PIRATES OF SILICON VALLEY Is Silly Fun

A cheapie TV production, it lacks the finesse of a top-notch production feature like SOCIAL NETWORK. The acting is uneven, and the plot isn't always convincing. But the low-budget amateurism has charm and captures the nervy and nerdy spirit of ne'er-do-well but high-IQ garage geeks chasing after their dreams by fits and starts of ingenuity, cunning, and luck. It works on the level of romp. While Fincher's movie and Danny Boyle's STEVE JOBS are technically more impressive, they are overloaded with seriousness and relevance, whereas PIRATES OF SILICON VALLEY grooves to the vibes of geek egotism. If John Hughes made a movie about high-tech world, it might have been something like this.

Rating: 2/5

STEVE JOBS(by Aaron Sorkin & Danny Boyle) Is Compulsively Watchable but Most Likely Full of Baloney

Compulsively watchable. Sorkin is a first-rate hack. Boyle is a pro's pro. Instead of trying to tell the whole story, which would be futile in two hours, the movie highlights a few key themes of Jobs' life and mythology via the backstage shenanigans of Jobs' hype campaigns. Expertly done but no surprises. Intelligence and talent in the service of trite truisms about success in career and failure in life.

Rating: 3/5.