Joining a long list of real-life stories of how big tech companies or properties came to seem to be the latest craze in Hollywood. The likes of The Social Network (Facebook), The Founder (McDonald’s), and even the forthcoming Tetris show the demand is there, and this one is no different. Hailing from Canada, just like the brand itself, Blackberry tells the story of the former ‘king of the smartphone’, an interesting, involving, and impressive feature from co-writer, director, and actor Matt Johnson.
Kicking off proceedings in the mid-nineties, the film charts the company’s humble beginnings as Research in Motion (RIM) in Waterloo, Ontario, a small firm headed by Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and Doug Fregin (Johnson) who seemingly started out making modems. With the company struggling, the duo brought on board Jim Balsillie (a scene-stealing Glenn Howerton) as co-CEO. Using their combined knowledge – Lazaridis’ technical know-how and Balsillie’s business brain, the enterprise evolved into the corporation we all know, one of the biggest companies in the world and a massive player in the noughties in the smartphone market. The film charts the entire journey of the company; from rise to eventual fall and everything that came in between.
Using largely handheld camerawork, almost presented mockumentary-style, Johnson and co have gifted a very entertaining and indeed informative account of the story of Blackberry. It is extremely funny in places, Johnson excellent as Fregin and Baruchel solid and virtually unrecognisable as Lazaridis. Michael Ironside also turns up as the eventual COO of the company, and there are also turns from Cary Elwes, head honcho of rival firm Palm, Inc., and Saul Rubinek asWooman, boss of Blackberry’s primary mobile carrier client. The star of the show, Howerton, an exceptional performance reminiscent of Jeremy Piven’s Ari Gold in Entourage. His Balsillie is clearly a player with an exceptional mind, but also a very short fuse. He’s brilliant.
The film moves along at a pace and the filmmakers try to pack a lot in – maybe to its fault, but if you’re a fan of this kind of movie, then it is absolutely all laid out there for you to lap up. It is exactly as you expect the film to be, presented in a fun, comedic style, all topped off by wonderful central performances. There is also an absolutely cracking soundtrack and some brilliant ’80s and ’90s references and pop culture nods which is still oh-so-very in vogue at the moment.
Blackberry was reviewed at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival.
Blackberry
Summary
A brilliant piece of work from Matt Johnson which manages to hit all of the right notes. A rewarding, nostalgic trip back to the nineties and noughties.
