Meet my boyfriend: his name is Scott and besides obviously being the best, he’s also a true cinephile. He writes movie reviews for Dutch movie website Cinemagazine and as of today he’ll take up some space on this very blog from time to time. This weekend we went to Steve Jobs – a movie on the famous Apple co-founder. Read his thoughts below!
No fanboy
Let me start off by saying, I’m not an Apple fanboy. Sure, I’ve used their products throughout the years, but never has an Apple product launch been highlighted on my calendar. I am however intrigued by the godlike status that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has achieved, which has become even greater after his passing a few years ago.
Haven’t I seen this before?
The first movie about Steve Jobs, you know the one with Ashton Kutcher, kinda had the look of a TV movie and felt a bit uninspired. Hardly a worthy tribute to the man you’d say. Probably mostly due to it being rushed into production after his funeral, but as they say good things come to those who wait.
So when it was announced that a more thought through Steve Jobs movie was in the works, I promptly kept a keen eye on its development. With screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, The Social Network) already attached, many names were rumoured such as director David Fincher (Fight Club, Gone Girl) with Christian Bale or Leonardo Dicaprio starring. Eventually the interesting combination of director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) and Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, 12 Years a Slave) won out.
An evening at the theatre
Steve Jobs is set up like a theatre play and shows three chronological acts, each revolving around a product presentation; the Macintosh in 1984, the NeXT computer in 1988 and the very first iMac in 1998. We get a look on what’s going on behind the scenes of each presentation with all the key figures in Job’s life making an appearance. So P.A. Joanna Hoffman (Kate Winslet), founding partner Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogen) or business partner John Sculley (Jeff Bridges) all get their moments with Jobs but a key focus is put on the troubled relationship he had with his daughter Lisa. Through a handful of flashbacks we see other important events that help give context.
User friendly
One of the things that makes Steve Jobs a joy to watch is the respect it has for its audience. It never dumbs down its subject matter. You’re thrown straight into the action and bypass the stereotypical cradle to grave framework. One of the little nuances such as a filming the three different periods in time-specific formats (from grainy 16mm to the sharpness of digital). The soundtrack is also worth a mention as it is smartly used to accentuate the created intimate atmosphere.
He may not look anything like the former Apple CEO but this doesn’t hinder Michael Fassbender’s portrayal in the slightest. His electrifying performance keeps you captivated from start to finish, helped in great part by Aaron Sorkin’s signature screenwriting of strong, witty dialogues. Making eternal stoner Seth Rogen believable as a computer wizard is no mean feat.
Boss from hell
There’s been a lot of chatter about the movie not putting Steve Jobs in the most positive light, but for the movie it’s a perfect fit. His sociopath like onscreen persona may not sit well with every viewer but it makes for one hell of a movie experience. His putdowns are instantly quotable (“You had three weeks. The universe was created in a third of that time.”), but don’t worry he redeems himself in the end.
So whether you’re an Apple fanboy or more of a Google kinda girl/guy or like me just a fan of good movies, one thing’s for sure; this is a movie that’s sure to make a lot of top 10 lists this year. Oh and don’t forget:
The next time you’re busy on your Mac, make sure it says hello.
Text: Scott van der Winden
Illustration by me
