Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs is the movie to see, according to Variety. It was screened over the weekend at the Telluride Film Festival, and was so well received that critics are talking about the Oscar potential in Michael Fassbender's portrayal of Apple's co-founder and iconic leader—and even Steve Wozniak gave the film a thumbs up.
Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs
The film, which is based on Mr. Isaacson's biography in the loosest sense, includes a powerful cast and is the "monstrously sel-aggrandizing movie [Steve Jobs] deserves." Variety goes on to offer up the obligatory comparison to the two year old Steve Jobs movie starring Ashton Kutcher, and gives us the a wonderful quote in the process:
Universal should have little trouble establishing its Oct. 9 release as the only Steve Jobs movie the broader public will really need or want to see; to even compare it to 'Jobs,' the Ashton Kutcher-starring indie mediocrity that came and went in 2013, would be as unfair as likening the Star Child to one of those apes wandering around at the beginning of '2001.'
Not everyone, however, agreed with Variety's take on the movie. The Guardian, for example, said, "While the film appears to be admirably unsentimental in its portrayal of Jobs, by the end, we’re getting close to Apple-sponsored hero iWorship."
The Guardian goes on to offer up some praise for Michael Fassbender's portrail of Steve Jobs, but stops far short of calling the movie a masterpiece:
There’s undeniable craftsmanship here, especially in Fassbender’s confident and transformative performance, but Sorkin’s script fails to shout and quip its way to anything approaching dramatic vibrancy. If you spent hours queuing up for the latest iPhone, this might prove masturbatory. For everyone else, you’ll remain a PC, and proudly so.
Walter Isaacson was recruited by Steve Jobs to write about his life and was granted unprecedented access to his private life. Mr. Isaacson's book was rushed to press following Mr. Job's death and quickly became a best seller.
If you were lucky enough to see the movie in Telluride, you saw a version that won't be in theaters. Mr. Boyle is headed back to the editing room to make some more changes before it heads to the New York Film Festival.
"Steve Jobs" is scheduled to hit theaters on October 9. Get ready for references to iPhone lines as viewers queue up to get in early.