Social Network

Social Network

2010

Director: David Fincher

Writers: Aaron Sorkin and Ben Mezrich

120 Minutes

Aaron Sorkin can write. David Fincher can direct. Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake can act.

This film was amazing. It truly was.

The Social Network was based on the book, “Accidental Billionaires” by Ben Mezirch, who also wrote “Bringing Down the House,” which was turned into the film 21 starring Kevin Spacey.

But many were skeptical about filming the story of Facebook, the ultimate social networking website. Some questions, "who wants to see a film about Facebook?"

They were wrong.

This film was about these characters handling their raising success against an established college dorm friendship as much as it was about creation of Facebook. It was a struggle. It was a war. And it didn't go well.

In the end, every character was a millionaire. And some billionaires. It’s hard to feel bad for anyone that can buy a private jet or retire at twenty-five.

In the scene above, Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) has met Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), the creator of Napster, in a club to talk about the potential of Facebook. Sean waited for Mark's best friend to be out of town to have Mark's exclusive ear and since Mark had always been taken by Mr. Parker, he listened well. Mark knew this “product” was a game changer, but it took Sean to explain how much of one.

“Napster wasn’t a failure. I changed the music industry for better and for always,” says Sean Parker. He was right. Napster was a game changer.

At one time or another, that’s what we all want: something that changes the world.

Sean Parker did. So did Mark Zuckerberg.

This is why this film is important. It’s about three young guys making an impact on the world. Hell, they changed the world. Today, Facebook has over 750 million users. It’s in almost every country in the world and continues to grow today.

Facebook was the ultimate game changer.

“A million dollars isn't cool, you know what's cool? A billion dollars.”

Sure, friendships ended. Yes, they screwed people over. And of course, they hurt people in the process.

But that is every business. That is government. That is corporations. That is the United States.

This film is the American Dream. Love it or leave it, but accept it as the creation of something used more than coffee is drank. And there are over 17,000 Starbucks in the world.

Like a said, a game changer.

Almost Famous

Almost Famous

2000

Writer: Cameron Crowe

Director: Cameron Crowe

122 Minutes

Cameron Crowe was of the youngest contributor for Rolling Stone Magazine, only sixteen years old, when he got the assignment to tour with the Altman Brothers.

This film’s main character was a young, fifteen year old boy named William Miller who gets a paid assignment with Rolling Stone Magazine to write about the band Stillwater.

The parallels are complete and twenty-seven years later, Crowe made a movie about his experience called Almost Famous. Yet, the movie stands the test of time reliving Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” and the side effects during an acid trip.

The film won a well-deserved Academy Award for best writing.

In the scene above, William has accepted his writing assignment, blessed by his controlling mother, and jumped in the car with the ultimate band-aid Penny Lane (Kate Hudson). When they take off on their journey, the cover of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is reflected in the windshield.

This is Crowe’s metaphor that William is crossing into the unknown world. It’s a world of adventure, drugs, and sex. It’s a world that will change him forever. It’s Rock and Roll.

The reflection goes quick, but it’s meaning lives on. William will be tested, trained, heartbroken, disillusioned, and inspired on his journey to write about his idols, Stillwater. He learns what happens to bands on the road from massive egos to failing airplanes to childhood crushes to utter disappointment.

But, it all starts here. It all starts by crossing into the Dark Side of the Moon.

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world are the moments you share with someone when you're uncool." - Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman)

Cameron Crowe, you are William Miller. And we are better people for hearing your uncool, yet wonderful story.

Rocky

Rocky

1976

Director: John G. Avildsen

Writer: Sylvester Stallone

119 Minutes

A mildly successful boxer named Chuck Wepner fought Muhammad Ali in 1975 and went fifteen rounds before he was knocked out. A young Sylvester Stallone watched at home on this television.

This was a catalyst for the young actor/writer/director/producer.

Rocky was the first sports film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. That night, it took home Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Picture in addition to nominations for Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Song, Sound, and Writing.

It is one of the best films ever made.

But, there is more to Rocky than boxing. In fact, none of the six Rocky films are strictly about boxing. They are films about the struggle. In this first installment, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) wants to be something in this world. He works for a low-end bookie, visits the pet store daily, and ignored by his trainer Mick (Burgess Meredith).

He has nothing.

In the scene above, Rocky and Adrain (Talia Shire) lay in bed together the night before the fight. Rocky mentions that if he could go fifteen rounds against the Heavy Weight Champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), then he would have made something of himself. If he could go fifteen rounds, he wouldn’t be a bum.

The entire movie rests in this scene because it’s not about winning and it’s not about money. It’s about making something of yourself. That’s why we love this film. We all want to make something of ourselves, if only fifteen rounds. Rocky knew it. He has humble goals, but they speak the truth.

And we, the audience, appreciate the truth.

In reality, the scene above is about Sylvester Stallone writing a great film and making something of himself. Rocky was his autobiography of a struggling actor. And the greatness of this man, scene, and film is Stallone he was given ONLY one take to complete it.

He was given one chance.

In life, that’s all we ever need. Rocky is a phenomenal film. It’s an underdog story. It’s a coming-of-age film. It’s the Best Picture of the year.

If you get one shot at greatness, don’t let it pass you by. Sylvester Stallone didn’t.

Secretariat

Secretariat

2010

Director Randall Wallace

Writers: Mike Rich and William Nack

123 Minutes

Some 37 years ago, a horse named Secretariat won the Triple Crown by 31 lengths and a run time of 2:24. He was the greatest horse that ever lived. And though it bares the name of this film, this story is not about a horse. It’s about a woman.

Penny Chenery.

Often times, women have to face the men in their lives. Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) knew that all too well. She came from a strong family, married a strong man, and when her family’s horse ranch came under fire, she was quick to be strong and save it. Yet, saving the farm meant challenging every men she ever met, right down to her own flesh and blood.

Patriarchal oppression.

It was a troubled time for the Cherney family, but they had a winning horse. Secretariat was named Horse of the Year and won sixteen individual races overall. Penny Chenery knew how special this horse was. She knew his history. She knew his potential, even though the men in and around her life questioned her to the bitter end.

She beat them all.

In the scene above, Penny has returned to her farm and asked about the sale of one of their horses by Trainer Earl Jansen (Graham McTavish). His plan was the sell this prized stallion to another farm, where then they would sell it for double its value.

When Penny questions him again, Earl talks down to her like it was her first time in a stable. But, she knows what she’s talking about. She knows the horse game. And she knows this trainer is a fraud and fires him on the stop.

This is the first test of many. For Penny, it was her against every man in the horse racing game. It was her against her father’s friends, trainers, other owners, siblings and even her husband. Everyone questions her. She even questioned herself.

Yet when it came to those three minutes, when Secretariat ran his race, no one was more right in the world than Penny Chenery.

She proved everyone wrong, rising above the rest like her house always did.

It was different times back then, but this world continues to need strong women like Penny Chenery. We need people to stand up for what they believe in, even when the world is telling you to give up.

We need the fight in folks.

Had Mrs. Chenery quit, we never would have known of a horse named Secretariat and the largest winning margin in horse racing history.

31 lengths. My god...