The Beacon’s one-stop guide to music, film, dining and culture.
The Social Network (Photo courtesy of callingallgeeks.org)
By Elizabeth Tertadian & Sarah Hansell, Staff Commentary
SEE... THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Facebook. I check mine multiple times a day. In fact, I get updates sent straight to my Blackberry and I don't know where I would be without it. How am I supposed to know who that guy I met at that one party that weekend was? More importantly, how am I supposed to find out if he is single, and if he is, how to get in touch with him? It was this idea that sparked the relationship status box on Facebook and, to some extent, how Facebook started.
"The Social Network," starring Jesse Eisenberg, who is most commonly known for his performances in "Zombieland" and "Adventureland," gives viewers an inside look to how the website they frequent multiple times a day came to be.
"The Social Network" includes action of the intellectual sort. Power struggles are the source of action, as undergrads unmercifully pursue fame, money and girls. Who knew so much drama was linked behind the creation of one website? There was a lot of it
The story is told in pieces, with frequent flash forwards to the lawsuit Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg faces, and then back in time to when he was just an undergrad at Harvard who was dumped, drunk and writing computer code.
Eisenberg's role as Zuckerberg was spot-on. His rapid-fire speaking and lackadaisical view on worldly things, such as making money, kept me entertained the entire film. Co-star Justin Timberlake played a role as the creator of Napster, and I didn't even have one thought of *NSYNC.
"The Social Network" is a powerful movie that sheds new light on the website on which no one can spend enough time. It leaves viewers thoughtful and appreciative of both Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg – more than they ever thought they would.
– Elizabeth Tertadian
LISTEN TO ... KATE NASH.
Where can you get angsty, straightforward lyrics on everything from sexism to cheating exes that are sung in a British accent layered over an energetic retro beat?
You can find all these things from Kate Nash in her 2010 album "My Best Friend Is You." Nash, a British singer and songwriter, pulls together an eclectic array of topics, ranging from the hard-hitting feminist rap "Mansion Song" to the sultry rock ‘n' roll "I Just Love You More."
Her new album has everything from quiet love songs reminiscent of the "Juno" soundtrack, to poppy, upbeat girl power melodies.
It's easy to find songs with catchy beats and predictable themes, but Nash's music is quirky and unexpected — with both shocking and whimsical lyrics, and a different type of sound to each song. Her music has a more authentic feel than a lot of other more marketable albums, not just because she writes her own songs, but also because she plays her own music like guitar, bass, synthesizer, keyboard, and drums.
Kate Nash's music doesn't conform, and that's what I love about her. Her music is totally her own, and it seems to me, just from hearing her cover of "Irreplaceable" by Beyonce that she just loves singing and making music. I definitely recommend attending her concert on November 1st at the Wonder Ballroom here in Portland.
– Sarah Hansell
Kate Nash (Photo courtesy of shelvesofvinyl.blogspot.com)
