'Steve Jobs' A Review

Steve Jobs is a biopic about the titular Apple co-founder, written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Danny Boyle. The film is set right before three separate product launches in 1984 with the Macintosh, 1988 with the NeXT cube, and in 1998 with the iMac. Jobs(Michael Fassbender) meets and mostly argues with various people in his life that are close to him. Notably Steve Wozniak(Seth Rogen), Apple CEO John Sculley(Jeff Daniels), Jobs's former partner Chrissann(Katherine Waterson), and his daughter Lisa(various actors) all while being accompanied by marketing exec Joanna Hoffman(Kate Winselt).

The Christmas Carol like structure at times strikes notes of unbelievability, Sorkin mystifyingly even calls it out at one point. The story isn't terribly compelling, it doesn't really address the demigod like image Jobs constructed for himself nor the arguable "advancements" which he pioneered. The film mostly focuses on a highly fictionalized and moderately sentimental relationship with his daughter Lisa.

That all being said it is a pleasure to watch all the incredible actors recite the snappy charged Sorkin dialogue under the energized yet atypically restrained direction of Boyle. Fassbender, as always, is magnetic and Rogen surprises and delights with his first foray into straight drama. If you are looking for quality cinema look to Steve Jobs, if you are looking for truth look to the documentary Steve Jobs: The Man In The Machine.

The life of Steve Jobs is the loose neglected backdrop which masterful artisans use to display their craft.

See It.