Blu-ray Review: The Social Network
How does the Oscar front-runner hold up in hi-def?
My opinion of The Social Network as a film is pretty well documented from my theatrical review to my day-to-day Oscar coverage. In short, it's a good film that impressed me more technically than it did narratively. This seems like a negative opinion considering the film is loved from so many corners, but it's not in any way. I'm just not gushing over it like most. That said, Sony's Blu-ray presentation of their Oscar Best Picture front-runner is just as technically impressive as the technical brilliance of the film it holds.
To no surprise, the film looks and sounds excellent. The Social Network's audio and visual design are two of the standout aspects and this quality is replicated on the Blu-ray. This excellence includes the terrific sound design, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's score and Jeff Cronenweth's cinematography and everything is discussed in full on this dual disc.
The first disc includes the film along with two separate commentaries. The first commentary is with director David Fincher, which is really the more revealing look at the process behind the making of the film. For an example of Fincher's commentary you can check out my translation of his commentary on the Henley Royal Regatta scene right here.
The second commentary includes writer Aaron Sorkin and members of the cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer and Josh Pence. This commentary isn't quite as technically informative, but it is revealing in learning more about the actors' interaction with Fincher, the approach to the material and their interpretation of the material and their characters.
Disc two is where you'll find a massive amount of behind-the-scenes materials. First is a four-part documentary presented in a feature format running just over an hour-and-a-half. Titled "How Did They Ever Make a Movie of Facebook?" this documentary touches on every aspect imaginable and anything missed is picked up elsewhere. Additional features have Cronenweth and Fincher discussing the visuals and another has Fincher, Reznor and Ross discussing the score, which is coupled with an exploration of an alternate version of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" for the Regatta scene and a "Swarmatron" feature looking at an instrument Reznor used for the score.
Next is a cool multi-angle look at the Ruby Skye scene that gives you four separate looks at the club scene between Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake from interviews, the tech scout, rehearsal and principal photography. My personal recommendation is watch this one last because you'll hear a lot of talk about it throughout the commentaries and additional featurettes and this one gives you a chance to see what you've heard discussed in action and not only in terms of this individual scene, but as far as the whole production is concerned.
Finally, another feature has Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter and Ren Klyce discussing the post production, but if you've been watching the videos I've posted (here and here) you're probably already up on a lot of this. However, the production value of this featurette, and the rest of them for that matter, makes for rather fresh and entertaining behind-the-scenes looks and the material on this disc rarely, if ever, repeats itself.
Overall, if you're a fan of this film buying this disc is a no-brainer. Not only does the film look excellent in high definition, but the nearly two-and-a-half-hours of special features on the second disc are such an added bonus it's like getting two movies. Honestly, even as someone that didn't include it on his top ten I would be buying this release, Sony really has done a stellar job putting together a package any film fan can appreciate. You get a good film and a batch of features that touch on a myriad of aspects of the filmmaking process and their impact on the end result.
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I wish they would include these features for those who don't have blu-ray players. Oh well, given Sony's new site for the film, there's plenty of behind the scenes stuff to be viewed elsewhere.
That's one of the incentives of Blu-ray mate.
Sony were heading the battle for Blu so things like this just pile more preasure for people like yourself to join us on the Blu said.
Just got the DVDm and I'm enormously happy with the features. They're not just some fluffy bits of interviews with actors praising directors. They really show every creative process that's involved. Everything from the choices that are made with characters to the technical stand points, It amazed me that they were willing to show as much with the features as they did. I loved watching Sorkin and Fincher argue about the dynamics of the script because that's what the arguments during the creative process are like and should be. Bravo!
Do you think this title is going to be released by the criterion anytime soon? Bc I'd rather have that release.
Highly doubtful and probably never.
why? they did button right after release
That was for Paramount, this is a Sony release and the studio has to give up the rights for Criterion to handle it. Unless I am mistaken the recent "America Lost & Found: The BBS Story" release was the first time Sony licensed anything to Criterion since DVD arrived.
That set was a sign that perhaps more Sony titles will be licensed to Criterion, but I doubt they will start with their recent Best Picture front-runner. I can't say a definitive "no" but I will say I would never expect it to happen.
Chances are you're looking at stuff like From Here to Eternity, Midnight Express and maybe titles from their Classics division.
I live in the UK. We don't have Criterion but you guys talk about it very highly.
What's so great about their releases? Better transfer? More extras??
Both.
So it turns out the DVD version is two discs. It's very nicely packaged too, not the cardboard and plastic recyclable boxes that pretty much everything comes in now. I picked it up at Best Buy for $12.99…which for a two-disc DVD is an absolute steal. Regarding the Criterion discussion, it almost seems like Sony is trying to imitate them with this release…nice packaging, titling the second disc "The Supplements," which Criterion always does. No booklet though. Criterion releases are always nice, but occasionally if studios take the time they can put together very top-notch releases on their own, and that seems to be the case here. Looking forward to digging into the special features over the next few days.
I finally got into blu-ray (I wanted to make sure it was sticking around) and I couldn't be happier with my new Sony player. All the bells and whistles you could wish for including 3D playback (in case I ever go down that route) at a bargain price of £129 – I even got free postage!. I got the chance to do a proper comparison between regular DVD and blu-ray copies of Fight Club – there's no argument, br quality is unbelievable, even on a 52" screen. Just bought the social network half an hour ago now I can't wait to get home to watch!