Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine

The trailer for this documentary was good enough that I paid to see it in a theater. I felt it was worth it in the end but the subject matter of a documentary tends to affect my opinion of overall movie. The same can be said with any film I see; I must like the story and the more inspirational and enjoyable, the better. If the subject of the documentary is negative, then it is hard to like the film itself. Whenever you tell the complete story of Steve Jobs, the result is as sleek and as black as the iPhone itself. Steve Jobs lived the American dream but not perfectly. His own personality and actions changed the world but not without ruining the lives of others, including his own. "Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine" was edited quite well and had an interesting visual style but the story had some unhappy moments.

The first thing I noted about this documentary was the cut from the title card to Japan. We go instantly from energetic music to Asian serenity. This is symbolic of the subject being explored. Steve Jobs was Zen Buddhist but was also a bully to some. This is not the only contrast in the life and personality of Steve Jobs so this cut is representative of many things. I also was impressed by the animation during the story that the monk tells about his walk and drink with Jobs. Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney makes a big deal about Chrisann Brennan's statement that Jobs "blew it". I am sure though that this is a polarizing issue for the film's audience, hence why it is repeated by Gibney as the narrator. For some people, such as the little kid we see on two occasions speaking via his computer camera, Jobs is one of the most successful people in the world. It is impossible for these people to see him as a failure. For others watching this movie such as myself, there are different kinds of success to be had in life other than financial. Steve Jobs may have money and power but some middle-class fathers have loving families that they have worked hard at. Jobs didn't learn from his own life as an adoptive child because some could claim that he didn't want to be a father when his first child came about. One thing is clear; Jobs valued his career more than family and that makes me sad. Tragedy and imperfections are common however with many world-changing figures because Walt Disney smoked and Benjamin Franklin had a falling out with his son William. The inclusion of the "Think Differently" Apple ads allows us to make other connections between Steve Jobs and other famous figures. Another famous man of contradictions is Theodore Roosevelt. Just like Roosevelt was a hunter and conservationist, Jobs started out like the Biblical David and was more comparable to Goliath by the end of his life. Like another famous entrepreneur, "you don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies." Another way that Jobs might have ruined his life is how he dealt with his illness. Whether you believe that Steve Jobs "blew it" or not, it doesn't change the fact that his legacy will live on. Gibney brings up the question so as to dramatically paint the picture of this complex man and so the audience can come up with their own answer to his question.

I am happy the movie got better as the film progressed. The opening part of the film explored the man himself while the final hour explored his machines after his return to Apple. Having grown up a PC user but a convert to Apple during university, I relate more to the second half of the film where the iPod and iPhone are discussed. My favorite moment in the documentary is the unveiling of the iPhone at Macworld 2007. To me, this depicts Jobs at the height of his power. On the stage, he makes prank phone calls and shows off what his new device can do all to the delight of the crowd. It almost sounds like a rock concert and this documentary perfectly preserves the excitement felt. The film concludes though with a few controversies surrounding Apple and Steve Jobs shortly before his death. I was unaware of these stories until seeing this film and with this new information in hand, we are forced to ask ourselves: "Can we buy and use products if the creator is controversial?" In the world we live in, it is nearly impossible to find a successful company that is controversy-free. It is a sad fact. In my opinion, using a good product made by an imperfect person is not bad. I believe that men will be punished for their own sins and so buying an iPad for example isn’t a crime as long as we keep ourselves ever mindful. "Man in the Machine" also explores the effect of Apple products on society as a whole and why they are so successful. Another contrast is that while technology contects us with the rest of the world, we can limit direct contact and communication. Many people text instead of call someone and others spend more time at dinner on their devices then talking. The very ending of the movie perfectly sums up a theme that has been verbalized more than once. That is when you buy a product from Apple, you are buying a piece of yourself; you are reinventing yourself. A phone or tablet that Jobs pioneered were never meant to remain in the package. Not only is it designed to be used but also to be personalized. All iPhone 3G's were exactly same until they ended up in the hands of the consumers. While computers in the 90's could also be personalized, the options were limited. Gibney shows us at the very end of the documentary his reflection in the iPhone and it is symbolic of the device itself. This, more than anything, depicts the impact that Steve Jobs had on the world of technology.

I also enjoyed the inclusion of Jobs' analogy of sentiment layers on a rock. He lived in the moment because he was in an industry that capitalized on the present. Not only will the phone that you have in your pocket right now be worthless in ten years but Jobs himself could be eclipsed by the next entrepreneur. Steve Jobs and his products could end up as an unseen "layer" a century from now in the history of technology. On a more positive note, sentiment layers can be seen if you examine the rock and thus Jobs will never be completely forgotten. He will always been seen as a world-changing figure and this film helps us to see why. The message I got by the end of the documentary after witnessing the good and the evil that was Steve Jobs was that he was a visionary that the world should be grateful for but at the same time, we should learn from his mistakes. "Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine" had some negativity because the original story was such. In this case, the negativity outweighed the inspirational side of the story so I enjoyed the film but not as much as other documentaries.

3.5 Stars