Film: Blackberry


This is what you need to know about how Blackberry changed my life. I was reluctant at first as at that time, Blackberry was a status symbol for American socialites. I maintained my Nokia (5310?), my first smartphone would be fine but, actually, it was rubbish at synching emails.

I met with Mark from Utility Warehouse who somehow convinced me - I remember his name, that’s how momentous this occasion was, and I never looked back (until I begrudgingly moved to Android in 2012). I forever called it the Dooberry. It wasn’t until Obama’s staff talked about his addiction to the Crackberry during the presidential campaign that it became less of a status symbol and more of an essential communication tool.

“to put a computer on everybody’s hip”

So, you’d think a film about the geniuses who had the foresight to know that we needed a pocket computer combined with our phone would be fun, insightful and inspiring. This Blackberry film is not.

Far from being a love letter to the Blackberry, I left the cinema completely dejected.

For about 2 days afterwards.

Is it satire? Is it a dark comedy? It works as neither and it is as miserable as sin.

So for people who think Google invented maps and Apple invented the smartphone, know you are wrong.

0/10

PS I’ve written on the subject a couple of times:

12 years on (2016)

The Freedom to Work from Wherever You Choose (2009)