Watch a film that won an Oscar associated with its screenplay. Click here to see a list.
Write 3 – 5 paragraphs about why you think this film won an Oscar for its screenplay (do not choose a film that you have already posted on). Reference applicable concepts and vocabulary from this week’s course material. Make sure that the focus is on the screenplay, not the acting or directorial choices.
Respond to at least 2 of your classmates.
Here is my answer
The film I chose for this week’s discussion post is “The Social Network”. Which as most of us know is about the social media giant “Facebook”. “The Social Network” explores the moment at which Facebook, the most revolutionary social phenomena of the new century, was created through the warring perspectives of the brilliant young men who each claimed to be there at its inception. The result is a drama rife with both creation and destruction; one that audaciously avoids a singular POV, but instead, by tracking dueling narratives, mirrors the clashing truths and constantly morphing social relationships that define our time. The film captures the visceral thrill of the heady early days of a culture-changing phenomenon in the making and the way it both pulled a group of young revolutionaries together and then split them apart. Despite losing to The King’s Speech for Best Picture, The Social Network won 3 Oscar Awards including Best Film Editing by the dynamic duo Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter, Best Adapted Screenplay by American screenwriter, producer and playwright Aaron Sorkin, and Best original score by singer-songwriter, composer, and producer Trent Reznor. Also, for me, I think the themes of friendship, loyalty, jealousy, class and power, play a big part in the story. Which had a more personal meaning and interest in watching this film. Even after watching the events, and even knowing where the movie diverged from truth, it is an interesting story, as well as being well told. It is one of the great stories of our time, and while not every fact is 100% accurate, it is totally enjoyable and I think Sorkin did I great job on the screenplay and well deserving of his Oscar for this film.
