Jobs (Movie) - Review

Steve Jobs was a revolutionary creator in the computer industry. Let's see how Hollywood represents him.

"Jobs" promotional art

The story of Steve Jobs is long and complicated, but as with many things, it seems so much more simple when put into movie form. As with most documentary/life styled movies, JOBS chronicles the life of the computer pioneer, and follows his life from college, up until present day events that still feel the effects of his work. So, let’s get right into it, and see how much information we can pull away about this revolutionary man.

Plot Summary
As with most documentaries that need to cover an entire lifetime worth of information, this movie jumps around to different dates quite often to chronicle different phases of Jobs life.

In the first scenes, we are introduced to this seemingly peaceful and happy man, Steve Jobs, while he attends college at Reed University. He seems to divide his time among computer and “hippie” classes devoted to lifestyle and spirituality (it was the 70s after all). He has an argument with a professor about his future career, meets a girl, and appears to fall in love.

Next, Jobs is working at Atari, where he gets into a rage fit that, according to his boss, happens often. After yelling at another programmer for making what he considers to be a mediocre game, his boss tells him he needs to get his act together. Jobs and his boss manage to cut a deal, if he can fix an older video game the company’s been working on within a short time, they’ll cut him some slack. Later that night, Jobs is working at the office, stuck on how to fix a circuit board, and he has to call over another important member of the Apple team, Steve Wozniak, to help out. The next morning, Steve presents the fixed game, and he gets paid, sharing his money with Wozniak. However, when Jobs goes down to Wozniak's house to give him the money, he discovers that he’s working on a project that could revolutionize the industry, a precursor to the monitor. Wozniak thinks that it’s not that important.

The Ending
Much more happens in the movie besides what I list above, but in short, the rest of the movie ultimately tells the story of the founding of Apple, and its many successes and failures with the help of Steve Jobs, as the lead developer for the company, as well as, his falling-out, family challenges, and revival, later in the picture. The movies ends with Steve taking back the lead seat on the Apple board of directors, as well as, finally wrapping up his child support issues with one of his ex-lovers, after years long debate as to who the child belonged to.

The Score
What do I rate it? I give three scores based upon three different opinions, so let’s find out.
For the average viewer, that doesn’t take long looks at some out of place set pieces; this movie will easily score a 71/100. It was good, with great visuals, and audio. It felt authentic enough, despite some small flaws that wouldn’t have likely been possible for the timeframe the movie takes place in, but these details are so minimal, I wouldn’t in any way classify them as concerns for the viewing audience. This movie seems to rub some people the wrong way, although I’m not exactly sure why. If you like documentary movies that don’t seem so informative as much as a general cinema experience, then Jobs is definitely Average for you.

For critics, it’s not that this movies bad, but there are definitely a lot of flaws that most can’t see unless others point them out. That’s why your rating is a 50/100, far, far lower than the average viewer. As I mentioned before, this film can rub some the wrong way, and these people are most likely critics, cinema goers, and cynics that have been around the block for a while. At times, it gets slow, boring, and repetitive in its themes, however, the larger concern that most share is when it comes to the way the director struggles whether to show Steve Jobs, in a positive or negative light. Aside from that, I can’t see much wrong, but maybe I’m just not seeing it. However, those big flaws do bump this movie down from the average raking and straight into Basic
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For me, I’m a bit more forgiving, and my review for this movie is a 67/100. I’m not as bright as the average person, but I’m far from being a cynic (give it time). Maybe with some more experience I’ll see some more of the flaws that so many are pointing to, but I just don’t see them right now. For me, this movie isn’t quite an average experience, but is still way Above Basic.

So what did you think about Jobs? Do you like it like I do, like it for different reasons, or just plain hate it? Be sure to leave a comment! Liked the review? Hated the review? Be sure to leave likes when appropriate, and comments with good criticism. Thanks, and I’ll hopefully be seeing you all later today in the most recent issue of: Levengood Today.