It seems to be the year for films based on seemingly limited and dull subject matters. Following on from Tetris and Air, we now have Matt Johnson’s BlackBerry based on Sean Silcoff’s book Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry. It tells the tale of the creation of the BlackBerry line of mobile phones by co-founders Douglas Fregin (Johnson), Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and investor Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton) and ends with the company falling apart.
I was obviously aware of BlackBerry’s disappearance from the mobile phone marketplace but had no idea exactly what caused its downfall. Having read-up on the facts since seeing the film, the events depicted only tell part of the story, and a caption at the start emphasises that this is a fictionalised story. However, it does make for an engaging watch, becoming unexpectedly involving as it rattles through the story.
Of the cast, Howerton impresses most as the arrogant and increasingly desperate co-CEO of the company. Also Cary Elwes seems to be having fun as an unhinged competitor.
Rating: 7 out of 10