Oh Hollywood, you are known for two things: Cash Grabs, and Oscar Grabs. In that order. And today the ultimate in both has just surfaced. Steve Jobs’ autobiography written by Walter Isaacson and released last year is being turned into a film. This is not the same Steve Jobs project that Ashton Kutcher is starring in. That’s an indie. This Steve Jobs is the big leagues, and we know this because Sony (interesting considering they probably HATE apple) has hired, the king of dialogue, Aaron Sorkin to adapt the screenplay. I for one loved The Social Network, whether it was made up or not, because Sorkin can make anything sound super interesting even if it’s nerds talking about code.
The Social Network was the best film of its year (out of the films nominated), but probably because it’s demographic skewed just a little too young for its own good because it was about Facebook, which many people still deem a huge waste of time (even if they are on it and that’s hypocritical), and because it’s soundtrack was way too awesome, it didn’t win. The Kings Speech did. Why? Because it was English, old, and boring. Oscar voters LOVE english, old and boring. If I ever write a film I’m going to title it English, Old, and Boring, cast Tom Wilkinson and Colin Firth and watch the oscars pile up. Sony lost that year because it was too good for their own good, so this coming year, they are reloading with a similar film in Steve Jobs, with the same writer who crushed The Social Network, only this time they are making a film that definitively skews older, and because Steve Jobs has already passed away and he authorized the book in question that is being adapted, they have already fixed most of the problems The Social Network had going against it.
I salute Hollywood. Not for being original, but for never leaving a Cash Grab, or Oscar behind.
The Kings Speech won the battle, but Steve Jobs will win the war.
I would see English, Old, and Boring. I bet the performances are understated yet electric.
So pumped for this, finished the book recently and I could make a great movie. Russ, it’s funny you bring up Sony hating Apple because the book really points out how much Sony screwed up–they made music players and own a music label, but they didn’t make the ipod or itunes. So, great writer, it just needs a great director and cast.
I’m excited for this any way you slice it. Haven’t read the book, but I’ve heard good things, and that it’s an honest portrayal.
I would so much rather see English, Old and Boring than this. I just hope that they paint Jobs as the completely egocentric piece of shit asshole he always was and not try to make anyone like him. Because if they do, then their fucking pandering.
Sent from my MacBook Pro.
I see what you did there…
Is it fine to insert part of this on my blog if I publish a reference point to this web-site?
Of course!