If Joaquin Phoenix can (reportedly) get away with it, why not the creators of “The Social Network?”
Yes, ladies and gentleman, “The Social Network" - your cinematic expose of the creation of Facebook and its founders - will include bared breasts, cocaine and, of course, Justin Timberlake.
The combination of those three elements was called into question last week when the film's producer, Scott Rudin, told the NYTimes that one scene in particular could possibly not make it into the movie's final cut.
There's been much debate about how much truth "The Social Network" will shed light on, including a party scene depicting Napster co-founder Sean Parker, played by Justin Timberlake, gives a speech amidst young women offering lines of cocaine on their revealed breasts, is one moment that's been disputed. (Aaron Sorkin wrote the script, basing it on court documents and journalist Ben Mezrich's somewhat fictionalized book, "The Accidental Billionaires.")
A source close to production told the NYT that the scene is largely fictionalized; however, Rudin’s concern was more concentrated on potentially losing a PG-13 rating.
But not to worry: It looks like the scene made the cut after all, THR reported Tuesday.
And according to the Atlantic, an early review is pleased with Rudin's tale –- and with Timberlake’s portrayal of a party-hard Parker - however embellished the film’s story may be.
The review, posted on the website of the New York Film Festival where the movie will premiere next month, called “The Social Network” “splendid entertainment from a master storyteller, packed with energetic incident and surprising performances (not least from Justin Timberlake as Napster founder Sean Parker, who's like Zuckerberg's flamboyant, West Coast id).”
So while "Social Network" may sound more like “one long game of movie ‘telephone,’" as /Film suggests, it remains to be seen how much that will affect the movie's relevancy and entertainment value. You can answer that question for yourself when it opens in theaters on October 1.