Barbarians at the Gate

Updated Movies to See Right Now

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Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network

Make sure that you see The Social Network.   The birth story of Facebook is a riveting tale of college sophomores that are brilliant, ambitious, immature, self-absorbed and disloyal – and about to become zillionaires.  It’s a triumph for actor Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland, Zombieland and Solitary Man), director David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac) and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The West Wing, Charlie Wilson’s War).  It’s already on my list of Best Movies of 2010 – So Far.

I’m still pushing the hardhitting documentary The Tillman Story. Without strongly recommending it, I can say that The Town is a satisfying Hollywood thriller.  You can skip Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger.

For trailers and other choices, see Movies to See Right Now.

My DVD of the Week, like The Social Network, is a classic send up of contemporary business history:  Barbarians at the Gate.     For my recent DVD choices (including trailers), see DVDs of the Week.

I’m featuring Hail! The Conquering Hero on TV this week.  Other Movies on TV include  Strangers on a Train, The Big Sleep and The Best Years of Our Lives, all coming up on TCM.  Baseball fans might still be able to find Ken Burns’ The Tenth Inning on PBS.

DVD of the Week: Barbarians at the Gate

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The Social Network reminded me of another classic send up of contemporary business history:  Barbarians at the Gate.     Barbarians is the story of late 1980s corporate excess centered on the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.  James Garner, Fred Thompson and Jonathan Pryce star as the duelling CEOs bouncing between corporate jets, boardrooms and must-be-seen-at charity galas with their egos and trophy wives.  Barbarians at the Gate was originally broadcast on HBO and is available from Netflix.