BlackBerry is a movie that chronicles the rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone, created by the Canadian company Research in Motion (RIM). The movie is based on the book Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff. The movie is directed by Matt Johnson and stars Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, and Matt Johnson as the co-founders of RIM, Mike Lazaridis, Jim Balsillie aka ballsilly, and Douglas Fregin, respectively .
The movie shows the progression of RIM from a small startup to a cut-throat business that dominated the mobile market with its innovative device, the BlackBerry. The movie is shot in a mockumentary style, similar to the TV show The Office, which adds humor and realism to the story. The movie also depicts the challenges that RIM faced from competitors, regulators, and internal conflicts, as well as the mistakes that led to its downfall in the face of the iPhone.
The movie has many positive aspects, such as the well-cast actors, who portray the personalities and quirks of the real-life characters convincingly. The movie also captures the excitement and passion of the tech industry, as well as the pitfalls and pressures of success. It also highlights the importance of innovation and adaptation in a fast-changing, global market .
However, the movie also has some negative aspects, such as the very linear storyline, which follows the chronological order of events without much deviation or surprise. The movie also takes some creative freedom with the facts, such as making Mike Lazaridis thinner than he was in real life, or having him use the argument “best phone in the world” repeatedly, which he never did . The movie also lacks depth and nuance in some aspects, such as the motivations and emotions of the characters. It was like a blackberry: Smart but not smart enough.
6/10