Fizzled Out

Rating: 5/10 (23 February 2016)

This is a simple review. Perhaps it is most helpful to compare this to The Social Network (even though the two films are not technically parallel, Jobs being a partial-career-biopic). The Social Network emphasized the rise of the company Facebook, with the person, Mark Zuckerberg, as the central figure. Steve Jobs emphasized the person, Jobs, with the company he began, Apple. Both, however, relate to companies that are at the heartbeat of American society, technology and Silicon Valley today.
The Social Network was crisp, fast-paced, Sorkin at his best, fascinating tale of the explosive rise of Facebook.
Steve Jobs, on the other hand came across as Sorkin-esque, and had quality at a few points, yet seemed more appropriately Sorkin-exhausted ... as if he were just tired of writing and his pen finally capitulated to writing cramps a couple of hours in. The story struck me as an almost entirely negative portrayal without any true redeeming elements (except in the Steve Wozniak character - well-played by Seth Rogan). Perhaps that was intentional - to reveal a Steve Jobs who was a completely self-absorbed megalomaniac. Perhaps Sorkin was attempting to write a morality play on how some individuals are so focused on their own intelligence and power that they cannot relate to others on a truly personal level. Perhaps also that is what Jobs was really like. I have no idea. I'll leave that judgment to others.
How this won the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay over Spotlight or The Big Short is beyond comprehension. Both of those screenplays were head and shoulders superior to Steve Jobs.
Nevertheless, while the acting was decent, and the film got off to an interesting start, I found that when the film ended, I felt short-changed and negative. So did those who viewed it with me.
As to the acting, you'll note that Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet both received Oscar as well as Golden Globe noms (and Winslet winning the Globe). Both are superb actors in general. And, both did quality work here. But, I found Winslet's character to be a bit up and down. I don't think it was her best role by far and don't believe she deserves an Oscar win for certain (it wasn't until her second main scene that I realized she was a foreigner - and her accent seemed to fade in and out - stronger, then blander - throughout the movie). Fassbender did a fine job but he is not close to the level of, say, Brian Cranston's work in Trumbo (which was genius).