Saturday 23 January 2016

Best Actor 2015: Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs

Michael Fassbender received his second Oscar nomination for portraying the titular character of Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs takes three different product launches for an insight into the life of tech giant Steve Jobs. The film builds up with first third being good, the second being rather great, but then falters with a problematic third act.

Michael Fassbender plays the man behind it all and has probably more screen time percentage wise than the so called "one man show" performances of his fellow nominees, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant and Matt Damon in The Martian. He's in pretty much every scene as the film follows him as he deals with every person and problem in Steve Jobs's life. Fassbender actually looks nothing like the real Steve Jobs, but he goes about doing his best to make up for that. The first being his voice which Fassbender actually surprises with, despite liking Fassbender I'll admit his accents have never been his strong suit, but here he maintains his version of Steve Jobs's slightly whiny timbre. It is not an exact replica but Fassbender makes it his own to the point that it always seems a natural part of his character. In addition Fassbender takes upon Jobs's certain mannerisms, which are interesting, as with the real Jobs, in that they are sort of understated yet overt. That is Fassbender's performance is not so obviously mannered yet the distinct way he keeps a careful posture, and his particular use of his body language, especially in terms of his hand and arm movements, is that of Jobs. Now even all of this, except the voice, actually has a bit of hidden purpose which I'll get to later.

Now a pivotal line in the film is when Jobs's oldest friend and work partner Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogen) states that the Jobs we see in the majority of the film is something that he's invented, and there lies the key to Fassbender's performance. Fassbender most of the time plays the part in a very exact, seemingly too exact, fashion as though Jobs is on some other wavelength than all of humanity, as he sees the world in a way that no one else can even decipher. Fassbender carries himself in a grand fashion as though Steve Jobs's instructions are not just some obsessive man who is becoming hung up on the slightest detail, such as the perfect picture of a Shark or ensuring that when he does his demonstration that the fire exit lights have been turned off, but instead plays it as though he is indeed an artist who is making these specific demands in order to realize his precise vision. Though everyone else doesn't exactly share Jobs's own enthusiasm, Fassbender is very effective in conveying this personal passion in Jobs that drives him to treat minor details as though they're pivotal to the success of his project. It is almost slightly inhuman at times, as Fassbender very much projects these choices as though it is from a mind above it all.

Of course Jobs is not above it all as he has to deal with many things in his life, which all spring up at different moments during each presentation. This includes professional arguments, that sometimes become personal, with a computer designer Andy Hertzfeld (Michael Stuhlbarg) over various things starting with a glitch, John Schulley (Jeff Daniels) Apple's CEO mostly over Apple's board of directors which rarely approves of Jobs, and Wozniak due to Jobs's refusal recognize the importance of the Apple II. As well as completely personal problems involving his former girlfriend Chrisann (Katherine Waterston) and his daughter Lisa, who he tries to deny paternity to. Mixed between all of them is Joanna Hoffman (Kate Winslet) who tries to act as a mediator of sorts. Now a challenge arises due to the nature of Jobs's presentation within the film, in that he is this constant of sorts. Fassbender does maintain this as Steve Jobs never fully loses that certain control about himself, yet there still must be more to him to develop any sort complexity to the relationships within the film. Fassbender does this artfully actually by having these moments of variation in his personal wavelength though they are of a loop of sorts. That even with change it always in the end comes back to original center of his personality which is Steve Jobs as "the genius".

Fassbender utilizes this brilliantly in conveying Jobs's real relationship with each person. In his interactions with Andy, Fassbender adapts a considerable passive aggressive streak in Jobs as every spoken word towards the man seems to have a bit of venom beneath it, suggesting his complete lack of empathy for the man. On the other hand with John Sculley Fassbender fashions a more openly aggressive shade to Jobs, though less petty in nature, revealing a much more genuine passion within it as his arguments with Sculley far more directly impact his ability to create his visions. Underlying these moments though Fassbender is very good at establishing an understanding and certain respect.  He and Daniels craft important moments of rapport when the two seem to be working together in tandem. In his scenes with Wozniak, Fassbender is quite clever in the way he provides a contradiction in the relationship. Whenever Wozniak calls him out on something or demands any sort of recognition, Fassbender brings an ice cold intensity to Jobs reflecting an immediate defense to try silence any idea that he might be inconsiderate or even worse, wrong. On the other hand when they are not in a direct argument Fassbender's reveals an earnest warmth suggesting so well their original friendship, that has been covered up by the man that Jobs has become.

Now with his personal matters there is perhaps the biggest revelation of the truth behind Fassbender's performance which is to indeed make the whole idea of Jobs a facade. There are a few scenes set before any of the products that might seem a bit slight, but essential to Fassbender's characterization. Fassbender quite bluntly reveals a far more relaxed man who is a guy with a vision to be sure, but there is not that grandeur, his physical mannerisms for example are of an average man. There's a much more endearing enthusiasm as Fassbender shows the real man in these scenes before he became the Steve Jobs we see in the rest of the film. Now with that in mind his personal scenes with his daughter and the mother of that daughter, one can see the most substantial break in that facade as Jobs basically reveals his worst and best sides. In regards to his dealings with Chrisann Fassbender does not hide a general disdain to her, and in this case trying to keep his composure only softens his attitude. Fassbender does not shy away from actually carrying this coldness over to Jobs's relationship with his daughter, where there is an inherent harshness in his detached interactions with her that seem to reveal a especially pathetic part of Jobs as basically a man who won't own up to his own mistakes. Nevertheless there are a few moments where Lisa shows her unconditional love towards him, which Fassbender presents just a momentary break in Jobs that suggests him being actually affected by this. There's even a cruelty within this though as Fassbender makes it so brief showing that Jobs will not even lose his crafted image just to recognize his daughter.

The last relationship is between Jobs and Hoffman whose treated as basically his assistant in the film, this is technically least heated in that both actors portray their interactions as fully comfortable with one another leaving Jobs to leave his crafted image firmly place, with Hoffman gently acting as a moral conscience for him. Now of course the relationships all get into a bit a toss up for the film's act which does kinda fall apart in two ways. The first being many of the relationship fail to build to anything special, Sculley and Wozniak basically go over the exact same things. The other being theu go in the wrong direction, the relationship with Hertzfeld's takes a weird and ill conceived turn. Hoffman suddenly become an extremely loud moral conscience. His relationship with his daughter takes the hardest turn which wants an immediate feel good switch around evidenced most by its choice of song to end the film. This might leave Fassbender in a difficult spot, but I actually don't Fassbender's performance is harmed by the film's ending which is both lacking in change yet wants too much of it at the same time. Fassbender's whole take on the character up until the point has to keep Jobs's persona as a constant, and even the moments of change always revert back to that persona. Now that means he gets away with it, so to speak in, in terms of the lack of change but that still leaves the extreme change for his daughter. Well Fassbender does not succumb to the schmaltz the rest of the film seems striving for in terms of both the writing and direction. In his final scene with Lisa, Jobs finally states that he's "poorly made". This could have been a time to fail the character as he becomes this great guy who admits fault, but Fassbender does not do that. He instead shows it to be the same sort of momentary glitch of the facade that he portrayed beforehand in his interactions with Lisa. Fassbender reinforces this by returning to his usual self when basically tries to appease his daughter by boasting about some new ideas he has. Fassbender's performance contradicts the film, but its the right thing to do. Fassbender stays true to his portrait of Jobs, which is as a man fighting with himself, not to do the right thing, but rather to become the icon he wishes to be.

74 comments:

Luke Higham said...

I fucking knew it.

Michael McCarthy: Bad Luck.

Alex Marqués said...

Great to see Fassbender getting a good rating! :D

Luke Higham said...

After this review, I'll be gobsmacked if Fassbender doesn't get a 5 for Macbeth.

Alex Marqués said...

I really need to see that one...

Michael McCarthy said...

Eh, whatever you say. I still think you're giving him a little too much credit regarding the last scene but I do agree with a lot of this. The more I think about it, the more I think he may have been better than DiCaprio. At least Fassbender seemed like he was trying to give the character a personality, which I think DiCaprio wasn't all that concerned with throughout most of The Revenant.

Anonymous said...

Louis I agree completely! He was absolutely great, and was compelling even when the movie faltered.

Robert MacFarlane said...

*kicks puppy*

Calvin Law said...

NAH

Anyway, different strokes for different folks I guess :)

Really hope Damon gets a 5, though it seems distinctly unlikely.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I'm not giving up. :)

Robert MacFarlane said...

Screw it, I'll say it. Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale would have been better for this role.

RatedRStar said...

I agree on Christian Bale, I completely disagree on Cooper lol.

RatedRStar said...

I really did like this performance, its just so great to see what I wanted from eariler in the year which was Hardy and Fassbender getting Oscar nominations.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Frankly Cooper would have been my top choice.

Luke Higham said...

Bale was approached before Fassbender.

RatedRStar said...

I really dont know about Cooper, because he well, I dont think he is proven enough of an actor to do this kind of role whereas Bale is proven to disappear into roles.

Calvin Law said...

I'd always thought Stanley Tucci would've been good, but I must give Fassbender a rewatch. Cooper and Vale would've been much better choices.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Cooper has a better gift for internalization than he gets credit for (Pines and Sniper, for example). He gave one overcooked performance in American Hustle and no one in the comment section of this blog seem to be able to forgive him for it.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: He is a very good actor and have forgiven him for American Hustle, with his work in Guardians Of The Galaxy and American Sniper. :)

RatedRStar said...

I think he is a fine actor but he has yet to disappear into a role like a real man type role, I mean, I would love to have seen The Elephant Man with Cooper in just to see how good he is.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I think the argument that someone doesn't "disappear" into a role is always a misnomer. Especially here since Fassbender's attempt a disappearing into Jobs is more him playing Peter Sarsgaard as Jobs.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Top Ten Films of 2015.

Anonymous said...

Cooper's a very good actor, but he still has to give a 5-star performance for me.

Anonymous said...

I have to say I'm surprised that Fassbender got a 4,5. Looking forward to his Macbeth review.

RatedRStar said...

Robert: What I mean is like, I have given Cooper quite a bit of stick in the past but whenever I see Cooper in any film, even in something like Silver Lining or American Sniper where he did very well, i always think that he doesn't really challenge himself too much, like he is a bit too happy to be just a leading man George Clooney type which I dont want to see, which is why The Elephant Man looks like a completely different role, I am certain he will get another Oscar nomination because he is fairly youngish for a 3 time nominee, very William Hurt like.

Louis what would you say are your thoughts on Bradley Cooper in general, because I certainly think he is talented and quite charming but I feel he just doesnt well, really go for a big hard challenging role aside from The Elephant Man,.

Robert MacFarlane said...

How were American Sniper, Place Beyond the Pines, and even Silver Linings Playbook not challenging roles? Are you kidding me?

RatedRStar said...

Robert: You know what I mean, its like, anyone else can do it if they were given the chance, I keep mentioning his Tony performance because that is like, not Cooper doing the usual Cooper stuff if ya get me.

RatedRStar said...

I did enjoy all 3 of those performances btw.

Robert MacFarlane said...

No, I really don't know what you mean.

RatedRStar said...

Robert: It dont matter then lol, just take it that I do like Cooper, just not as much I think I should.

RatedRStar said...

Despite the fact I have been on this blog since 1948 Best Actor back in 2011, I should probably discredit everything I said from like 2011 till early 2015 because a lot of things I said was just silly, like mocking Joaquin Phoenix, Steve Carell and Harold Russell to even Cooper when he was reviewed for his latter two nominations, its pretty bad so I mean no hate toward anyone anymore.

Deiner said...

Completely agree, and great review. By the way Louis, do you think the film deserved to be nominated for screenplay? And have you given your thoughts on Daniels and Rogen?

Matt Mustin said...

So...I saw The Revenant. It's safe to say I didn't love it. The cinematography is amazing and pretty easily my win, even with the fact that it's a great year for that category. And I also loved every scene with Tom Hardy, and frankly I wish the movie had been about him because, well, I hate to say it, but there is absolutely zero character given to DiCaprio. He gets attacked by a bear, tries to survive in the wilderness for 40 overlong minutes and wants revenge. That's it. I can easily see how cutting about 45 minutes from this could make it great, but as it stands it's got great elements but that whole middle section needed to be severely cut down. And give more character to Hugh Glass.
DiCaprio-3.5 (It hurts me to go this low because he really does succeed in showing Glass's suffering, but he really doesn't have a character to work wit)
Hardy-5 (As mentioned, I wish the movie was about him as I loved every second he was on screen)
Gleeson-3.5
Poulter-3.5

Luke Higham said...

The Big Short Wins PGA. FUCK. :(

Robert MacFarlane said...

MURDER

Anonymous said...

Luke: The Big Short won PGA?! *facepalm*

Robert MacFarlane said...

I will harvest this planet by tomorrow.

Calvin Law said...

Fuck.

Anonymous said...

I sincerely hope The Big Short doesn't win Best Picture. If it does, it will be one of the worst Best Picture winners of all time.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What are your thoughts on John Carradine as an actor? I'd say he was a great character actor who was poorly underused later in his career.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Haven't most films that won the PGA also ended up winning BP?

Calvin Law said...

Yep. 8 years in a row if I'm recalling right?

Fuck.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if the PGA, the SAG, WGA have some connection with the Academy.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: What are your predictions for the top ten of Louis' overalls for Lead and Supporting.
Lead
1. Tom Hardy in Legend
2. Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes
3. Michael Fassbender in Macbeth
4. Ben Mendelsohn in Mississippi Grind
5. Jason Segel in The End Of The Tour
6. Michael B. Jordan in Creed
7. Tom Courtenay in 45 Years
8. Ben Foster in The Program (I'm getting the feeling that Louis felt he rose well above the film)
9. Abraham Attah in Beasts Of No Nation
10. Jason Bateman in The Gift


Supporting
1. Benicio Del Toro in Sicario
2. Tom Hardy in The Revenant
3. Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight
4. Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk
5. Sylvester Stallone in Creed
6. Idris Elba in Beasts Of No Nation
7. Mark Rylance in Bridge Of Spies
8. Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight
9. Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road
10. Emory Cohen in Brooklyn

Anonymous said...

Luke: As much as I love Hardy in Legend, I seriously don't believe he's gonna be number 1 overall for Lead.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Louis loves that kind of role and I'm actually going on Calvin's word. What's your prediction for #1.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Probably McKellen in Mr. Holmes. And I'm well aware that Louis loves those type of roles, but I just don't think he'll go with Hardy as his number 1.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: As long as he gets a 5, I'm happy. :)

Where do you think he'll place Fassbender.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Don't know, probably third.

Anonymous said...

Luke: As for supporting, I'd say that Hardy in The Revenant is going to be first.

Calvin Law said...

Luke:

1. Tom Hardy in Legend
2. Michael Fassbender in Macbeth
3. Jason Bateman in The Gift
4. Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes
5. Ben Mendelsohn in Mississippi Grind
6. Michael B. Jordan in Creed
7. Jason Segel in The End of the Tour (hopefully I'm wrong and he'll be much higher)
8. Ben Foster in The Program
9. Abraham Attah in Beasts Of No Nation
10. Jacob Tremblay in Room



Supporting
1. Benicio Del Toro in Sicario
2. Tom Hardy in The Revenant
3. Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight
4. Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk
5. Sylvester Stallone in Creed
6. Idris Elba in Beasts Of No Nation
7. Mark Rylance in Bridge Of Spies
8. Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight 
9. Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road
10. Emory Cohen in Brooklyn

Alex Marqués said...

It will be great if Tom Hardy ends up being in the top 5 both por Lead and Supporting (what a great year has been for him). I wouldn't mind at all that Del Toro was the overall winner for the supporting category though.

Calvin Law said...

Actually for supporting:

1. Benicio Del Toro in Sicario
2. Tom Hardy in The Revenant
3. Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight
4. Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road
5. Sylvester Stallone in Creed
6. Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk
7. Mark Rylance in Bridge Of Spies
8. Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight 
9. Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation
10. Emory Cohen in Brooklyn (again, hope I'm wrong)

Anonymous said...

Louis what do you think of Cate Blanchett in general? Except for Indiana Jones, I think she's a great actress.

Calvin Law said...

I still find it very perplexing how Blanchett's gone down to a weak 4.5/strong 4 for Carol. Oh well different strokes different folks I guess!

Robert MacFarlane said...

Why do you hope you're wrong about Cohen? He was great in Brooklyn.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: Like Segel, he's hoping he's gonna be higher. He is also his #5 for Supporting.

Calvin Law said...

Robert: Yeah sorry about that, haha. Thanks Luke! I mean Brooklyn's edging closer and closer to being my #1 for the year so can't have disliked Cohen all that much :)

Calvin Law said...

Cohen, Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon have all done major leaps up my rankings as the year's gone by.

L Rime said...

Louis is gonna give Damon a 5. Damon will take this.

Luke Higham said...

L Rime: I think he's gonna win this lineup and I hope he does get a 5, but there's no chance in hell he's winning the overall.

Luke Higham said...

L Rime: Though I'm not sure if you meant out of the nominees or the overall. :)

Calvin Law said...

I just hope Damon's next. L Rime, your ratings for the cast of The Martian?

Damon: 5
Chastain: 4
Daniels: 4
Ejiofor: 4
Glover: 4
Bean: 4
Wong: 3.5
Pena: 3.5
Hennie: 3.5
Mara: 3.5
Wiig: 3
Stan: 3

Luke Higham said...

Those that want access to the 5s and 4.5s document, may I have your Email addresses.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: Do you have access to the document.

L Rime said...

Luke: I meant he's gonna take it out of the nominees. Not overall.

Calvin: Those ratings are basically the same as mine, except I might give Glover a 4.5 just because I can. Maybe give Pena a 4. But yea, those ratings sound about right.

Luke Higham said...

L Rime: Can't wait for his review. :)

mcofra7 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mcofra7 said...

Anyone else not care for Damon? Not that I thought he did anything wrong, but I didn't feel like he was utilized very well.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I thought he was mostly good, though Watney kind of came off as a douche with some of his logs.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. The Hateful Eight
3. Creed
4. Bridge of Spies
5. The Revenant
6. Sicario
7. The End of the Tour
8. Spotlight
9. Brooklyn
10. Macbeth

RatedRStar:

I'd say Cooper could have potentially been a good Jobs.

Deiner:

Thanks.

I gave my thoughts on Rogen and Daniels in Supporting announcement.

Though I felt the screenplay had problems I certainly would have put it in over the Big Short.

Matt:

Well I'm glad you at least took to Hardy.

Robert:

PGA did a great job of choosing the worst choice. Look like its up to DGA to be the chosen one. I mean if McKay wins that......ehhhhhhh.

Anonymous:

Carradine was a one of the kind actor and really one of the earliest examples of a chameleon type of performer in film.

Anonymous:

I think Blanchett is a great actress.

Calvin Law said...

This seems to be the year of douches amongst the male nominees.Fassbender, Redmayne (yes okay people I have rewatched the film and I retract a lot of my praise), Hardy, Ruffalo play outright assholes in one way or the other. Cranston, DiCaprio, Bale aren't particularly pleasant characters either.

In fact I'd say Damon probably played the nicest chap out of the nominated 5. Though I do see how some of his logs could come across as a bit douchey.

Anonymous said...

Damn, there goes another prediction.

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

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