The independent biopic about tech icon Steve Jobs premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this week, and the movie as well as Ashton Kutcher's portrayal of the former Apple CEO generated mixed feelings on Twitter and in online reviews from Sundance attendees.
Titled jOBS, the film debuted not long after Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak criticized a scene, going as far as to describe the personalities and moment as "totally wrong."
The Joshua Michael Stern-directed film — not to be confused with the one Sony Pictures is creating based on Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs — will arrive in theaters on April 19.
Here are the good, the bad and the funny reviews from Sundance viewers on Twitter:
THE GOOD
JOBS is a straightforward creation myth of Apple. Lots of milestone scenes, lots of triumph. Kutcher sells it. #Sundance— Matt Patches (@misterpatches) January 26, 2013
Jobs - Not bad, not amazing, but really good. Tells a very riveting and inspiring story spanning years. Kutcher is superb as Jobs. #Sundance— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) January 26, 2013
Wow, jOBS exceeded expectations. Go @aplusk. #sundance— Matt Huang (@matthuang) January 26, 2013
I have mixed feelings about JOBS after seeing it last night, though Ashton Kutcher was amazing in the role! #sundance— Jacki Zehner (@JackiZehner) January 26, 2013
.@juliantyler really enjoyed #jOBS. it was fun & had heart. @aplusk delivered. #Sundance #Sundance2013— Amy Senger (@sengseng) January 26, 2013
Josh Gad is really good as Steve Wozniak! A movie from his POV might be even more interesting. #Sundance— Matt Patches (@misterpatches) January 26, 2013
THE BAD
JOBS was a true disappointment. All broad strokes and nothing of substance. Plus it completely misses the mark on Jobs. #Sundance— Kevin Kelly (@kevinkelly) January 26, 2013
Can't say I was a jOBS fan. Kutcher is game, but I didn't buy him in the part. The movie is conventional, bland and rushed. #sundance— Chris Bumbray (@cbumbray) January 26, 2013
For a movie where its lead character champions innovation, JOBS is a paint-by-numbers biopic.#Sundance— Matt Goldberg (@MattGoldberg) January 26, 2013
THE FUNNY
Forced myself awake after 4 hours of sleep to attend the JOBS premiere across town. Ashton Kutcher owes me some hot chocolate.#sundance— Marco Cerritos (@BigDumbMale) January 26, 2013
Saw the film "Jobs" at #Sundance. I liked it until Apple dumped the older CEO for the younger Steve Jobs. Honestly, who would do that?— Stacy Dymalski (@StacyWriteNow) January 26, 2013
I wish a practical joker projectionist at #Sundance would play PIRATES OF SILICON VALLEY instead of jOBS.— BenDavid Grabinski (@bdgrabinski) January 26, 2013
WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING
Eric Kohn of Indiewire: "The movie is constantly at war with attempts to provide an honest portrayal, almost as if its subject were reaching beyond the grave to steer any negativity back in the direction of a hagiography."
Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter: "While the film’s emphasis is on Jobs' career, it also touches on less savory aspects of his personal life, including his rejection of pregnant girlfriend Chrisann Brennan and repudiation of his daughter Lisa in his early 20s. And jOBS doesn’t gloss over his reputation for unwavering perfection, direct speech and temperamentalism."
Justin Chang of Variety: "Ultimately, jOBS is a prosaic but not unaffecting tribute to the virtues of defiance, nonconformity, artistry, beauty, craftsmanship, imagination and innovation, qualities it only intermittently reflects as a piece of filmmaking. Freddy Waff's production design and Lisa Jensen-Nye's costumes subtly capture the look of each decade; the soundtrack blares too insistently with some of Jobs' favorite artists, including Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan."