Film review: Steve Jobs (15)

It’s a safe bet that pretty much everybody reading this review has used a Steve Jobs product.

The former Apple CEO – and all-round tech genius – had a sizeable role to play in bringing the iMac, iPhone, iPod and iPad (to name but a few) into the world.

It’s actually hard to imagine a world (as sad as it sounds) pre-iPod or iPhone, as they fundamentally changed the way we listen to music and use our mobile phones.

With that in mind, I was very much looking forward to getting a better understanding of who Jobs was before his death in October 2011.

With the awesome Michael Fassbender (X-Men Days of Future Past) taking on the lead role, Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) doing the writing and Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) directing, Steve Jobs certainly had everything going for it before a ball was kicked.

It does take a somewhat surprising direction, though, with the film deciding to solely cover three differing product launches (with the odd flashback bunged in) instead of going down the traditional biopic route.

I know Jobs was known for his catchphrase “think different”, but this certainly took me by surprise.

The time periods in question are the first launch of the Macintosh (1984), the lesser known NeXT launch in 1988 and 1998’s well-documented iMac release.

For those of you doing the math, that does indeed mean that we get nothing on the iPod, iPhone or his latter years. It’s a somewhat controversial and disappointing omission, but don’t let that put you off what is an otherwise impressive film.

The story, which is full of Sorkin’s trademark verbal jousting, focuses mainly on Jobs’ relationships with certain people in his life at these three distinct times.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogen – Bad Neighbours) is constantly seeking a little recognition, while talented programmer Andy Hertzfeld (Michael Stuhlbarg – Boardwalk Empire) is often on the receiving end of the worst (professional) side of Jobs and his hunt for perfection.

Then there’s Jeff Daniels’ (The Martian) John Sculley, who Jobs sees as something as a mentor. He tends to draw much more emotive responses from him.

Kate Winslet (Titanic) also stars as Joanna Hoffman, who was Jobs’ right-hand woman throughout his career.

She’s heavily involved in pretty much everything, including trying to get Jobs to recognise that he actually has a child with ex-girlfriend Chrisann (Katherine Waterston – Boardwalk Empire).

Her young daughter Lisa is played by three different actresses and is a character you can’t help but root for.

Jobs famously denied that Lisa was his daughter, even creating a bizarre algorithm that suggested 28 per cent of American men could be the dad. It’s in his relationship with those two that Jobs comes across really badly as a human being, which was something that genuinely took me by surprise.

I had heard that his family weren’t particularly happy with that side of the story – and you can see why.

I’m not 100 per cent sure exactly how accurate any of the events depicted in Steve Jobs are, which is a shame.

If you want documentary-style realism, this really won’t be the film you wanted.

But overall, it’s a quite unique story that will command your full attention throughout.

Fassbender barely leaves the screen and his portrayal of the character is absolutely brilliant to watch.

His one-liners and all-round verbal sparring is absolutely top notch, with fans of Sorkin’s The Newsroom (and other work) sure to lap this up.

The supporting cast are all excellent, too. Seeing Rogen play a role different to his usual comedic norm was refreshing, while Daniels’ channels his Newsroom character Will McAvoy expertly.

Lisa’s storyline is the toughest one to watch and perhaps paints Jobs in a different light to what you’d expect, but it does have the most satisfying conclusion.

If you enjoyed The Social Network, then this is certainly on the same level as that.

Just don’t go to the cinema expecting to find out (exactly) how your iPhone came to be in your pocket.

Voice Verdict: 8/10 (reviewed at Boston’s West End Cinema)
+ Fassbender at his brilliant best
+ Some great verbal jousting
– Doesn’t tell the full Jobs story
– Ends abruptly

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Nov 20 to Thurs, Nov 26)

**THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 3D (12A)
4.30pm (not Thurs), 7.30pm (daily)

**THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 2D (12A)
11am (Sat/Sun), 2pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.15pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)

**BRIDGE OF SPIES (12A)
4.40pm (Thurs)

**BLACK MASS (15)
1.30pm (Wed), 4.10pm (Thurs), 4.45pm (Wed)

THE LADY IN THE VAN (12A)
1pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 3.30pm (daily), 6pm (daily), 8.30pm (not Thurs)

STEVE JOBS (15)
1.30pm (Wed), 8.20pm (not Wed)

SPECTRE (12A)
10.15am (Sat/Sun), 12.10pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 1.30pm (Sat/Sun), 3.30pm (daily), 5pm (not Mon/Wed/Thurs), 7.30pm (daily)

PAN 2D (PG)
10.30am (Sat/Sun)

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 2D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), 12.20pm (Sat)

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 3D (U)
2.25pm (Sat/Sun)

KIDS CLUB
10.15am (Sat/Sun) – Minions 3D (U)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Lady In The Van (12A)

** FREE LIST SUSPENDED

EVENT CINEMA

BEING AP (12A)
Nov 23 (6pm)

ROCKY HORROR 40TH ANIVERSARY
Nov 25 (7.30pm)

BRANAGH THEATRE LIVE: A WINTERS TALE (12A AL)
Nov 26 (7pm)