So here we are in 2023 with our second business biopic essentially with Blackberry directed by Matt Johnson and starring Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton. This movie is I guess a comedy-drama but it mostly is played like a straight drama to me with some very outsized characters. The way it’s shot with the digital video look of late 90s/early 2000s indie films add to a more documentary feel of the film. While the documentary style of fictional stories is pretty much known by audiences because of network sitcoms over the years it does work here help blur the lines a bit and allows you to fall deep into this story. Now to take it a bit back, Blackberry is about the story of the company Research in Motion (later known as just Blackberry Inc.) and the creation of the mobile device – the titular Blackbery and it’s rise along with the beginning of the end with the introduction of the iPhone from Apple. The film also is centered on Mike Lazaridis, one of the founders and creator of the Blackberry (as portrayed in the film) played by Baruchel as he changes from an optimistic nerd to a person who wants to be taken seriously for his genius and business acumen after meeting Jim Balsillie (Howerton).
These two actors are the core of the film with the dynamic of Howerton and Johnson who stars as Douglas Fregin, who in the film is portrayed as the co-founder and original partner with Lazaridis. Fregin has the classic free spirited tech nerd energy of making sure the people there like working on the stuff they do and not just making money and profits at all costs. With Lazaridis being a more muted, introverted personality Balsillie’s Gordon Gecko/Glengarry Glen Ross inspired character in this clashes with Fregin’s personality and beliefs both at times overpowering Lazaridis’ own. Baruchel plays this perfectly as you empathize with him and you wanting him to grow into his own but also if you have even a passing idea of what this film is about you are just waiting until they see that Apple WWDC keynote with Steve Jobs announcing the iPhone because man when was the last time you actually saw a Blackberry in real life? It’s like a different world from then and I feel this film captures it perfectly.
Now with a good pace for a two hour long film where you don’t feel how long it is and all of the supporting actors are also do an amazing job but it’s very much the the main three actors that hold this film up with Howerton with a star making performance. He really gave one of the best performances I’ve seen this year. Along with Air I think we got two very well made films about business that are actually interesting and worth watching that do feel more than just commercials for capitalism.
Score: B+
