The Social Reckoning tells the story of data scientist Francis Haugen and journalist Jeff Horwitz, as they join forces to steal documents, leading to the 2021 Facebook Files leak.
Dramatised with humour rippled through the film, we see how Facebook has risen from The Social Network beginnings and become a billion-dollar empire by 2021, still led by Mark Zuckerberg, but this time played by Jeremy Strong. His performance is robotic (in a good way), sometimes childish and yet direct, playing on the stereotypes of the Facebook CEO. You can see cogs whirring behind his eyes as every decision is meticulously made, either by Mark or the team built heavily around him. Strong’s eyes are glazed over, focused on the facts, but in times of crisis, you can see them soften, show emotion and worry. You feel this with him, wanting to scream at him to make the best choice.
First however, we’re in 2019, with Haugen as she tries to do great work at Facebook. When no one listens to her, she turns to outside the company. Mikey Madison powerfully brings Francis to the big screen, different in appearance to the real-life whistleblower, but still bringing sharp, clever, shy, weirdo energy we quickly grow to root for. Calm and collected, Madison commits to the role with clear integrity, showcasing her phenomenal skill.
She meets Jeremy Allen White, playing prize winning journalist Jeff Horwitz as a paper writer and tech newbie with a warmth you fall for. Speaking with Reuters, the real Jeff never met the actor playing him, saying, “my understanding is that [Andy] Sorkin told White the character of Jeff Horwitz was his to invent, which is probably for the best.”
White continues to show his versatility on screen, with compassion and depth for every character he plays, Horwitz being no exception. He’s detailed and kind, a brilliant figure for Madison to battle and build a case with.
The film has been described as a standalone companion piece to the 2010 award dominating The Social Network, also written by Andy Sorkin, but this time directed by him too. Because of this, the overall style is very different to David Fincher’s fast paced original book adaptation, but Sorkin uses it as an origin story rather than fact that must be followed. Do not plan to see the film if you’re wanting a part two that relishes in wild moments and feels like a planned follow up, instead go for the smart film adaptation of an incredible duo who took on a giant. It’s powerful and persuasive, from the prologue to the end cards, at highlighting how something amazing can have a downfall, often without us even realising what’s going on behind the scenes, but doesn’t always hit a great peak. With its non-linear timeline and multiple viewpoints, it keeps you learning about the story and the impacts social media has and continues to, inspiring some post credits research from the audience.
From reactions about Covid-19 masks and swallowing chlorophyll to change how you smell, to sickening hatred and the demanding of power, Facebook has gone from a way to connect with friends to a way that connects the world with the perils of free speech. Jeremy Strong, as Mark Zuckerberg, says at one point in the film, “we’re a corkboard, we don’t control what people pin to it.” But when 43% of adults get their news from Facebook (according to the film), where is the controlling of unchecked expression that easily radicalises readers to promote harm? Even through Horwitz’s investigative Facebook Files, published by the Wall Street Journal, with Haugen as a key source and now world speaker on the topics, we have been presented the information, but limited our reaction. We know about the problem but hope, or assume, someone else will fix it.
The Social Reckoning puts us all on trial in a way, leaving you thinking about your digital footprint, what you post and the rabbit holes it leads you down. But like Facebook, now Meta, has shied away from taking accountability, will we ever change for good, or just hope no one notices? As with the film, there’s power in these thoughts and conversations, pushing the audience to challenge those in high positions and the rights we have as the public, but whether it’ll be a life changing film that continues to be followed and thought about long after release like its predecessor… the jury is out.
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