Blackberry (2023) (dir. Matt Johnson)
Click above to hear my interview with writer/director Matt Johnson!
Blackberry is one of the most entertaining films of 2023 so far. Why bury the lead? Yes, it helps to be a fan of the filmmaker’s previous work - his energy, the sense of freewheeling chaos taking place, but there’s also a lot of sensitivity to complicated situations whether it involves high school, bullying, the space race or now, the invention of the smart phone.
Indie filmmaker Matt Johnson transports us back to that place and time, adapting Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff’s book Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry into what can be described as a dramatic biopic of sorts. Though the laughs are plentiful since Johnson knows comedic timing and beats, in the end, you end up caring about lot of impulsive individuals with good intentions that simply get way in over their head.
Set in the smalltown of Waterloo, Ontario, the film sees visionary engineer Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and his best friend Doug (Matt Johnson) develop the very first device that combined telephone, email, and pager technology. The origin of how Blackberry got its name is one of the biggest laughs in the film. With the support and financial backing of businessman Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton), the pioneering product is launched but as the company grows, their almighty success soon spirals out of their control. Soon there is competition and loss and poor decision making by nearly everyone. A bit of a rags to riches tale in the spirit of something like The Social Network but mostly shot with the shaky cinema verite style of The Big Short.
You get a strong sense of camaraderie from both the tech team and the acting performances throughout and the main players each bring something special to their roles. Baruchel, returning from a career break, is the beating heart of the piece, torn between the loyalty to his employees and the greedy lure of fortune. There’s a great pathos to his performance, and his and Johnson’s double act is a joy to behold. In stark contrast, Howerton rips through the film with an abrasive intensity that is confrontational to any one that doesn’t give him what he wants. Watching Howerton and Barachel square off with one another is one of the many joys to be had.
While the story follows the pitfalls of new technology, it’s really about human beings being imperfect and challenged by those with even more power and credibility. We also experience what happens when the wrong CEO is in charge of getting this device out into the general public. Perhaps some of the references to other movies (complete with posters and t-shirts) gets a little old. It works better in something like The Dirties which is partially about film-making, but here it just feels like Matt winking a bit or calling out his influences in a way that doesn’t serve the story. Granted, this is bound to happen when the tech team insists on having “movie nights.”
This is a story that has been done before and maybe just a tad bit better in the past but Johnson’s presence and personal stamp help keep things entertaining throughout. If for whatever reason, you’re not on his wavelength of awkward cutaways, then you might tune out. But you should be engaged by watching what happens to these characters often doing or saying the wrong thing. As I mentioned during the interview, there is a sense of joy on display including the choice to cast certain character actors like Saul Rubinek and Michael Ironside in smaller, but pivotal roles in which they are subtle in their scenery chewing.
There is definitely more to this one than even Johnson’s last two films which shows signs of growth - commentary on technology, giving power to those who have no idea how to manage it and certainly being ambitious to a fault. Blackberry is mainly just a sharp indie dramedy; an enjoyable ride that is definitely worth seeking out especially if you want to laugh with a packed crowd. Nothing profound but full of heart and humanity thanks in huge part to the cast that knows exactly how to keep the audience invested. As a fan of this filmmaker, I was thoroughly on board from beginning to end even if it could’ve used a trim.
As always, Matt Johnson remains one of my favorite filmmakers and actors simply as a comedic presence. He is full of wildly madcap manic energy that isn’t unlike the screwball comedy era. (If only he could’ve been cast on a show like Gilmore Girls, he would’ve easily fit in with that show’s rhythms and pacing). Johnson does a fantastic job keeping the feature on its feet, using 90s needle drops and an eye for pace to push the story along in a way he continues to do with aplomb. Do whatever you can to see this with a crowd for the ultimate communal experience of laughter and simple pleasures throughout. Oh and nobody yells like Glenn Howerton does in this and you’re pretty much guaranteed to laugh when that happens.
Screened as part of The 10th Annual Chicago Critics Film Festival - opening May 12th in theaters!
