Product ReviewsJobs (Blu-ray, 2013)

Jobs (Blu-ray/DVD, 2013, 2-Disc Set, Includes Digital Copy; UltraViolet)

I'm surprised I liked JOBS as much as I did, considering that the reviews surrounding the movie were mediocre at best, not to mention that Ashton Kutcher is one of my least favourite actors. Much to my surprise, Kutcher was actually astonishingly good in the title role.

Take him out, and you are left with a limp, unfocused, poorly paced, and incredibly boring biopic. Put him back in, and you are still left with the above, but with a daring and riveting performance at its centre.

Now, this is isn't saying much, but this is Kutcher's best performance by about 300%. He absolutely *nails* Steve Jobs's mannerisms - his stooped walk, the way he held his hands in front of him, the way he pursed his lips, etc. He holds surprising gravitas and charisma, and holds up excellently in scenery-chewing moments. The scenes where he brutally rejects the woman he impregnated, and gives Bill Gates a piece of his mind ("And I will make sure you NEVER earn a dollar again, that I don't get 90 cents from!") show a different, extremely competent side of the actor. The material surrounding him might be rote and unfeeling, but Kutcher has steel in his gaze and power in his presence.

It's a pity then, that JOBS is unfocused in it's storytelling, in need of a good editing, uninformative, and rather dull. No really, at times this was one of the most boring mvies I've ever seen. The scene where Wozniak leaves Apple should have been emotional and heartrending, but nearly put me to sleep.

Jobs had scenes that had no impact whatsoever on the movie - extraneous, useless scenes that do nothing that bore you. 90% of the movie are actors talking quietly (or loudly) to each-other - just talking. Talking WELL, yes, but still talking. And lastly, JOBS is incredibly uninformative. We get nothing about WHY Apple became big, how it sustained losses through tough times, really WHY Steve Jobs was fired, subsequently rehired, and how Apple recovered.

JOBS is not without it's positives, however. The first I went over above - the performance of Ashton Kutcher. The rest of the cast is rather excellent as well. Josh Gad as Steve Wozniak is enjoyable, and JK Simmons chews scenery as Arthur Rock. The costumes and wigs are excellent. The period design is incredible - from the terrible hairdos to the tacky suits to the giant computers. I never felt that I was anywhere else but in the 70's and 80's. Kudos to the the production designer.

In conclusion, I don't think Steve Jobs would have been very happy with JOBS. It's not daring enough. It never strives for something edgy or dangerous. It is content to roll along at documentary pace, with poor editing and dull pacing.

But I still think you should see this movie. See it for an extraordinary performance from Ashton Kutcher, a fine cast, and excellent production values. See it to remember the man. A difficult man; a daring, edgy, cruel, prickly, brilliant man.Read full review...