Watch Steve Jobs: The Man In The Machine

Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine is a 2015 biographical documentary film about the life of the late Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, directed by Alex Gibney. The film provides an in-depth, layered and unflinching look at the iconic figure who drove a technological revolution and changed the way the world communicates, works and lives.

The movie covers several aspects of Jobs' life, including his relationship with his daughter Lisa, his challenging personality, his innovative ideas and the controversies that surrounded him along the way. The film also features interviews with some of the people who knew Jobs best, including his friend and fellow co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak. Through candid and exclusive interviews with former colleagues, friends, and family, the film seeks to unravel the enigmatic genius that was Steve Jobs.

Right from the opening frames, the film sets a solemn tone. Director Gibney, who won an Oscar for his 2007 documentary "Taxi to the Dark Side," begins with a montage of people mourning Jobs's passing in 2011. The film then cuts to archival footage of Jobs, offering glimpses of his signature style and mannerisms. From the outset, the film makes it clear that there will be no sugar-coating of Jobs' controversial side, his business practices or his personal life.

The film delves into Jobs' relentless pursuit of perfection and his tendency to micromanage everything, including the design of Apple's products. By exploring his iconic products, such as the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad, the film examines Jobs' creative genius and the visionary thinking that made these groundbreaking devices possible. What emerges is an image of Jobs as an uncompromising leader who demanded nothing less than excellence from his team, often at a brutal cost to their personal lives.

The film examines the darker side of Jobs that he was known to keep private. It presents the viewer with a picture of a man who was not as admired by his employees as much as the public. The film showcases how he was widely known to be difficult to work for and how he used this to his advantage. Gibney shows clips of Jobs from speeches and interviews where he lashes out about his own corporate rivals in the industry. The film also touches on Jobs' embitterment with his father as well as his own troubled relationship with his daughter, Lisa, both of which are fascinating to see.

Steve Wozniak, the other creator of Apple Computer Inc. is interviewed in the movie and provides some interesting insights into Jobs' leadership style and behind-the-scenes glimpses of Apple's early days. Additionally, several of Steve Jobs' former coworkers were interviewed and their reflections on Jobs and his legacy are fascinating, compared and contrasted with the public image. One of the noteworthy aspects of the documentary is that it doesn't demonize Jobs or put him on a pedestal. It paints a comprehensive picture of the man, warts and all, and lets viewers make up their minds about his legacy.

The archival footage is intermingled with interviews with colleagues, competitors, and friends of Jobs, including journalists who followed his career from his days as the brash young Apple CEO, to his historic turnaround of Apple, and his eventual return there in the late 1990s. These interviews offer an inside look at what it was like to work with Jobs, revealing his unyielding demands, his unabashed ambition, and his sometimes-abusive behavior.

The film also explores Jobs' sometimes controversial business practices, including his well-known insistence on secrecy and his sometimes brutal treatment of colleagues and competitors. It sheds light on some of the unsavory aspects of his business practices, such as his refusal to support charity and his aversion to taking responsibility for the environmental impact of Apple products. However, the documentary also provides evidence of Jobs' humanity and his ability to inspire people, highlighting some of the less-documented aspects of his personal life.

Overall, Steve Jobs: The Man In The Machine is a powerful, thought-provoking documentary that candidly examines the life and legacy of one of the most fascinating figures in modern history. It is a portrait of a man who was as brilliant as he was complicated, who was as much a tyrant as he was a visionary, and who left behind a legacy that continues to shape our world today. Whether you're a fan of Steve Jobs, an Apple enthusiast, or simply interested in the story of one of the most influential figures of our time, this documentary is a must-watch.

Steve Jobs: The Man In The Machine is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 2 hours and 8 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 72.