It has been released in the US and Canada (and some other territories) but the UK has been starved of one of the best films of the year – Blackberry. The film tells the rise and fall of the tech giant and is brought to the screen by Matt Johnson, who writes and directs. National Amusements and Piece of Magic Entertainment will debut the film in UK and Irish cinemas on 6th October.
It’s 1996, and Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and his business partner and best friend Douglas Fregin (Matt Johnson) are on the edge of creating the world’s first smartphone. Unfortunately for them, they are less business savvy than they are tech, and struggle to keep their company, Research in Motion, afloat. Everything changes when cunning businessman Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton) agrees to join the company, bringing with him the money and experience needed to create and sell a prototype of their invention.
Seemingly overnight the three men revolutionise the way people work, communicate and connect. Celebrities, politicians and businessmen are now addicted to their BlackBerrys. The company’s value skyrockets, yet within a few short years shady business dealings, personal grievances, and, perhaps most dangerously, the iPhone, threaten the company’s incredible success.
Blackberry had its world premiere at this year’s Berlinale back in February (where we caught) it. Opening to rave reviews, the film will finally land on our shores in just a few weeks.
We said of the film:
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 as Wooman, 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.
Check out the trailer below and our review here.
