Steve Jobs

Well, it's been a number of days since I've seen a film considering I had a bi-lateral inguinal hernia repair done. This is my first day back to the cineplex, so suffice it to say, it was a tenuous trip, however, I am healing nicely.
Interesting that with all the people to write about, Hollywood decides to write yet another film on the computer guru known as "Steve Jobs". Whereas the 2013 version "Jobs" with Ashton Kutcher in the title role was more about how he actually got started and the process therein, this version centered more on his three product launches culminating with his 1998 introduction of iMac.

This incisive biological drama explores the genius and shortcomings of computing giant guru Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender) through not only the lens of the three product launches, but through the eyes of long-suffering close assistant, Joanna Hoffman (Kate Winslet), associate, Andy Hertzfeld (Michael Stuhlbarg), co-founder Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogan) and CEO John Sculley (Jeff Daniels). This is set backstage at three different product launches and intertwined amongst all this, he must deal with his long-standing girlfriend, Chrisann Brennan (Katherine Waterston) and the daughter, Lisa whom he claimed repeatedly was not his child. As his family life continues to deteriorate, this wraps up the brunt of his career with the 1998 unveiling of the iMac.

Others to round out the cast are Perla Hanley-Jardine as Lisa Brennan (19), Ripley Sobo as Lisa Brennan (9), Makenzie Moss as Lisa Brennan (5), Sarah Snook as Andrea Cunningham, John Ortiz as Joel Pforzheimer, Adam Shapiro as Avie Tevanian, John Steen as Mike Markula and Stan Roth as George Coates.

This was incredibly well directed by the very quirky and versatile Danny Boyle ("Scout" (TV movie) '87, "Monkeys" (TV movie) '89, "Trainspotting" '96, "Slumdog Millionaire" '08, "127 Hours" '10, "Trance" '13) plus others. The nuances he presents with his characters in each of his films are always so subtle, but definitely has his stamp on them. While the subject matter can change incredibly so, the character makeup of his characters are usually to always a different slant on the norm, such as the characterization of Kutcher's Jobs in "Jobs" was amazingly different than that of Fassbender's characterization in this version, even though they were playing the same person. This was equally written well by veteran screenwriter Aaron Sorkin ("A Few Good Men", "Moneyball"). This was well thought out, cohesive and entertaining rolled up into one, and other than a couple of very small places of slowness, this script soared and kept you glued, although Fassbender and Winslet's performances didn't hurt. These two are consummate actors and both could receive nods come Oscar time.

If one is into storyline content, the previous "Jobs" would fit the bill, but if you're into a finely crafted film, i.e. directing, writing and acting, this would definitely be the better option. Trust me, whenever a film can have filmmakers and actors as these any time in that same film, one can't go wrong in perhaps coming to that realization of this being worth the price of admission and then some.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: R                                         122mins.

.