Peter: The Social Network, Jonze, Boy A, Oscars

Sarah and I saw The Social Network a few weeks back, which as we've discussed, left me generally under-whelmed. I never managed to connect with the material – I didn't feel the story was that compelling (perhaps after the heavily publicised fact that much of it was fictionalised) and the delivery ended up feeling like an extended version of Law & Order to me with all the depositions. And I just never bought Facebook as this social revolution everyone is so desperate to convince us it is. The soundtrack was cool. 


Since then, I read an article about Spike Jonze directing Jackass 3D (either this makes him a brilliant maverick or a total tool, I can't decide which yet), and finally got around to sitting through the 30 minute commercial for vodka "short film" Jonze directed for Absolut, I'm Here – A love story in an Absolut world. Exactly.

But, it was cute in a Jonze/Gondry/precious kind of way and I thought Andrew Garfield gave a strong performance considering he had a box on his head the entire time. This lead me to track down a copy of Boy A, which he won a BAFTA for a few years back and was really impressed. I though the film and his performance were excellent. It was very affecting, even though to be honest I felt it was skewed heavily to make Garfield's character very sympathetic and never quite convinced me he was a brutal murderer. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it as I know it is at the top of you dvd pile.

Garfield has now been cast as the new Spiderman. Apparently that is his dream, because as he tells MTV "[Spiderman has] been a presence in my upbringing and a very symbolic figure and force of manhood and bravery and a moral compass."
Growing up, my moral compass was the cast of Melrose Place. 


While the Social Network was pretty ordinary for me, the competition to see who from the cast will score a best supporting actor nod for the Oscars is turning out better than the film. 


Earlier this week Vulture picked up on a Page Six report that Timberlake was trying to sideline Garfield from the Oscar race. Then Lainey followed up with this gem.


And while it is true that Garfield and Armie Hammer are "actually-deserving" (as one comment over at Vulture noted – ha!) I've considered it and am actually on board for a Timberlake nomination. I mean, there is no way he can actually win, not with his glorified 2 minutes on screen up against, like REAL actors. But you know, in his mind he believes he DESERVES that Oscar and to see the look on his face when he inevitably looses, priceless.


For what its worth, my money is on Hammer to take the nomination - he played twins. TWINS! I even remember wondering during the film how they even casted for that (and it was CGI all along). Of course in the end another actor from another film will win.


P.