Why the Social Network has no story, an unlikely hero, and will be a phenomenon!

It’s going to be a runaway success, a social phenomenon, a $100 million dollar box office hit and an Academy Award contender.

But the most surprising thing is: there is no story.

Let me start by saying this. I like it. I do.

It’s some of the best filmmaking we’ll see this year.

In a movie with just talking heads, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin proves he’s king of the spoken word and gives a seminar in crisp, smart dialogue, especially in the opening exchange between Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and his girlfriend (Rooney Mara). Filmmaker David Fincher directs with hypnotic style and seething, stunning cinematography.

The cast delivers riveting performances, from newcomer Andrew Garfield’s sensitive portrayal of Facebook co-creator Eduardo Saverin, musician-turned-actor Justin Timberlake’s swarmy performance of Napster’s Sean Parker, and the surprising tour de force of Jesse Eisenberg’s Mark Zuckerberg. And with a mesmerizing musical score, this movie exudes the mood of cool.

Yet, I walked out of the theatre feeling unfulfilled.

And that’s because of the movie’s unlikely protagonist.

Here’s a hint. It’s not Mark Zuckerberg.

{SPOILER ALERT}

If you’ve seen the movie, let me ask you. Who are you rooting for?

Are you rooting for the Winklevoss twins to prove Zuckerberg stole their idea? Are you rooting for Eduardo to prove Zuckerberg stabbed him in the back? Or are you hoping Zuckerberg will show some form of redemption for his crimes as a dickhead, by either recovering the one friend he had or proving that at least it was all worth it?

Well, if you are, none of that really gets a resolution. We don't learn the truth. We don't learn outcome of these lawsuits. We don't learn the fate of Eduardo and Zuckerberg. At the conclusion of the movie, as we wait for answers, Zuckerberg's lawyer (Rashida Jones) tells him, during a deposition break, you’ll pay these guys off, buy their silence, and this will all be a speed bump on the road of your success. And that's all we get. Drama over.

It could have been a story about Zuckerberg’s emergence as a ruthless CEO, but he ends the movie the same asshole he was from the beginning. It could have been about his seduction into business, but his ideals never really change. It could have been a story about his desperate need for attention, but once he's made Facebook, we never see him seek attention.

Sure, he starts Facemash to take his mind off a girl and he ends his nightly deposition looking to friend request that same girl. So the theme could have been that the nerds of the world can’t get chicks, so they go form billion dollar companies. It could have been that, but it’s not.

Zuckerberg’s movie goal is to protect Facebook. Not for attention or connection. He does it because he must. He follows his omniscient view of the future, pushing Facebook on its natural, almost predetermined course towards greatdom. But Zuckerberg shows no empathy, makes no decisions on screen, faces no dilemmas or dramas. It’s not his movie.

So who are we rooting for?

You see, every movie needs a hero (or villain) to root for. And at the end, that hero has to either succeed or fail. There must be resolution. But we get no resolution from Zuckerberg, Eduardo, or even the Winklevoss twins! With no resolution, we have no story!

So how can this successful and entertaining movie have no story?

How can it have no protagonist?

Well, actually, it does have a protagonist.

The protagonist is Facebook.

Aaron Sorkin admits this was a story about two lawsuits. Rather than pick a singular direction, they decided to tell all three points of view. That’s because they didn’t care about these other characters, you know, Zuckerberg and Eduardo. They’re just supporting actors to the real lead of the movie.

So how does the movie succeeds despite a human hero?

Because you know what’s cool. Facebook is cool...

It's a story about the rise of Facebook. We want Zuckerberg to defend Facebook from challengers who would impose advertising on it too soon. We want Zuckerberg to overcome these lawsuits that threaten to derail the creative power behind Facebook. We want Facebook to reach two continents, 100 schools, and 1 million members. Not for Zuckerberg’s sake, but for Facebook’s sake. We want Facebook to overcome all obstacles. We're rooting for Facebook.

The movie is a trip back to college. A snapshot into the geeky world of website programming, with creators who lord their intelligence over others, who get groupies, who party on the way to billionaire status. Who wouldn't want to come along for that ride? We're connecting with Facebook.

In reality, we all want to see where Facebook is going. We all want to participate in the evolution of this connecting phenomenon. And the movie is just another way to participate. This is why it succeeds.

This is the absent-minded genius of the Social Network filmmakers. In foolishly failing to give Zuckerberg a resolution at the end, the movie becomes about Facebook.

It becomes about us. It feels like our story.