“How come, ten times a day, I read ‘Steve Jobs is a genius?’”
[rating: 4]
Watching a film where you already know the ending before you even purchase your popcorn can seem slightly pointless. Why bother when you know the outcome? Well, Steve Jobs is a film that defies this opinion and kept me captivated until the very last moment.
The story follows the famous Steve Jobs in the half hour run up before 3 of his biggest product launches: the first ever Macintosh, the Next, and the new generation Mac. It gives an insight into the man behind Apple’s success and his relationships with his family and colleagues. Each launch involves the same characters battling Jobs, only to be shot down and pushed aside.
As someone who understood Jobs to be the main brains behind Apple, I was in for a shock; this film shows a side to him that the public never saw. He is depicted as a control freak, a perfectionist, and even a bully who didn’t give credit to those he worked beside. The shouting matches he had with friends and family were full of wit and hostility, and each line delivered is a quote to remember.
Michael Fassbender never faltered in his role as Steve Jobs. Kate Winslet plays his personal assistant, Joanna Hoffman, successfully portraying a strong, yet emotional woman. Seth Rogan stands out also as disgruntled co-worker Steve Wozniak, stepping out of his comedy comfort zone and putting on a fantastic performance.
My favourite quote from the film comes from Rogan, summing up the plotline quite nicely:
‘What do you do? You’re not an engineer. You’re not a designer. You can’t put a hammer to a nail. I built the circuit board. The graphical interface was stolen. So, how come, ten times a day, I read ‘Steve Jobs is a genius?’
From start to finish, the audience was kept on the edge of their seats The tension – the emotions and the arguments of Jobs and those surrounding him – that runs throughout the film reveals the complexity and brilliance of Steve Jobs.
