A Sorkin-saturated Facebook sequel

Key Points:

• The Social Reckoning, written by Aaron Sorkin, resembles a punchy two-hour TV episode with dramatic but sometimes goofy dialogue reminiscent of Sorkin's previous works like The Newsroom and The West Wing.
• Jesse Eisenberg’s brash portrayal of Zuckerberg in The Social Network contrasts sharply with Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s subdued and robotic performance in this film, which lacks the necessary presence despite being central to the story.
• The film features strong supporting performances, particularly from actors like Bill Burr, Wunmi Mosaku, Betty Gilpin, and Madeline Brewer, with Brewer’s portrayal of a conflicted data scientist standing out as the most nuanced.
• Sorkin’s script exhibits dated attitudes, including awkward sexism and defensive responses to female characters, alongside visual and thematic callbacks to classic Hollywood and his own earlier career.
• While the film honors journalists exposing Facebook’s misconduct, it struggles with pacing, dramatic infighting, and a reluctance to directly address key political issues such as Donald Trump’s role in January 6th, which undermines its impactful revelations.