This is more Fincher Februrary-related than Social Network-related and I'm sorry if you've discussed it already, I'm behind on my Boy Movie reading!, but what do you think about the role that adaptation plays in Fincher's work? I feel like you could almost track girl movie-ness to adapted-ness with GWtDT, Gone Girl, and Benjamin Button all being based on written fiction (arguably more adaptation-y than his based-on-people movies), and in the case of GWtDT, having the Swedish movie version out a couple years ahead. Fight Club is also based on a book and is obv *the* boy movie, but I'd sort of argue that some of that is an audience issue. I think as a book at least, it's sort of a homoerotic misandrist text, like the Social Network seems to be in some ways. I'm not saying there's anything there and I'm not sure what it would be, I just wanted to know what you thought.
Also, the graphics here? Perfect. Whoever does them is clearly one of the best in the game.
such a good question!!! my friend jack and i discussed it a bit in the zodiac issue, so i'll paraphrase jack when i say that, for one thing, fincher's penchant for putting his own spin on a pre-existing work is a classic auteur move. i like your point about his fiction adaptations also being his girl movies — obviously i can't claim fiction as something that's purely For Girls, but i do think it's interesting that his boy movie adaptations (zodiac, TSN) are both based on more "serious" journalistic works. (i agree about fight club; that whole movie's legacy is one big audience issue rather than an issue with the movie itself, which i still think is overall pretty good while also being flawed and even unusually messy compared to fincher's later work.)
never forget that he had gillian flynn adapt her own novel with gone girl! to me that says something about his willingness to remain faithful to the story and make sure the original spirit was retained in the film. it really speaks to one of my favorite things about him, which is that he's not a writer nor is he trying to be. at risk of projecting too much on him, i would say he's not the kind of director who needs to see "written and directed by david fincher" flash across the screen in order to feel satisfied (i think aaron sorkin could stand to gain some of this particular type of humility lol) and is more than happy to hand the writing reigns to others so he can focus on bringing his vision to life.
i'm going to shut up since this is already a super long answer but i am more than happy to discuss more WHENEVER. thanks for asking!!! what a fun subject to think about! also... right... how great are the graphics? i'm so glad i keep my art director chained to her computer 24/7 <3
I hope you get to interview Jesse and/or Andrew one day and can ask them about this love affair we all got to witness & if they still keep in touch today
the social network came out at the exact time i was transitioning from "the west wing is the greatest show" to "is it just me or is the west wing condescending....and very sexist...and also extremely racist????" so aaron sorkin soured it for me and i, to this day, have not seen it. this is the first thing written about it that made me want to actually watch????
also....re: footnote #21....not an oppenheimer prophecy
following up just to report back that jesse eisenberg in those slides is an understated masterclass in physical comedy. slipslappin all over cambridge. incredible
omg truly so kind of you to read this all the way through despite having not watched the movie!!! obviously i totally recommend it and i hope you enjoy!!!!! either way completely valid of you to just hate sorkin
read too many (im sorry) boondock saints (im so sorry) fanfics in the mid-aughts to stay away from a movie retrospective told via ex-pre/teens who got access to the wild west internet far too early!!
In The Consumption Report's Taylor Swift Zine (which made me scream with excitement on the subway when it came into my inbox!) that references the world-class kenstewy getaway car fan edit which Akosua T. Adasi says made her care about Taylor Swift's music is how I feel about this all too well fan edit of the social network which made me actually listen to all of Red for the first time since it was released in 2012. tysm for ur newsletter it is literally phenomenal!
my roommate and i just did a rewatch of the social network and had this open the entire time as now sacred text needed in companion to the movie. the way hunter harris' newsletter made me care much more about martin scorsese is the way this newsletter (and Bottoms) has made me care about david fincher.
This is more Fincher Februrary-related than Social Network-related and I'm sorry if you've discussed it already, I'm behind on my Boy Movie reading!, but what do you think about the role that adaptation plays in Fincher's work? I feel like you could almost track girl movie-ness to adapted-ness with GWtDT, Gone Girl, and Benjamin Button all being based on written fiction (arguably more adaptation-y than his based-on-people movies), and in the case of GWtDT, having the Swedish movie version out a couple years ahead. Fight Club is also based on a book and is obv *the* boy movie, but I'd sort of argue that some of that is an audience issue. I think as a book at least, it's sort of a homoerotic misandrist text, like the Social Network seems to be in some ways. I'm not saying there's anything there and I'm not sure what it would be, I just wanted to know what you thought.
Also, the graphics here? Perfect. Whoever does them is clearly one of the best in the game.
such a good question!!! my friend jack and i discussed it a bit in the zodiac issue, so i'll paraphrase jack when i say that, for one thing, fincher's penchant for putting his own spin on a pre-existing work is a classic auteur move. i like your point about his fiction adaptations also being his girl movies — obviously i can't claim fiction as something that's purely For Girls, but i do think it's interesting that his boy movie adaptations (zodiac, TSN) are both based on more "serious" journalistic works. (i agree about fight club; that whole movie's legacy is one big audience issue rather than an issue with the movie itself, which i still think is overall pretty good while also being flawed and even unusually messy compared to fincher's later work.)
never forget that he had gillian flynn adapt her own novel with gone girl! to me that says something about his willingness to remain faithful to the story and make sure the original spirit was retained in the film. it really speaks to one of my favorite things about him, which is that he's not a writer nor is he trying to be. at risk of projecting too much on him, i would say he's not the kind of director who needs to see "written and directed by david fincher" flash across the screen in order to feel satisfied (i think aaron sorkin could stand to gain some of this particular type of humility lol) and is more than happy to hand the writing reigns to others so he can focus on bringing his vision to life.
i'm going to shut up since this is already a super long answer but i am more than happy to discuss more WHENEVER. thanks for asking!!! what a fun subject to think about! also... right... how great are the graphics? i'm so glad i keep my art director chained to her computer 24/7 <3
Thanks for the answer! This all tracks!
Also want to applaud you for your guerilla marketing the past week or so!! Made me chuckle every time
🥹🥹🥹 couldn’t have done it without my art department (sarah)
I hope you get to interview Jesse and/or Andrew one day and can ask them about this love affair we all got to witness & if they still keep in touch today
realistically i should never be allowed within five feet of either of them but i would happily pick up the phone if they ever came calling!!!!!!
the social network came out at the exact time i was transitioning from "the west wing is the greatest show" to "is it just me or is the west wing condescending....and very sexist...and also extremely racist????" so aaron sorkin soured it for me and i, to this day, have not seen it. this is the first thing written about it that made me want to actually watch????
also....re: footnote #21....not an oppenheimer prophecy
ok fellow commenter and reader here and omg you're right that is a prophecy. I hope you do watch, and that you enjoy!
following up just to report back that jesse eisenberg in those slides is an understated masterclass in physical comedy. slipslappin all over cambridge. incredible
EXACTLY!!! YOU GET IT!!!
omg truly so kind of you to read this all the way through despite having not watched the movie!!! obviously i totally recommend it and i hope you enjoy!!!!! either way completely valid of you to just hate sorkin
read too many (im sorry) boondock saints (im so sorry) fanfics in the mid-aughts to stay away from a movie retrospective told via ex-pre/teens who got access to the wild west internet far too early!!
screaming..... thank you for being so raw and real!!!!!!! what i gather from this is that even if you weren't stanning tsn you implicitly Understood
In The Consumption Report's Taylor Swift Zine (which made me scream with excitement on the subway when it came into my inbox!) that references the world-class kenstewy getaway car fan edit which Akosua T. Adasi says made her care about Taylor Swift's music is how I feel about this all too well fan edit of the social network which made me actually listen to all of Red for the first time since it was released in 2012. tysm for ur newsletter it is literally phenomenal!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHrY79LcLJA - this is the link to watch the atw edit, it rocks
my roommate and i just did a rewatch of the social network and had this open the entire time as now sacred text needed in companion to the movie. the way hunter harris' newsletter made me care much more about martin scorsese is the way this newsletter (and Bottoms) has made me care about david fincher.