The film begins with the earnest Zuckerberg returning to his dorm after a disastrous date with a fellow student. There he drunkenly starts something that will lead to the creation of Facebook and will ultimately lead to personal and legal clashes which will change his life forever.

Thanks to an excellent script from Aaron Sorkin and convincing performances particularly from Eisenberg as Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield as Zuckerberg's best friend and co-creator of Facebook Eduardo Saverin, this film really shines and avoids becoming another clichéd cautionary rags to riches tale.

At first seeing David Fincher's name as director made me wonder was he the right choice with his pedigree as a director of thrillers? As it transpired he was the perfect choice with his trademark moodiness and atmosphere evoked clearly in every scene of the film. The lighting, camera angles, use of the grand locations of Harvard and its halls full of tradition and history juxtaposed with the disorganisation and chaos of student digs as well as the sterile legal offices where the action unfolds are perfectly evoked thanks to Fincher's direction.

I have to say that a talky two hour film mainly about computer boffins falling out with each other probably does not have mass appeal but 'The Social Network' has humour, drama and suspense. I was thoroughly engrossed for its duration and the time flew by. The music, acting and dialogue are all spot-on and there is not one misstep taken. Dark and compelling I was riveted as the acerbic and sardonic Zuckerberg thumbed his nose at the social elite of Harvard University with its exclusive clubs and tradition. Charting a journey from students to businessmen and illustrating how money can ruin friendships 'The Social Network' is perhaps the most intelligent and well executed film of 2010.