Biographical drama is within a genre by itself and there are great films. Add to it the misunderstood, temperamental entrepreneur genius biography. Now that’s a genre by itself mainly because of that masterpiece of a film called The Social Network. Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher set the bar so high that it is impossible to think of a film about technological innovation and power struggles in them without bringing up their supreme work of art.
Jobs directed by Joshua Michael Stern and starring Ashton Kutcher in the titular role is more like a film made out of the Wikipedia entry of Steve Jobs. It begins with an impressively shot scene though, set in 2001 during the unveiling of the iPod, the moment captured from Jobs’ eye-view at first and getting reactions from staff and a nerdy audience.
The film is a series of pep talks from Steve Jobs and his allies. Of course, thanks to his nature, they move away from him one by one and it all comes a full circle with this return to Apple just before the iMac design and his collaboration with Jonathan Ive. There are lectures upon lectures on what Apple stands for, what design should be, what companies must focus on, people versus products debates. If that’s not the focus, it is casual dropping of facts like Steve Wozniak’s (Josh Gad) Polish roots with some Polish jokes or about Jobs’ fruitarianism. The montage after his drop-out from college and just before starting his life as an entrepreneur is confusing and pointless, aims for some misplaced high art but falls too low with a loud thud.
If there is any redemption it comes in the form of Ashton Kutcher’s performance. It is not a restrained performance - far from it - but it is sincere despite the slightly overdone mannerisms, especially the walk. It hits its apotheosis when Ive talks about his fascination for Jobs’ principles and how he is a fan. Kutcher gives that reaction as if he deserves all of it but at the same time registers a tinge of embarrassment as he distracts himself by picking up a random object and seeing right through it.
There is no insight into Jobs’ life in this film that you can’t get out of the Internet. This biography is more perfunctory than anything in recent times.