Today’s episode was recorded in August 2025.
BlackBerry is an unusual, against-the-grain movie, much like the ground-shaking device it’s about. I’m very happy to have my father, Esmail Amid-Hozour, back on the podcast, along with my dear friend Kathy Garber, to break down this 2023 indie film and what makes it work, and where it stumbles.
Director Matt Johnson pulls off something genuinely impressive here. The film, like the device itself, is far from perfect, but it captures the nostalgia of a pre-iPhone and pre-Android era with real energy. The story of RIM, Research In Motion, and the rise of the BlackBerry is chaotic, fast-moving, and sometimes messy, just like the movie telling it.
Does that chaos work for the film, or does it hold it back? We don’t fully agree, and that difference of opinion drives much of this spirited conversation. Where do you land on this one?
BlackBerry is streaming now on Hulu and Kanopy, and is available to rent on most major platforms.