STEVE JOBS (7.5 out of 10) Directed by Danny Boyle; Written by Aaron Sorkin, adapted from the book by Walter Isaacson; Starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels, Michael Stuhlbarg, Katherine Waterston; Rated R for language; Running time 122 minutes; In wide release October 23, 2015.
Depending on who you ask, Steve Jobs is either a visionary or a hack. A genius or a frontman. So like all complicated historical figures, what better way to explore their character than with a Shakespearean drama in three acts?
Based loosely on the Walter Isaacson best-selling biography of Jobs and based even more loosely on Jobs’ life itself, the film’s three acts are the hours and minutes immediately prior to Jobs taking the stage launching three iconic products: the original Macintosh in 1984, the NeXT in 1988, and the iMac in 1998.
But, oh, that style. Like a Jobs product launch announcement, there is more show than substance here as well, that struts its hour upon the stage, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. And yet, just like with a Jobs product, when you take the time to appreciate its artistry, its beauty, its simplicity, you see that it belies a complex, fully intentional design. This film is destined to be just as divisive as the man it’s about and the products he created.
No matter what you think of Jobs, your assumptions will be challenged. If you hate him, you will come out with a begrudging respect and also stoking those fires of hatred even more. Love him? You will be as frustrated by him as the people who surrounded him. For those who think this film comes not to praise Jobs, but to bury him, it’s worth noting that many of his closest associates depicted in the film, including Steve Wozniak and Andy Hertzfeld, praise the film for being “accurate” even noting that most of what happens in the movie never actually happened.
But, yeah, we don’t really expect Julius Caesar or Macbeth or Richard II to actually be historically accurate. And yet, the play’s the thing, wherein most of us in the Western World actually understand these historical figures, artistic license be damned.
The stars here are the phenomenal cast, speaking a ridiculously complex script by Aaron Sorkin, set to film by Danny Boyle. Michael Fassbender is amazing to watch as Steve Jobs. In the third act as he inhabits that familiar black turtleneck that is a piece of cultural currency ubiquitous in the 2000s, you can’t escape thinking that he is Steve Jobs. As amazing as Fassbender is, the supporting cast is just as amazing. A real revelation is Seth Rogan as Steve Wozniak. Rogan not only proves how well he can act, but brings a ton of heart and charisma to one of the world’s biggest nerds.
Boyle brings it all together with all the style and attention to detail of an Apple product. And yet he uses an incredibly light touch, putting his actors and the script front and center. And that script. . .
The problem is that the script and film are probably too smart for their own good. They require thought and an open mind — not a likely combination in the world where Goosebumps leads the weekly box office (not knocking Goosebumps, as it’s a pretty good movie according to my colleague Adam– just saying this is roquefort cheese compared to popcorn: and btw, i love popcorn). It’s the same problem a lot of people have with Sorkin, but it’s also simultaneously what people love about Sorkin. In full disclosure, I am a huge Sorkin fan. But also someone who realizes it’s not for everyone.
This is a great film for those who want to be challenged and see what a Shakespearean historical drama about a modern historical figure would look like on film. It’s neither hagiographic nor a hit job. It’s honest, doesn’t pull its punches, and leaves the audience to decide exactly how they feel.
But it is occasionally overbearing and uses more artistic license than actual history. Given what audiences often expect and how political the life of Steve Jobs is, this is likely to upset everyone equally and make few people happy. But for those willing to approach with an open mind, willing to have more “artistic truth” than fact in the film, you should have a good time.
7.5 out of 10