovative way that commands attention unlike any entertainment we're used to.<br /><br />I can't disagree with your contention that this film doesn't live up to the hype. (I stepped out of the hype-stream about ten years ago, and no longer have a basis for comparison.) But hype isn't directly related to the quality of performance. I think this film delivers fascinating things for us to think about. Chief among these is the carefull-constructed image of an ackownledged masterful creative artist in integrative technology whose contribution to the production of this film is absolutely negligible. And that's more than odd. Privacy, celebrity, ethical maturity and legend/reputation/image are culturally central variables that are presently in flux.<br />The Social Network poses interesting questions regarding the value of other people without providing answers, but it ends with a living legend punching through the deceptive curtain of his own creation -- looking for the forgiveness of a former friend; F5...F5...F5, and maybe that's enough (of an answer).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140620589553798561.post-1828858936261029262011-03-03T20:29:40.644-08:002011-03-03T20:29:40.644-08:00The Social Network might have been overrated as a ...The Social Network might have been overrated as a film, but it does offer a profound social commentary on the psychological drives that led to facebook's creation and its initial popularity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140620589553798561.post-58444719081700934842011-03-03T13:40:52.230-08:002011-03-03T13:40:52.230-08:00Alright, I will go as far as saying that I have de...Alright, I will go as far as saying that I have definitely painted The Social Network in a not so rosy light and while I still think that the film was pretty awful; it was not as bad a Gigli, but it was still pretty bad.<br />The review of the King's Speech is going to be tomorrow after I watch it this evening after work and I definitely would be interested in hearing others thoughts on that one as well!Shawn Michael Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02864970203054548807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140620589553798561.post-12261413608626418682011-03-03T13:02:14.704-08:002011-03-03T13:02:14.704-08:00Well I think you're taking it a bit too far.
I...Well I think you're taking it a bit too far.<br />It's not as bad as you paint it. Of course it has been overhyped... but probably not as much as the King's speech, a film that managed to even win the Oscar for best director!! I repeat BEST DIRECTOR!! Oh dear.. what's the world coming down to?<br />Anyway, as far as the Social Network is concerned check out my review. As I said, not a masterpiece and definitely a flawed movie, but not the disaster you're referring to.<br /> http://wp.me/p19wJ2-tAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com