A Fascinating Exploration of Triumph and Arrogance

BlackBerry chronicles the meteoric rise and equally catastrophic fall of a company that transformed how we communicate. Research In Motion (RIM) was founded in Waterloo, Canada, by best friends Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin. They struggled mightily in the cutthroat sea of business competition until fate aligned them with a vicious shark. Jim Balsillie bullied, screamed, and clawed his way to the top using unscrupulous tactics. The journey of these three men and their wildly disparate personalities fascinates. BlackBerry is both an innovative triumph and cautionary tale of blinding arrogance.

Punk rock blares from an old Honda Civic as Mike (Jay Baruchel) and Doug (Matt Johnson) race to an important meeting at Sutherland-Schultz. They fumble the presentation materials while trying to set up. The white-haired, brilliant Mike becomes obsessed with the static buzz emanating from a cheap intercom. He attempts to fix the problem as a panicked Doug tries to find a paperclip.

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Jim (Glenn Howerton) enters the room with a fierce countenance. The engineering nerds crumble under his glowering gaze. Mike sheepishly tries to explain their design for Pocket Link. A revolutionary smartphone that could send and receive messages. Jim already has a pager. Who cares? Mike corrects him. This device sends e-mails on a network signal.

A Stunning Offer

IFC Films

Mike and Doug return to the office dejected. They’re out of money. A multi-million dollar deal with U.S. Robotics for modems hasn’t been paid. An employee notes that his paycheck bounced. The freewheeling Doug calms fears — stop working, and let’s watch Raiders of the Lost Ark. Meanwhile, back at Sutherland-Schultz, Jim’s aggressive behavior is no longer tolerated. He calls Mike and Doug for lunch the next day. They’re stunned as Jim offers a cash infusion for a 50% stake of RIM and job as the company’s new CEO.

BlackBerry’s sublime first act sets the stage for a perfect storm. Mike was a genius with no business acumen. His reserved and fastidious nature prevented people from taking him seriously. Doug, hilariously played by director/co-writer Johnson on triple duty, was no stickler for the rules. He coddled staff with a fun environment that fostered creativity but failed to generate productivity. Jim, the proverbial bull in the China shop, immediately ceased all non-work related activities. He ruled with fear and intimidation. Jim didn’t care about hurting feelings or bruised egos. You cringe as Jim crushes dissent and everyone scurries to avoid his wrath.

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BlackBerry rightfully praises their initial success. Jim learns that bravado doesn’t win over Fortune 500 boardrooms. He got the important meetings but didn’t have the technical expertise to elucidate RIM’s capabilities. Mike’s engineering prowess solved problems that had befuddled the industry. His smartphone design with its nifty keyboard struck gold. A time jump to 2003 shows RIM’s market penetration and dominance. Users coined the term “crackberry” because they couldn’t put down their phones.

Lack of Foresight

RIM conquered the world but fell prey to hubris and duplicity as another titan entered the game. Apple’s iPhone did the unthinkable. It completely removed the keyboard for a full-screen interface. A riveting scene has Mike and Doug watching Steve Jobs’ legendary presentation, aghast with very different reactions. Doug, browbeaten but still an integral player, recognized they had to change their thought process. Mike refused to believe that consumers would abandon the keyboard. This lack of foresight deals a critical blow as Jim’s machinations are scrutinized by government watchdogs.

Johnson (The Dirties, Operation Avalanche) crafts a personal comedy story with a moral compass. RIM began as a dedicated team of smart friends. Jim brought discipline and needed guidance but fundamentally changed the company’s culture. They achieved astonishing success. BlackBerry comically reminds that greatness is never guaranteed to last. Canada’s once most valuable company is a minor shell of its former self.

BlackBerry is a production of Rhombus Media and Zapruder Films. It will have a May 12th theatrical release from IFC Films.

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