SXSW2023: Spotlight Narrative ‘BlackBerry’ Tells a Story of Our Times

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AUSTIN, TX – Remember the term “CrackBerry”? It described the addicts of the earliest multi-function smartphone, the BlackBerry. In the days before the iPhone, it was the BlackBerry that held the mobile communication crown. The fascinating story of extreme success and monumental miscalculation is all encompassing.

“BlackBerry” is a 2023 Canadian biopic film about the history of the BlackBerry line of mobile phones. The screenwriter and director is Matt Johnson (also in a featured role), which was adapted from Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff’s book “Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry.” The film will be released by IFC films in May of 2023.

Glenn Howerton in “BlackBerry”
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

CAPSULE REVIEW: This film rises and falls through the superior performance of Jay Baruchel (“She’s Out of My League”), who takes the nerd tech guy to another level. Otherwise its a tremendous life lesson, that no entity can stand on the hubris they gain through success, because there is always somebody or something else that wants a piece of the action. Was there ever in history such a highest high for a product that fell off its perch just as quickly? “BlackBerry” is an object tutorial.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Critic/Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com