A Job Well Done

Rating: 9/10 (4 November 2015)

Being disappointed with the 2013 Jobs film starring Ashton Kutcher, I was actually excited for this take on the Apple founder to see if they could finally get it right. That and the powerhouse team consisting of Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, director Danny Boyle, and writer Aaron Sorkin. I am happy to report that Steve Jobs has finally been done justice with this gem.
To begin, although he doesn't completely look the part, Michael Fassbender completely embodies Steve Jobs. He makes the icon simultaneously unlikable and likable by bringing a sense of humanity to the character. The story follows Jobs backstage at three of the biggest product launches of his career. The audience is brought along for as they are shown all of the inner workings and struggles that go along behind the scene while the people wait in the auditorium for the product.
To continue, the entire supporting cast does a magnificent job at portraying the people surrounding Jobs. Kate Winslet is fantastic, although her accent does go all over the place sometimes. Seth Rogen and Jeff Daniels are the most compelling and give equally powerful performances. The script from Aaron Sorkin is masterful though, admittedly, at times overwhelming. The dialog is so compelling, but the audience can get lost at times in the computer jargon that goes back and forth between the characters. Furthermore, director Danny Boyle was very subtle in his approach and allowed the actors to shine more than him.
The emotional core of this movie is grounded in the relationship of Jobs and his daughter Lisa. In all three acts of the story, Lisa plays a huge role in the development in Jobs's character. In the beginning, he is in complete denial, but by the end he is more welcoming and wants her to be by his side.
Overall, Steve Jobs is a brilliant representation of Walter Isaacson's book, skillfully converting the text to the big screen. Everyone involved in the production brings their A game and should be gifted with plenty of nominations come awards season.
"It's not binary, you can be decent and gifted at the same time."