Sixteen years after David Fincher’s The Social Network took cinema by storm, its writer, Aaron Sorkin, returns to write and direct a sequel that addresses the aftermath of Facebook’s effect on the world, particularly in America. Sorkin takes a different approach, narrowing the scope to focus on the investigative journalism and whistleblowing carried out by Facebook employee Frances Haugen. The result is a highly watchable movie that dramatizes what happens after Haugen, a Facebook data engineer, realizes the negative effects of her company’s work.
Mikey Madison stars as Frances Haugen, a Facebook data engineer who begins to notice the negative effects her company has on the world, particularly in the United States. As she realizes the powers-that-be, especially CEO Mark Zuckerberg, don’t want to take accountability for the negative climate they are creating, she reaches out to Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz (Jeremy Allen White) to reveal the truth.
I definitely have a soft spot for movies that celebrate courageous rebels who want to disrupt the egregious practices of big companies, and The Social Reckoning definitely did that for me. Though it doesn’t break new ground or present information the public doesn’t already know, I still enjoyed seeing it play out on the big screen. Sorkin’s dialogue-heavy writing kept me invested and entertained as his characters replay everything in a dramatic, heightened fashion.
I also enjoyed watching this cast commit to Sorkin’s vision. I enjoyed the exchanges between Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White, as they portray vastly different characters. Madison’s Haugen is a very intelligent young lady who hasn’t completely lost her soul, hasn’t crossed to the dark side, and still has the moral compass to do the right thing. White’s Horwitz is portrayed as an old-school, analog-schooled journalist who initially feels out of his depth as he takes on this career-changing story. Jeremy Strong portrays Mark Zuckerberg as a mostly cold, calculating, but still petulant company head who remains undaunted and unrepentant about his company and the repercussions of their work.
The Social Reckoning will not win any accolades at the end of the year. Still, it is a solid piece of work that addresses the ongoing impact Facebook and social media have had on the world and America. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a must-see for a full-priced ticket, or even a theatrical watch. Still, it’s a mostly satisfying follow-up to The Social Network, if you don’t have too high expectations.