Tripwire Looks At The Social Network Trend

Looking At A Modern Film Fashion

Tripwire’s contributing writer Paul N Neal has written for Tripwire in the past when he thinks he has noticed a trend in television or cinema…

Paul argues that the success of the 2010 movie The Social Network spawned a new genre of biographical films that until that point did not exist. He freely concedes that films that opened our eyes to the lives of real people or true-life events had obviously existed before. Raging Bull, Gandi, Saving Private Ryan and even JFK among many, many others all chronicled significant historical events or the personal struggles that led to individual personal triumphs.

He contends that The Social Network kickstarted a new category of films for passionate moviemakers to explore and exploit. Specifically, he argues it created a new fascination with entrepreneurs, innovators, inventors, and the various scandals that often surrounded these individuals. He suggests that an appetite to discover more about these real-life people did not exist before 2010.

Paul will look at each film, sharing the essential facts and figures in each case alongside a few very brief words. He begins at the source:

The Social Network (2010)

Director: David Fincher.
Main Cast: Jessie Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake.
Reported Budget: $40m.
Box Office: $224m.
Subject matter: The origins of Facebook.
Thoughts: The Social network was, profitable, critically praised and alongside many other nominations and trophies brought a Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for Aaron Sorkin.

Jobs (2013)

Director: Joshua Michael Stern.
Main Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Dermot Mulroney, JK Simmons.
Reported Budget: $12m
Box Office: $42m
Subject matter: The early life and career of Apple founder Steve Jobs.
Thoughts: While slightly profitably. Jobs did not receive widespread critical acclaim. Given the significance of Steve Jobs… another bigger and bolder cinematic effort was surely inevitable….

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Director: James Marsh.
Main Cast:  Eddie Redmayne, Felicia Jones, Charlie Cox.
Reported Budget: $15m
Box Office: $123m
Subject matter: How Stephen Hawking helped invent a whole new understanding of the origins of the entire universe.
Thoughts: This a moving, wonderfully acted period film that was nominated for dozens of awards with Eddie Redmayne winning the Best Actor Oscar for his performance. It is not always an easy film to enjoy but that may be the point.

The Imitation Game (2014)

Director: Morten Tyldum.
Main Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Charles Dance.
Reported Budget: $14m
Box Office: $233m
Subject matter: The creation of the machine that broke the codes in the enigma machine and consequently created what would become the personal computer.
Thoughts: Essential viewing. An almost flawless biopic. A must-watch film. 

Steve Jobs (2015)

Director: Danny Boyle
Main Cast: Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Jeff Daniels.
Reported: Budget: $30m dollars.
Box Office: $34.4m dollars.
Subject matter: Three nights in the life of Steve Jobs.

Thoughts: While far from hugely profitable the film was critically adored. It is notable for Aaron Sorkin return to the genre, except on this occasion the West Wing creator’s script didn’t absolutely compute after it received criticism for a lack of historical accuracy from several quarters. (We came very close to walking out of this film -Ed)

Joy (2015)

Director: David O. Russell
Main Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Isabella Rossellini.
Reported Budget: $60m.
Box Office: $100m.
Subject matter: The invention of the Miracle Mop!
Thoughts: Joy is a far from a perfect film, nonetheless it made a concerted effort to clean up at the box office and it is well worth seeing purely for Jennifer Lawrence’s stellar lead performance.

The Founder (2016)

Director: John Lee Hancock
Main Cast: Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, Laura Dern.
Reported Budget: $25m
Box Office: Approximately: $24m
Subject matter: The creation of the fast-food franchise McDonalds.
Thoughts: You’d be mad not to tuck into this juicy film at least once. Michael Keaton is always wonderful value for money (more so than a McDonalds nowadays perhaps) but here the greatest ever Batman actor absolutely sizzles.

The Current War (2017)

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon.
Main Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Tom Holland.
Reported Budget: $30m
Box Office: Almost: $13m
Subject matter: The creation of the electricity industry?
Thoughts: While occasionally engaging, The Current War was a box office disaster and critical disappointment. It is distinctly average and rather boring. It really is only vaguely illuminating.

Tesla (2020)

Director: Michael Almereyda.
Main Cast: Ethan Hawke, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Kyle MacLachlan.
Reported Budget: Unknown
Box Office: Approximately $450,000
Subject matter: Nicola Tesla’s role in understanding electricity.
Thoughts: Despite an atrocious box office it must be said Tesla is a hidden jewel in the rough. Ethan Hawke gives a captivating performance, and frankly you have not lived until you have seen Hawke’s (fully in character) rendition of the Tears For Fears’ classic “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.” (Yes, that particular scene is on YouTube.)

Lamborghini (2022)

Director: Bobby Moresco.
Main Cast: Frank Grillo.
Reported Budget: Wisely unreported.
Box Office: $1.7m.
Subject matter: The creation of the Lamborghini car manufacturer.
Thoughts: Arguable one of the worst films in history. It has very little going for it. This is almost the worst film included here: Apart from one even worse that is listed a tiny bit later! You have been warned.

Blackberry (2023)

Director: Matt Johnson.
Main Cast: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Michael Ironside.
Reported Budget: $5m.
Box Office: $3m.
Subject matter: The spectacular story of the creation of the Blackberry.
Thoughts: While a box office disaster, for those in the know this is a much-loved streaming gem that is well worth checking out. This is a hidden modern classic.

Tetris (2023)

Director: Jon S Baird.
Main Cast: Taron Egerton, Nikita Efremov, Toby Jones.
Reported Budget: Reports indicate $80m.
Box Office: As an Apple TV+ production this is unknown.
Subject matter: The creation the computer game Tetris.
Thoughts: Jon S Baird is an accomplished British television director with an impressive CV. Tetris is a genuinely entertaining and enjoyable funny film. Highly recommended indeed.

Ferrari (2023)

Director: Michael Mann.
Main Cast: Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley.
Reported Budget: 93 million dollars.
Box Office: 43 million dollars.
Subject matter: Enzo Ferrari’s creation of the Ferrari brand.
Thoughts: While critics had a soft spot for Michael Mann’s biopic, cinema goers were less than keen. Despite its occasionally exhilarating moments this is a film that overstays its welcome. Given the subject matter, it is incredibly, almost tragically, slow going.

The Inventor (2023)

Director: Jim Capobianco.
Main Voice Cast: Stephen Fry, Marion Cotillard, Daisy Ridley.
Reported Budget: $10m.
Box Office: $4m.
Subject matter: The life of the greatest inventor, Leonardo DaVinci.
Thoughts: Whether this was aimed at younger viewers or adults is debatable, either way it is an utterly charming if uneven slice of animated pleasure.

Oppenheimer (2023)

Director: Christopher Nolan.
Main Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr.
Reported Budget: $100m.
Box Office: $975m.
Subject matter:  The invention of the atom bomb.
Thoughts: Oppenheimer became an award and box office juggernaut. It is a movie that all cinephiles should see this explosive film at least once on the big screen.

Unfrosted (2024)

Director: Jerry Seinfeld.
Main Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer.
Reported Budget: 70 million dollars.
Box Office: As a Netflix production this is unknown.
Subject matter:  The Invention of the American breakfast / snack food Pop-Tarts.
Thoughts: This is a crazy film that divided critics and viewers alike. Surely it has merit just to watch a couple of scenes where Hugh Grant plays the Frosties mascot Tony The Tiger? …Trust me They’re Grreeeatt!!

The Apprentice (2024)

Director: Ali Abbasi.
Main Cast: Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong.
Reported Budget: $16m.
Box Office: Fractionally over $17m.
Subject matter: The rise to power and fame (or infamy) of Donald Trump.
Thoughts: It is a great shame The Apprentice was not a greater financial success. Sebastian Stan was quite rightly praised for his role as the future President. This is an excellent film that deserved a much wider audience.

Paul decided his theory could not end on the sublime delight of a Chistopher Nolan masterpiece or mention of Donald Trump but rather he wanted to end on the ridiculous folly a dreadful film from 2014 that also fits his theory.

United Passions (2014)

Director: Frédéric Auburtin.
Main Cast: Tim Roth, Sam Neill, Gerard Depardieu.
Reported Budget: $32m.

Global Box Office: $168,000.
North American Box Office: $918!
Subject matter: The story of Sepp Blatter, the creation of FIFA the football governing body and the World Cup.
Thoughts: This film is included because it fits the model of an innovator and his troubled story. The fact that it also happens to be one of the very worst films ever produced in any genre is simply an amusing bonus. This film has no redeeming features whatsoever. It should only be viewed by absolute movie completists with a morbid fascination for atrocious writing and filmmaking….   Incidentally for a film about football it features almost zero football!

Is Paul onto a trend? Has he missed any examples to support his argument?

As ever, Tripwire welcomes any feedback or online comments.