Anything that happens in life, or questions about life that I can think of. Please feel free to comment on any of the topics I bring up. I enjoy reading other perspectives. Now stop reading the header you loser.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

"Steve Jobs" (2015) Review

Audiences really missed out by not catching Steve Jobs. I doubt that the platform release hindered its box office performance, but maybe two Steve Jobs movies in two years had something to do with it. How unfortunate the Ashton Kutcher film had to come out first, although that's me judging without having seen that movie. When I first saw the trailer for this movie I thought, "Another Steve Jobs film?" but then I quickly saw that Aaron Sorkin wrote film and Danny Boyle directed it. Instantly I thought it was a must see. Then I saw the box office numbers and I thought maybe the film was a miss. It isn't. Don't let the lack of commercial success dispel you from watching this movie. It has the quick wit and pacing like Sorkin's other works, and it's all tied together by the creativity that Boyle always brings.
Many viewers claim that the film depicts Jobs as an egomaniac. Perhaps there is some truth to it. However, I am jealous, turned off, and I admire Jobs in equal parts. His conviction/stubbornness wouldn't allow himself to fail or succeed in any other way than his. That is the complete opposite of what I am. My timid personality is content with walking down the middle as long as no one is hurt. I do not see this as a Jobs bash movie, but rather a deep and honest look into three major and stressful times in Jobs' life. 
The performances throughout are great. Michael Fassbender seems to have a one-on-one scene with each of the other actors and each dance is full of angst and direction. I also really enjoyed Boyle's choice to shoot with film and digital. He always seems to tinker with some production mechanics in each of the movies, and it really pays off in this one. Two different types of film helped show which year the events took place in, but it also showed where Jobs was professionally. Then shooting shifted to digital leading up to the release of the iMac. This choice may be subtle, but I think it made a big difference. The movie is two hours long, but it won't feel that way. I hope it gets some Oscar consideration.

Marco Rubio's New Ad

I'm positive this will play well with most Republicans, but please keep in mind that it offers absolutely no substance. Not a single policy was offered or even suggested. Approach on education? Nope. What are we to do about climate change? Who knows. Should America be so involved in the Middle East? Try again. How should we handle gun violence? Maybe next time.
Everyone is allowed to have faith and practice it. As an agnostic/atheist/anti-theist, I tend to think faith is a detriment to intelligent thinking. But who cares what I think. If you have sound policies, and faith is an important part of your life, then so be it. You at least still have sound policies. In this case, Marco Rubio's faith took up the entire spot, and we learned nothing (Well, something, but probably not what Rubio had intended).