Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Reckoning” has been unveiled to members of the film press, who are calling the follow-up to “The Social Network” a “solid sequel,” “a harsh assessment of [Mark] Zuckerberg” and “a scathing indictment of the current tumultuous state of society.” Early reactions, with full reviews coming ahead of this weekend’s theatrical release, range from positive to mixed among critics who saw the timely drama early. Sorkin’s dialogue still crackles and tears like razor blades, especially as this investigative story reaches its fever pitch delving into Facebook’s murky practices, but it’s far from his best work on the page. His rather flat direction and the film’s listless pacing nearly blunt its overall emotional impact, but this is a story that not only deserves to be told, but is an engrossing investigative journalism film that still manages to land the plane despite some turbulence.
It’s a good, just not great film that made me angry, but it should’ve made me furious.” Other reactions acknowledged that 2010’s “The Social Network” set a high bar for the follow-up, but the new movie still had some bright spots. Hardly subtle, it works well as a companion piece to Aaron Sorkin’s prior look at Facebook.” Billed as a “companion piece” to “The Social Network,” the movie dramatizes the 2021 Facebook leak by company whistleblower Frances Haugen and The Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz. The cast also includes Wunmi Mosaku, Betty Gilpin, Billy Magnussen and Bill Burr.
Much of the buzz around “The Social Reckoning” prior to release has been the casting of Jeremy Strong as Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, notably played in “The Social Network” by Jesse Eisenberg in an Oscar-nominated performance. Sorkin originally asked Eisenberg to return for the follow-up project, but the actor rejected the offer because he no longer wants to be associated with Zuckerberg. He doesn’t like kids coming up to him in airports with business cards that say ‘I’m CEO, bitch’ for him to sign.” “The Social Reckoning” opens in theaters Oct. 9 from Sony Pictures.
Check out more first reactions in the posts below.
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