Blackberry * * * * ½

I'm getting the impression that some of the best stories are to be found in the world of cutting edge commerce. Recently we had Air, the story of the sneaker that changed the fortunes of Nike. Other examples are  Steve Jobs (Apple) and Founder (McDonalds), both of which were excellent stories. 

Blackberry is about the mobile phone that shook up the world in the nineties and early 2000's.  It was the first phone on which you could receive and respond to emails in real time. Doesn't sound like much now, but it was a remarkable achievement at the time.

Mike and his team of professionals

Matt Johnson's direction is very good. Even though it is all scripted and acted, at times it looks as though it is a documentary in which the makers have been given unfettered and privileged access.  A bit grainy with hand held cameras it has a look and feel reflecting the production quality of the period.

Mike and Doug were likeable nerds.   They had a small business with like-minded people.  The company was called RIM and they primarily made modems. They knew a lot about wireless internet and how it might be made to work to send messages to a device.  Strangely they struggled at first to persuade large companies of the benefit of it until they met Jim.  

Jim is played by Glen Howerton in a powerhouse performance. He's not nice. He's like am undisciplined guard dog.  Great to let loose on the opposition, but likely to bite you too.

Watching Mike and Doug and the tech boys cobble together the prototype Blackberry to present it to a doubting backer really is exciting.  Great drama. 

An incident involving an essential item being left in a taxi is edge of the seat. It's very funny at times too: especially the undisciplined antics of the the nerdy guys who actually make it happen.

The fate of Blackberry is widely known, so you know how all this going to end up, but that in no way spoils the unfolding of the events. 

Blackberry is an informative and highly entertaining film.