The hype for director David Fincher’s 2010 film The Social Network was strong and, in my opinion, deservingly so; I seem to like it more and more every time I watch it. However, I didn’t expect to like the soundtrack, composed by Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails fame) and Atticus Ross. Being a big fan of Alexandre Desplat’s score for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, I was rooting for (and expecting) his score for The King’s Speech to win. At the time, though, I hadn’t heard the scores to either The Social Network or The King’s Speech, so, when The Social Network took the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 83rd Academy Awards, I decided to buy both and decide for myself which I liked more, expecting the Desplat to win.
To my surprise, I liked The Social Network’s score more.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ score to this movie is, to say the least, unconventional. Most of the time you hear an orchestra in the background of a film, not a bunch of electronics and guitar, but that’s exactly what you get in The Social Network…and it’s delightful.
From the haunting piano melody of “Hand Covers Bruise” (which acts as the theme for the film) to the underlying excitement of “Intriguing Possibilities” to a sort of experimental electronic rock in “Eventually We Find Our Way”, Reznor/Ross’ score delivers in every way I can think of: excitement, atmosphere, tension, emotion, etc.
My favorite tracks are “In Motion”, “Intriguing Possibilities”, “Pieces Form the Whole”, and “Carbon Prevails”, and the arrangement of the classic “In the Hall of the Mountain King” is reminiscent of the work of composer Wendy Carlos (TRON, The Shining).
The score for The Social Network has something in it for everyone, whether you are a fan of the film or not. Check it out!
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
1.”Hand Covers Bruise” 4:18
2.”In Motion”4:56
3.”A Familiar Taste” 3:35
4.”It Catches Up with You” 1:39
5.”Intriguing Possibilities” 4:24
6.”Painted Sun in Abstract” 3:29
7.”3:14 Every Night” 4:03
8.”Pieces Form the Whole” 4:16
9.”Carbon Prevails” 3:53
10.”Eventually We Find Our Way” 4:17
11.”Penetration” 1:14
12.”In the Hall of the Mountain King” (Edvard Grieg) 2:21
13.”On We March” 4:14
14.”Magnetic” 2:10
15.”Almost Home” 3:33
16.”Hand Covers Bruise, Reprise” 1:52
17.”Complication with Optimistic Outcome” 3:19
18.”The Gentle Hum of Anxiety” 3:53
19.”Soft Trees Break the Fall” 4:44
Total length: app. 67 min.
-Chad
Chad Likes Movies 
What are your thoughts?