Can Ashton Kutcher's Steve Jobs Movie Please Everyone?
Earlier today, I watched a trailer for the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic, jOBS. The film, which stars Ashton Kutcher, claims to be the definitive movie source for the life and times of one of the most iconic figures in all of the technology industry.Based on the trailer, it appears jOBS will start out the beginning of Apple, delve into the co-founder's personal life, and talk about some of his greatest achievements. The movie will also follow some of Jobs' greatest debacles, including being thrown out of the company he co-founded by the powers at the top.
As I watched the trailer and somehow found a way to sit through Kutcher's annoying rendition of Jobs' voice and speech pattern, I couldn't help but think one thing: when this movie is released, and all of the technology lovers head out to theaters to see it, is there any way in the world that it will please everyone?
Of course, no single movie can please everyone. But jOBS promises to be more fracturing for the technology industry than anyone really wants to believe. On one side, we'll have the Apple zealots that want nothing more than to watch the film over and over, and taunt Microsoft and Google fans because their leaders don't have their own biopics.
On the other hand, however, there will be all of the people that hate Apple, Steve Jobs, and everything he stood for in technology, and would love to see the movie flop.
Now, to its credit, jOBS appears to follow both the good and bad in Jobs' life. That means that we'll see his triumphs, as well as his famous tirades and poor decisions. According to the filmmakers, nothing is off the table when it comes to jOBS, and I think that's the right way to follow his story.
But for those who love Apple, jOBS might lack all of the laudatory things that could be said about the company and its co-founder. And for Apple haters, jOBS could prove to be remiss by not pointing out certain issues or mistakes the late tech CEO made in his life.
[aquote]Jobs was a decidely polarizing individual[/aquote]
In other words, I don't necessarily see jOBS ending all that well for the filmmakers. As great as the idea might have been to follow Jobs' life, he was a decidedly polarizing individual. To some, Jobs was God-like; to others, he was little more than a big, bad public company titan that wanted to feed his ego while damaging all others.
Perhaps that's why Apple's fan base is so rabid and why those who can't stand Apple are equally as willing to go to bat for their side. Neither Apple lovers nor Apple haters can be fully pleased. And for the first time in a long time, a film is trying to please the unpleaseable.
A recipe for trouble? You better believe it.