Steve Jobs review: “A riveting, almost inspiring watch”

Steve Jobs review: Danny Boyle and Aaron Sorkin take a bite out of Apple with this superb biographical drama.

Steve Jobs is the second high-profile biopic of the computer pioneer brought to the silver screen in as many years. While the Ashton Kutcher version boasted an impressive cast that included Matthew Modine and future Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons, it didn’t warm with the critics, and Kutcher even got himself a Razzie nomination for his role as the title character. It’s wasn’t very good; so why make another?

Michael Fassbender assumes the role in this very different movie, directed by British helmer Danny Boyle (Trainspotting), and written by the legendary Aaron Sorkin, who scripted The West Wing and the more recent The Newsroom, as well as the similarly themed tech-story-biopic, The Social Network. Rather than opting to do a straight biography from Walter Isaacson, the source material on which this film is based, Sorkin concentrates his efforts on the launches of three key products over Jobs’ lifetime; the first Mac in 1984, the ill-fated NeXT machine four years later, and the iMac in 1998. The rest of his story is told through Sorkin’s trademark clever, walk and talk dialogue, and through cleverly inserted flashbacks. It is here that we see the younger Jobs working to build the original Macintosh technology in a garage with Steve Wozniak (here played by Seth Rogen), and the relationship between him and his daughter, Lisa, a theme that connects all three segments.

Sorkin has delivered another excellent screenplay with the definite, three-act Steve Jobs, a concept that we doubted at first, but it actually works really well. The celebrated writer covers a lot of the life of the legendary entrepreneur, delving into his role inside (and outside) of Apple at three very key moments. His script is laden with information, well-presented and extremely witty, and, when teamed with Danny Boyle’s style of direction, we get a really well-rounded, and superbly presented movie. Everything is covered until 1998, including the early days in a garage in California, his leaving of Apple following the Mac launch in 1984 and his refusal to acknowledge the Apple II, through to his time away, setting up NeXT which was to be later bought by Apple Inc, and secure Jobs his job as CEO. Sorkin relays the story superbly, and it’s an absolute joy to watch.

Boyle’s trademarks are all over the film too. From arty projections on walls during heavy-dialogue driven scenes, to inventive camera work and the technology used in composing the three scenes, as well as great jump-cut editing and outstanding cinematography from Alwin H. Kuchler. He and Boyle choose to use 16mm film for the first third in 1984, 35mm for the second-part in 1988 and digital for the most-recent segment from 1998. It’s a subtle but noticing touch. Boyle’s other trademark – his clever use of music – is also obvious, with contemporary pieces used throughout, alongside a great score from Daniel Pemberton.

The cast is exceptional. Led by Michael Fassbender, who is outstanding as Jobs, carving a performance that will lead to some kind of recognition in the near future, we also have the likes of Kate Winslet as Jobs’ long time marketing colleague Joanna Hoffman, Rogen as the genius Steve Wozniak (who also served as a consultant on the film), and Jeff Daniels, an alumni from Sorkin’s The Newsroom, as original Apple CEO John Scully. They are all, really, really good. Add on to these the great performances from the three actresses playing Lisa at various ages (Mackenzie Moss, Ripley Sobo and Perla Haney-Jardine), and the excellent Michael Stuhlbard as Andy Hertzfeld, and you’ve got an ensemble that light up the screen, all of whom are hard to fault.

Steve Jobs is an excellent film, clearly presenting a jumbled mess of shouting, scrambling, running, arguing, outbursts of severe dick-ness, passion, money and everything else that went into the making of the perfect product that would go on, and to continue to change lives for the better. Steve Jobs, the man, and the movie, clearly has a lot of heart. An engaging, and indeed gripping movie that is truly wonderful. A necessary watch.

Steve Jobs review by Paul Heath, London Film Festival, October 2015.

Steve Jobs goes on general release in the UK on 13th November.