iPhones, iPads, iPods and Mac are all cutting edge of technology gadgets from Apple that everyone seems to have in their bags and pockets but ever wonder what is the story behind the man who innovated them? His name is Steve Jobs. When he died two years ago, Apple lost a visionary and creative genius and the world has lost an amazing human being.
Jobs is an extraordinary story of Steve Jobs, the original innovator and ground-breaking entrepreneur who let nothing stand in the way of greatness. The film tells the epic and turbulent story of Steve Jobs as he blazed a trail that changed technology – and the world – forever.
To be fair with Ashton Kutcher, he put a lot of effort to portray Steve Jobs. At first, I was hesitant with him playing the role of Apple’s CEO since he is associated more with comedies but he pulled off the mannerisms and look though but not his voice. He nailed the acting for me. I don’t think the film did poorly in the acting department. The film also has a great supporting cast in J.K Simmons as Arthur Rock, Dermot Mulroney as Mike Markkula and Matthew Modine as John Sculley with Josh Grad as Steve Wozniak giving great depth for his character. They all did well. In terms of its production, Oscar nominee composer John Debney provided an energetic musical score and there were great choices of songs to keep it lively. The make-up and hair department captured the look of the characters.
Unfortunately, the problem lies in the story on how they presented his life. Don’t get me wrong. I like its honesty for showing his negative and ambitious side – an innovator and a leader – and there were also some comedic scenes. But comparing this to the first Steve Jobs biopic I saw in the past which was Pirates of Silicon Valley, it did miss and omit a lot of details. Where is Xerox? His fierce rivalry with Bill Gates was reduced to only one scene. His issue with his daughter wasn’t well explored. We did get a bit of his struggles of it in the movie then we get to see her living with him without any scenes showing how it happened. It just did. This is my issue with the film that time jumps so quickly in some scenes and it did feel rushed.
With his first biopic dated last 1999, I was expecting an update to the story like his involvement in the movie industry with Pixar. I was quite saddened by this since he was one of its key innovators. Not even a mention. They could also give us a look on the creation and design of iPads and iPhones. We only get to see the iPod and it stopped there in 2001. It would have been nice if the film lead up to the events of his death. I wish it ended there so that they could show the legacy that he left to the world. Most biopic films have a “where are they now” info for each character in the end but this one doesn’t have it. Overall, I think this will just be an okay movie if you’re not IT or not familiar with his life story. For me, this was quite a disappointing biopic and it could have been better with its potential. It tells the story but never explains it in a satisfying manner. It feels incomplete overall.
Verdict:
If you want a better Steve Jobs story, I recommend Pirates of Silicon Valley. Jobs is an incomplete biopic. It’s like saying that you’re expecting an iPhone but they gave you an iPod.
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About the movie reviewer:
John Albert Villanueva is a self-confessed movie geek. He love movies so much that he watch almost every movies that’s out in the big screen and collects DVDs of classic films and the ones that won an Oscar. John Albert Villanueva review movies exclusively for Orange Magazine TV.
