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BlackBerry
2023 120 min Canada, United States of America, Finland R 16+
★7.8
Comedy, Drama, History
Director: Matt Johnson
Trailers
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Description
Two mismatched entrepreneurs – egghead innovator Mike Lazaridis and cut-throat businessman Jim Balsillie – joined forces in an endeavour that was to become a worldwide hit in little more than a decade. The story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone.
Budget:
$5M
US Gross:
$1.48M
Worldwide:
$2.6M
Starring
Jay Baruchel
Actor
Glenn Howerton
Actor
Matt Johnson
Actor
Awards
Berlin International Film Festival 2023
— Golden Bear
Key opinion
BlackBerry is a critically acclaimed tragicomic exploration of the rise and fall of the titular smartphone company, praised for its sharp characterizations and tense portrayal of corporate dynamics. While some viewers find the technical focus and pacing uneven, most agree it succeeds as a compelling, human-centric drama about innovation and managerial hubris.
| Acting | Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton anchor the film with magnetic performances that effectively contrast the idealistic engineer with the ruthless executive. | |
| Cinematography | The film utilizes a gritty, handheld aesthetic that captures the grounded, high-stakes atmosphere of the company's early years. | |
| Theme | The narrative effectively portrays the corporate culture shift from a camaraderie-driven environment to a rigid, soulless hierarchy. | |
| Humor | The film's blend of comedy and corporate tragedy is polarizing, with some finding it a sharp, honest satire and others feeling the tonal shifts are forced. | |
| Pacing | The final act is a point of contention, with some viewers finding the conclusion a tense, inevitable decline, while others feel the pacing falters or the story grows tedious. | |
| Adaptation | Discussions of technical accuracy are divided, as some praise the insight into industry history while others criticize the lack of engineering detail and historical nuance. |