Steve Jobs, a man who placed a key role in defining modern technology through products such as the iMac, I pod and the I phone gets his own biopic in Steve Jobs, directed by Danny Boyle, written by Aaron Sorkin and staring Michael Fassbinder in the title role. Ironically the defining feature of this film is that it doesn’t resemblance a biopic at all.
Structured in the few moments before three product launches (Apple Mactintosh, NeXT Computer, and the iMac), much of the dialogue although inspired by real conflicts Jobs had with his co-workers Steve Wozniak and John Sculley and his daughter, is invented by Sorkin and weren’t spoken in real life. However the script’s wit and intensity makes up for this. Sorkin’s dialogue has a reputation as being difficult to manoeuvre for actors, but Michael Fassbinder, Seth Rogan, Kate Winslet and Jeff Daniels all deliver it with the intensity and grace it demands. It’s smoothly edited and directed with an engaging and distinct visual style which is common with Danny Boyle’s films. Boyle also showcases his talent in drawing great performances from his actors.
Jobs was well known for his abrasive and difficult personality as well as for his genius which the film explored and portrayed equally and fairly, allowing an interesting, complicated and engaging character to be created which Sorkin and Fassbinder should be praised for. The films only drawback that it doesn’t provide much context for the conflicts in Jobs life that are explored and this mixed with the fast paced dialogue may leave some viewers who aren’t very knowledgeable about Jobs and his work a little lost at times.
Steve Jobs is an interesting, engaging and witty film which gives us an insight into Job’s flaws and his genius allows us to see the man behind the mystique which he formed around himself.