JOBS

JOBS  

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres tomorrow from director Joshua Michael Stern and Open Road Films comes the tale of change with JOBS.

This film tells the story of Steve Jobs (Ashton Kutcher), a young man going about life living it the way he saw fit. One day he’s in working at Atari and the next Jobs is in his father’s garage with Steve Wozniak (Josh Gad), Daniel Kottke (Lukas Haas), Rod Holt (Ron Eldard), Bill Fernandez (Victor Rasuk) and Chris Espinosa (Eddie Hassell) about to create the first personal computer.

Jumping on board is Mike Markkula (Dermot Mulroney) who invests his money and continues with Apple through its ups and downs. Arthur Rock (J.K. Simmons) doesn’t understand what Jobs is trying to do and constantly tries to find ways to take it all away.

Hiring John Sculley (Matthew Modine) and that becomes the beginning of the end as Jobs does what he must to gain control of his original idea and take the world into the next century of technology.

FINAL WORD: Kutcher takes on a gigantic task of trying to tell the life story of Steve Jobs in a tad over two hours. His performance is straightforward and dosen’t leave much lee way for change or interpretation. Gad as Woz is the brain, the way the film portrays him, of the operation. He sees his friendship with Jobs as valuable but that feeling isn’t returned.

Haas as Kottke is taken out in the wake of Apple’s success along with Rasuk as Fernandez actually. It’s interesting how friendships are easy to dissolve when millions are involved. Eldard as the biker wiz kid flies under the radar smoothly. Hassell as Espinosa is also one who kept his voice quiet and head down.

Mulroney as Markkula does a fantastic job in this role. He allows Jobs to be as eccentric as possible for the longest time until the pressures of his position just become so difficult. I’ve always enjoyed watching Mulroney make a character his own and portraying Markkula is no exception.

Simmons as Rock is so hard to watch! I love Simmons, he such a lovely actor and almost always makes me smile. This is not one of those times. In fact, it is difficult watching him be so subversive. Well done J.K.!

Modine as Sculley is a poignant role. Brought in by Jobs from Pepsi Cola, the idea was that this character would help a slumping computer company. Modine gives a powerful ‘one for the gipper’ speech and with one glance I was whispering under my breath “oh gawd, another untrustworthy douchebag”. I say that with all respect Matt from one Mariner to another! I actually enjoyed watching the scene between Sculley and Jobs that is filled with uncomfortability and a fraction of a second wondering, ‘will this be the moment Jobs just loses his frakken mind?’ Absolutely well done.

Other cast: Kevin Dunn as Gil Amelio, John Getz as Paul Jobs, Chris-Ann Brennan as Ahna O’Reilly, Lesley Ann Warren as Clara Jobs, Nelson Franklin as Bill Atkinson and James Woods as Jack Dudman.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give JOBS three tubs of popcorn out of five. Yep, I’m giving it barely three because I know people will flock to the theatres to see the story of the I-god. Is it hideous? No, Kutcher does a good job of walking slumped and there are definitely moments of brilliance in his performance so my problem isn’t with him at all. I think he will get some recognition for this performance.

My problem is with the two-hour drama itself. I know its not polite to speak ill of the dead but if you don’t want me to then don’t make a movie and ask me for my opinion. If the filmmaker was intending to make Steve Jobs look like a douchebag then its Oscar time!

Running around being an ass because Mommy left you is ridiculous. If Jobs truly treated his friends the way it’s portrayed in the film then he’s sinking deeper in the hole of douchebaggery. Treat your child that way and now you’re covered in your own doucheness.

So what am I to take from this? That our creative innovators of technology (and if you have seen THE SOCIAL NETWORK you’ll recognize a pattern) are just out of their minds? Because his feelings got hurt by roommates from college or friends who didn’t appreciate him growing up that it’s okay to inflict financial or emotional harm?  Sorry, not buying it.

Instead, the character bitches about a sloppy looking motherboard and pushed a keyboard under a monitor and he’s called an innovator? I’m not saying Jobs didn’t contribute but in the film he looked more like a loose emotional cannon and not a creative part of Apple.

Am I annoyed – yes. Was that the intention of the filmmaker – I hardly think so. From sleeping through college, to his bathing habits (or lack of), to dropping acid in a field that he got from banging a girl not his girlfriend, to his rants on how everyone was out to get him I was done an hour in and there was still an hour to go.

So, have I ever owned an Apple computer – nope. Borrowed one once and was over it plus I have better things to do with $2000.00. Did I own an iphone – hell to the no I don’t. I have better things to do with $600 dollars. I had an ipod once, this little teeny thing I won in some raffle. It’s gone missing (who ever found it on that plane I hope you enjoy that Blue October selection!) and when I found out how much THAT was I spent $6 for another one that works just as well and didn’t break the bank.

Sorry, I’m just over petulant children like the Jobs and Zuckerberg’s who boo-hoo about people not seeing their vision while throwing a fit and some says ‘lets make a film!’ Fine, he’s put his stamp on the universe but he is not the end all be all (nice rant at Gates too which to me was hilarious) of technology. I do have to wonder if Jobs would see himself in this film or maybe go on a rant about how critics don’t understand his vision.

Having never met the man I’m sure he had some fine qualities – this film just doesn’t show a single one of them - I’m over it.

In the end – some see what’s possible; others change what’s possible.