Steve Jobs – Film Review by Frank L

Directed by Danny Boyle

Writers: Aaron Sorkin (screenplay), Walter Isaacson (book)
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen

Anyone who wants to change the world is going to have to be very hard-nosed to do so. Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender) of Apple fame was just such a person and he was determined to see his particular vision become reality even if it meant discarding ruthlessly former collaborators and friends. His vision came first and foremost. With this single mindedness of purpose there comes with Danny Boyle’s direction a drumbeat of verbal aggression as Steve Jobs will not countenance any hesitation or deviation from his precise vision. He does not care who he offends in pursuing his vision. He is fortunate that his obsessiveness is somewhat leavened by Joanna Hoffman (Kate Winslet) who at least tries to make him realise that some of his demands are, for now, unobtainable. She also tries to educate him in how human beings behave responsibly in relation to their children and ex partners.

Apparently the real life story line has been altered somewhat for the purposes of the film so it is not possible to know how much of Boyle’s film is true or even partially true. One suspects that is the case with the monologues and dialogues which are delivered at a ra-ta-ta-ta pace. It is incessant. As so much of it is confrontational, it is comparable to a domestic from which there is no means of escape. On leaving the cinema the brain felt as if it had been battered by a heavyweight boxing champion. That said Fassbender and Winslet both give exemplary performances. Their performances save the film.

The rest of the film is like soft padding in this maelstrom of verbal aggression. His original collaborator Wozniack arouses sympathy, his small request of Jobs seemed reasonable if Jobs had any interest in friendship. His ex girlfriend may or may not have been the most stable of individuals but was entitled to at least some respect as the mother of his child. But Jobs is shown as self-centred to the point of contesting the unfortunate child’s paternity. In short Jobs is portrayed as an unlovely person even if his creations are some of the most stylish gadgets ever created by man.

Enjoy the performances of Fassbender and Winslet and endure the movie.