Steve Jobs [Review]

steve-jobs-movie-poster-800px-800x1259The Steve Jobs motion picture has been written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Danny Boyle. The visionary Steve Jobs is played by Michael Fassbander whom, at least for me, was exceptionally surprising, in a good way, in said role.

The film takes us back in time from its first minute, by starting with a black and white clip and it’s split, very similar to a play, in three acts: the opening section taking place in 1984, the moment when Jobs and Apple part ways in 1988 and the launch of the iMac in 1998. Each part plays a key role in the development of the story behind the man or the man behind the story. We see him interact with various people, close to him or not. As the time passes each interaction provides us with some insight of who he might be behind shut doors. Even so, we are sadly left with the mystery, probably no one managing to know to this point who exactly was the man beneath the turtle neck.

As facts go, even from the beginning we are introduced to most of the characters. The action is taking place at one of their launches, everyone is there and everyone is in charge of making that event the best possible one. However, they face a small technical problem, as the computer refuses to say “Hello”. Steve holds Andy Hertzfeld (Michael Stuhlbarg) responsible “You had three weeks. The universe was made in a third of that time!”. Andy however doesn’t run away from serving back a sarcastic response “Well, sometime you will have to tell us how you did it.” managing so to underline that god-like side Jobs might have had. From those first scenes we also get to witness the special relationship Jobs and Joanna Hoffman (Kate Winslet), his long-time Marketing and PR adviser, have. She probably was his only true real support in everything and one of the very few people he fully trusted.

During the same event, Jobs has to also deal with a personal crisis: his ex-girlfriend Chrisann Brennan (Katherine Waterston) shows up, together with their five year old daughter, to ask for more money as the provided financial support is too low. This presents the audience with a very cold Jobs, 98% doubtful about him being the father of said child, a Steve Jobs who is very hard to move. The miracle however is performed by Lisa, without even knowing, by drawing something in paint for her father. That first drawing, saved on Steve’s computer, is the first brick that helps him build a relationship with his daughter. A relationship which, despite all the ups and downs, he actually cares about. The relationship for which he breaks one of his most powerful obsessions, and that, when it comes to this man, says a lot.

Back to the actual action, things keep on piling up as Woz (Seth Rogen), Steve’s former partner and co-founder of the Apple brand keeps on pushing for public acknowledgement in regards to his creation of the Apple II. “I’m tired of being Ringo when I know I’m John” Woz whines. To which Jobs replies casually and without think how that might affect his friend “Everyone loves Ringo!”. Needless to say that Jobs doesn’t give in under any of his pressures, even if, as we will later find out he does have quite a soft spot for Wozniak.

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage Mandatory Credit: Photo by Francois Duhamel/REX Shutterstock (5225575b) 'Steve Jobs' film - Kate Winslet, Michael Fassbender 'Steve Jobs' film - 2015

Credit: Photo by Francois Duhamel

The launch isn’t at all successful and when the board of directors are put in front of taking a decision, they let off Jobs. However, he does fall back on his feet in a very strange way. Four years later we get to witness another launch, but one that is actually more of a masquerade done in order to allow time to pass. He believed so much in his idea and the fact that people will eventually realise he was right that he was willing to do whatever it took. In this second act we get to experience one of the most powerful dialogue between Steve Jobs and John Sculley (Jeff Daniels). A long awaited discussion beautifully filmed and choreographed.

The second act is also the one to show us how much he actually valued his team. Everyone was still around him, with Joanna in the lead. In the lead, yes, but not more and it is emphasised how their relationship has always been a professional one, or at the most, a true friendship. Even so, for a moment, Steve wonders out loud “Why haven’t we ever slept together?”. To which Joanna, honest as usual, replies “Because we’re not in love.”

The development carries on and we are soon in the final act: Apple drops, John is fired, Apple buys NeXT and Steve Jobs returns. In 1998, once the world catches up with his ideas, we get to hear the computer say “Hello” again at the launch of the iMac.

This final chapter is probably one of the most moving as it challenges him straight to core of things, it challenges the relationship he has with the ones who have remain around as time has passed.

So where does this leave us? With a very well written and acted film. Personally, I am not an Apple worshiper, but as Fassbender confessed during a press conference, it is hard for this type of a person not to inspire you to a certain level. Don’t get me wrong, the film has plenty of cold and extremely detached moments, but they are done in such a beautiful way that somehow it makes you realise how important they were in the overall story.

screen-shot-2015-07-01-at-8.18.25-amMichael Fassbender as Steve Jobs was a perfect choice and probably the image of the turtle neck man will forever remain attached to his overall image. He presented us with a close to the impossible calculated made on the outside, only to surprise us with very deep and emotional moments related mostly to his daughter Lisa. “I’m going to put a thousand songs in your pocket.” he tells her in a very moving scene towards the end of the movie, in reference to the walkman she constantly carries around. He was a believer, a do-er and Fassbender catches all those moments in a truly mesmerizing way.

Kate Winslet as Joanna is steady and trustworthy. She presents us with a warm and caring character who is not afraid of telling it how it is. Kate manages to bring something of her own charm and quirkiness to the character and builds the picture of a person who most of us would probably like to have around us.

Steve Jobs will shade some light on the man that might have been ahead of his time, but won’t explain all the mysteries. It is the sort of film that will charm and move you, but also entertain you.  You will appreciate the out of the regular and ironic dialogue and it will make you second guess the motivation behind certain humane decisions.

Steve Jobs will have its UK release on the 13th of November.

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