When it was first announced that David Fincher, best known for such meditations on violence as Seven and Fight Club, had taken up directorial reins on a film about the founding of Facebook, it’s fair to say that some film fans found themselves confused. Why had Fincher attached himself to such a potential snoozefest? Well, now we have the answer. With a story driven by sharp dialogue and an unrelenting pace, The Social Network is anything but boring. A beautifully acted character study, it asks real questions about the nature of business, friendship and loyalty – and we don’t just mean online.

SPOILER ALERT! ACHTUNG! POZOR! We have here the identity of The Hangover sequel’s sure-to-be-wacky celebrity cameo; one that will attempt to top Mike Tyson’s air drumming and face pummeling guest appearance. But if you would like to be surprised when the film (‘s trailer) hits, then back away from the article. Run now or forever hold your peace, because you can’t say we didn’t warn you!

Though director Baz Luhrmann has yet to confirm whether he’ll make The Great Gatsby his next film, it has now been reported that he recently held a workshop of his adapted script. The question on everyone’s lips of course is; which stars were present?

The adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel in which a plague of flesh-eating undead liven up the classic Jane Austen tale has had surprising difficulty getting off the ground, but could director David Slade and Scarlett Johansson be the people to change all that?

Another short-cartoon series from the people at Adult Swim, Metalocalypse is just as odd as you might expect. Playing like This Is Spinal Tap crossed with the most violent comic book you’ve ever read, it is simultaneously a celebration and send-up of heavy metal culture. Utilising an approach that is both daft and darker than coal, the series showcases not just the idiocy of its protagonists – petulant death metal band, Dethklok – but also the widest array of horrific concepts you’re ever likely to see. What’s worse; a man who eats live babies, or an irresponsible metal band running amok? Watching this DVD may be the only way to find out.

Yesterday we reported that Alec Baldwin may be set to join upcoming threequel, Men in Black III. Are Tamara Drewe star Gemma Arterton and District 9‘s Sharlto Copley set to follow suit?

Just two days ago, we at Best For Film reported that Mr. Nice himself, Rhys Ifans (no, not Howard Marks), had been cast as a villain in Marc Webb’s upcoming Spider-Man reboot, but has the identity of his character now slithered into the open?

Marketed during its Edinburgh Film Festival run as “the Afghanistan war film that renders all others unnecessary”, Restrepo is the work of two war correspondents who’ve seen more action than most. An artfully documented account of 15 months embedded in Afghanistan’s deadly Korangal valley, this film captures the highs and lows of warfare from the viewpoint of the men who were there. An intimate account of friendship and firefights in one of the world’s most dangerous environments.

October is, of course, a time dominated by ghouls, zombies and good ol’ fashioned frightfulness. But with All Hallow’s Eve not falling until the last day of the month, what on Earth are you supposed to do until then? Well you can stop fearing death by boredom and leave your demise to the demons, because here at Best For Film we’ve leapt on the case and compiled some of our favourite film events happening this month. After all, if you’re going to get shocked by skeletons and mauled by monsters, you might as well have some fun first.

With the script apparently shaping up nicely, Natalie Portman has joined the race against The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo‘s Noomi Rapace for the lead role in Ridley Scott’s Alien prequel.