Steve Jobs: The Man In The Machine

Bad Dad. Lousy lover. Fair-weather friend. Tightwad. Failed monk. Idealist, hypocrite and actually only a fair writer of code. According to Oscar-winner Alex Gibney's documentary "Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine" , Apple's co-founder was all these things. And a visionary genius.

"People are not connected to him because of his character. His stuff was beloved. He was not beloved," says Sherry Turkle, one of several journalists who covered Jobs featured in the film.

The documentary - now playing at theaters in limited release and available to rent in HD - traces Jobs' rise from that mythical Palo Alto garage where he and Steve Wozniak began their business, to boy-wonder CEO, his downfall and eventual return to power as Apple's CEO during a period of economic turmoil. It also contemplates the global mourning that sprang up after his death from cancer in 2011.

Jobs' resurrection of Apple - during which he supervised development of the iPod, iMac, and iPhone, all of which have sold in the tens of millions - is truly astonishing. And, while probing the crimes and numerous misdemeanors of its subject, Gibney's documentary acknowledges his ability to see the big picture, relentless work ethic and understanding of mankind's urge to connect aesthetically and emotionally with the technology we use every day.

An admirable leader in many ways, Jobs the man also comes across as a creep. His over-charged ego and childish, scuff-law attitude are almost pitiable, while his ethical blindness, moral weakness and willingness to ignore the law when profit margins were threatened are even more disturbing.

Jobs' crimes range from driving solo in the carpool lane and parking his Mercedes in handicapped spots to denying paternity of his daughter Lisa, while simultaneously naming a computer after her. Jobs, eventually the father of four, even claimed to be "sterile."

In addition, Gibney provides evidence that Jobs backdated lucrative stock options for himself and other Apple executives (at board meetings that never took place), and, when confronted, allowed his CFO and other executives to be thrown under the bus. One former employee describes Jobs as a mafia don, who chastised him for "leaving the family," while offering up unveiled threats that he would be ruined if he recruited any of his Apple coworkers to his new employer.

This feature-length piece is thoroughly researched and unflinching, but somehow missing the insight and probing analysis of "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief," Gibney's award-winning examination of Scientology and its founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Though recommended for hardcore fans of Silicon Valley lore or anyone who's ever waited hours outside the Apple Store on a product launch day, at more than two hours "Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine" lacks the narrative force of great documentary work and might prove a bit dull for anyone with only a passing interest in Apple or its founder.

"Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine"
HD
Rent: $6.99
http://www.magpictures.com/