I'm interested in this movie mostly because I've enjoyed movies by its director ("Fight Club", "Seven", "Panic Room", "Zodiac") and writer ("The American President", "A Few Good Men"). You can't judge a movie based on its subject matter, and sometimes doing that can make you miss out on something you might really like. I refused to watch "Jaws" for years, because despite its reputation, I was convinced that there's no way a movie about a shark attacking people could be anything but stupid. When I finally saw it, I was blown away and regretted having such a closed-minded attitude towards it for so many years.
Yeah, that's my point. Fincher has talent. It takes a lot for me to admit that because of my feelings on Alien 3. However, this movie doesn't look like his style. In all his good movies, there was a lot of underwritten metaphor and social commentary. An example would be Tyler's briefcase is the same as the main character's, but contains different things. The main character comments "We have the same briefcase." Later on (SPOILER ALERT) we learn they're the same person, since the main character has a split personality. Two people, different on the inside, but looking exactly the same on the inside. That's some clever and subtle foreshadowing.
As for social commentary, the monologue the main character does about everything being a copy of a copy is brilliant, especially since the camera only shows the office workers at chest level, so everyone has black pants, white shirts and ties. It's subtle, but it's effective and says a lot, especially when a lot of people can identify with it. Compare it to a not so great film, like "Wanted", where the main character says a similar speech to Nine Inch Nails singing "Everyday is exactly the same." That message is a little more obvious and... dumber, for it, as well.
My point is that what the hell can you milk out of a college douchebag doing douchebag things? Any metaphors or analogies or even just similies are going to stick out like a tuxedo at a Linkin Park concert. The college environment, populous and audience are just not good for film making... or anything, really, but that's besides the point.
As for Zuckerberg being "mad" about the portrayal of him, I challenge you to find a movie made about a living person in which the living person wasn't pissed off to some degree. Even the guy from "The Blind Side" was all types of hurt because they showed his character learning how to play football. Never mind the fact he was shown as an honest, caring, well rounded individual who overcame adversity, or anything.
No one is ever satisfied, especially with themselves.
