Aaron Sorkin's The Social Reckoning Receives Mixed Reviews

The long-awaited sequel to The Social Network has finally arrived in the form of The Social Reckoning, but critics are not impressed. The film's Metascore stands at 52, a rating that suggests a mixed bag of reviews.

One thing is certain - this is Aaron Sorkin's film through and through. A master of tropes and clichés, his writing style has been criticized for being predictable. In fact, the film's portrayal of female characters has been particularly panned by critics and audiences alike.

Sorkin's reputation for struggling to write nuanced female characters predates The Social Reckoning. His cameo in a 2011 episode of 30 Rock, where he played himself explaining writing to Tina Fey's Liz Lemon character, was seen as a joke about his own shortcomings in this area.

However, despite acknowledging the issue, Sorkin has yet to demonstrate significant improvement in this regard. The film's prologue introduces us to Kaylee, a young woman who finds herself at odds with law enforcement after an altercation.

The film takes an unexpected turn as we learn more about Kaylee's past through Facebook staffer Frances Haugen's testimony. Kaylee had been involved in progressive causes and even supported a Democratic nominee who she later believed was unfairly favored by the DNC.

This unnamed candidate is likely to be Bernie Sanders, given the implication that Sorkin may have preferred him over Joe Biden as the party's choice for president. This assumption is further fueled by Sorkin's 2024 suggestion that Biden should drop out of the presidential race to clear the way for Mitt Romney.

Frances Haugen believes that Facebook's algorithm played a significant role in pushing Kaylee towards extremist right-wing groups, despite her being a disgruntled leftist Democrat who spent over nine hours a day on the platform. This manipulation is portrayed as a contributing factor to Kaylee's later involvement in the Capitol insurrection.

In a telling scene, Sorkin highlights the sexist undertones of Jeff's behavior by having him address his male intern by name while referring to Kelley Pereira's character Evelyn as "Girl Intern.

The scene cuts to Mark Zuckerberg's (Jeremy Strong) preparation for his Senate testimony, where he's being coached by crisis PR expert Raya Akinola (Wunmi Mosaku). She teaches him how to address Senators respectfully and avoid robotic nods, but their efforts are constantly interrupted by a young blonde staffer named Blair.

Blair repeatedly suggests different neckties for Mark to wear during the testimony, highlighting the superficiality of her interventions. Despite the significance of this decision, the script portrays her suggestions as trivial and unimportant. Notably, Blair is played by Roxy Sophie Sorkin, Aaron's daughter.

The scene showcases how Sorkin often depicts women in his scripts with a lack of depth or respect. Even though Raya Akinola is portrayed as a competent expert, her presence is overshadowed by the more trivial concerns of Blair and other female characters.

Meanwhile, this compilation of scenes also highlights the internet's fascination with Aaron Sorkin, dating back to at least the early 2000s when he occasionally posted on message boards about The West Wing.

Frances is depicted as a zealous advocate for Facebook's mission, repeatedly emphasizing her commitment to its ideals. She claims that she's participating in Jeff's investigation solely to enhance the company, having previously tried and failed to make a positive impact from within.

In contrast, characters who use the internet are shown to be suffering negative consequences. A supermarket customer is seen berating a cashier for refusing to serve them without a mask, with the customer shouting do your research in frustration. Nearby, parents discuss how their daughter has been cyberbullied on Instagram.

These portrayals create an interesting dynamic, as they highlight the darker side of internet use while also showcasing characters who are deeply invested in Facebook's mission. This juxtaposition raises questions about the impact of social media on individuals and society.

Jeff is depicted as a somewhat clueless character, struggling to operate his GPS and later requiring assistance from Girl Intern to understand how ProtonMail works. This portrayal adds to the comedic tone of the film, but also serves to contrast with Frances's more idealistic views.

The film's depiction of internet use as a source of problems is further reinforced by its focus on characters who are struggling with online issues. The unmasked supermarket customer and the cyberbullied Instagram user both serve as examples of how social media can have negative consequences for individuals.

The movie The Social Reckoning has been praised for its nuanced portrayal of social media's impact on individuals and society as a whole.

However, it appears that creator Aaron Sorkin's own interests and influences have also made their way into the film. In one scene, Jeff is seen lecturing Girl Intern about the importance of classic American musicals, specifically referencing Show Boat.

This is not an isolated incident, as Sorkin has a well-documented love for classic musicals. His script has even borrowed from these shows, with The Pirates Of Penzance's never, ever sick at sea" making an appearance in Malice and Charlie Wilson's War.

In another scene, Jeff engages in a conversation with Frances about Facebook's alleged discovery of her leaking documents to him in violation of her non-disclosure agreement.

The scene showcases a TV producer's outdated perception of how audiences engage with media. This misapprehension is highlighted by his comparison of a tech professional's behavior to a 1964 television show, Gilligan's Island.

This example underscores the challenges faced by creatives who rose to prominence in an era of monoculture, where their work was widely consumed and often went unchallenged. Their views may not align with the diverse perspectives and behaviors that are prevalent today, leading to misunderstandings about how audiences interact with modern media.