BLACKBERRY (in theatres)

I have yet to meet anyone who did not love their BlackBerry; I will be in its debt for eternity; it changed my life (which initially, felt ideal), added a freedom impossible to define and pole vaulted me into the internet marvels of the twenty-first century; still nostalgically mourn its loss.

Canadian director/actor Matt Johnson’s tragicomedy about the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of an invention that changed the universe is a marvel that should be experienced by all; Johnson stars as one of the grungy, nerdy, disheveled inventors, Douglas Fregin, and is incomparably hilarious; his comedic timing matched immaculately with cofounder Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel, depicts the socially obtuse but brainy mastermind, with clueless cleverness). The marketable star of “BlackBerry” is Glenn Howerton as the brilliant, arrogant, extraordinarily sagacious Jim Balsillie; almost singlehandedly set BlackBerry on its stratospheric scramble.

Movie goers crave and applaud rags to riches scenarios, innovation, conjured in basements, classrooms, garages by unshaven, jeaned visionaries: “The Social Network”, “Pirates of Silicone Valley” lionize Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak; “BlackBerry’s” ingenuity lies on its focus on misaligned ambition, greed gone awry, primarily blindness to the possibility that someone might exceed their inventiveness; the keenness of competition; BlackBerry was extirpated by Apple. Miraculously the protagonists have fared well in life, business and philanthropy; “BlackBerry” dismisses their anonymity, allowing audiences to value their trailblazer acuity while empathizing with their deficiencies; a jewel of a film worth savoring.

FOUR & ½ STARS!!!!

Peneflix