Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Steve Jobs movie is available on iTunes today and Apple would rather you not know about it.

N

NameUndecided

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 28, 2011
751
68
I thought this was pretty funny, but also, ultimately, far too petty for my own tastes.

Steve Jobs -- directed by Danny Boyle, written by Aaron Sorkin, up for two acting Oscar nominations for Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet -- was released digitally today, and there is no mention made of it on the iTunes storefront alongside today's other new releases.

Actually, it is mentioned in one spot when viewing on the computer. On the "top movies" (top sellers) list, comprised of small text, on the far right of the store page where it's currently ranked at 20 -- up from 27 when I looked earlier today!

I just thought this was sort of amusing, but it also turns me off a bit. I personally think it's a very good film. Very well directed for such a small scale environment, good performances, nicely written particularly when viewed as sort of like a filmed stage play, and a good musical score.

Also worth noting that I seem to recall the Ashton Kutcher film [that I still haven't seen but looked incredibly dull and mediocre and please don't try to tell me it was "good, actually!" because I'll just wince and smile and nod and move along] actually did receive prominent store placement when it was first released on video.
And -- the Walter Isaacson book on which this newer film is based, even, received so much direct endorsement and celebration from Apple. (But I can also understand the difference because that book did have such direct endorsement and involvement from Steve Jobs and it was released quite shortly after his death, if I remember correctly.)

So, anyway… just so you all know. iTunes is carrying the movie almost, seemingly, out of obligation. And I'm just disappointed that they're trying to sweep it under the rug.

Also, unlike pretty much any other Universal Pictures video released within the past year+, the blu-ray out in a couple weeks apparently won't have an iTunes redeem for its included digital copy. UltraViolet only.
 
They have it under the Oscar nominations page twice. But yeah, it is unfortunate that they decided not to feature it when both Amazon and Google have it listed in their new sections. o_O I don't remember if they did the same when the Haunted Empire book came out? They didn't like that one either.
 
Movies do terribly in theaters very, very, often, and that doesn't stop studios from marketing them in any way when they come to video. This wasn't a case of Universal hiding the film because they're embarrassed that nobody saw it.

And to boot, Apple didn't decide to place Rock the Kasbah, The Last Witch Hunter, or Meet the Coopers in their "New and Noteworthy" space this week because they're all such great movies and they know we all can't wait to see them again for the first time.

I don't think I knew about the Haunted Empire book. If it received a good amount of attention from other retailers but not on iBooks, that would be sort of funny. But I also see it's not even all that well-regarded from reader reviews.
I can understand if the movie (or book) is seen more as a direct attack on the company. Alex Gibney's Man in the Machine documentary, for instance, makes a whole lot more sense for Apple to choose to not advertise it in any way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: na1577 and sidewinder3000
garirry said:
Wasn't it the movie that flopped so hard that it got pulled off from 2000 theaters? Isn't it obvious now why it isn't featured on the Apple Store?
Click to expand...
It's not the sort of film you watch in the theatre in my opinion. But worth watching as it is good.

Did apple do the right thing? Yeah I think so saves a lawsuit for some sort of collusion crap later down the line
 
Gav2k said:
It's not the sort of film you watch in the theatre in my opinion. But worth watching as it is good.

Did apple do the right thing? Yeah I think so saves a lawsuit for some sort of collusion crap later down the line
Click to expand...
Can you please explain what you mean by saving from a possible lawsuit? Do you mean that people might think Apple is in collusion with Universal Pictures by displaying Universal's film about their company in their digital storefront? Or am I wildly misinterpreting?
 
  • Like
Reactions: sidewinder3000
NameUndecided said:
Can you please explain what you mean by saving from a possible lawsuit? Do you mean that people might think Apple is in collusion with Universal Pictures by displaying Universal's film about their company in their digital storefront? Or am I wildly misinterpreting?
Click to expand...
Yeah along those lines. America is America after all
 
Sony acquired the rights to the biography, and the movie was originally produced by Sony before Universal took over it. Sony doesn't provide iTunes digital copies in their blurays, so this might have more to do with the iTunes not being included than a conspiracy.
 
garirry said:
Wasn't it the movie that flopped so hard that it got pulled off from 2000 theaters? Isn't it obvious now why it isn't featured on the Apple Store?
Click to expand...

It also received considerable buzz at the Golden Globes and has been reviewed extremely favorably. Many insiders blame a badly botched release (at least in part) for its poor showing in theaters. It's likely to be a very hot rental even despite not lasting long at theaters.
 
Maybe there are some other legal or distribution details that prevent it from having an iTunes portion for their digital code. I know that Sony originally planned to produce the film, but from all I can tell, they passed it on entirely and Universal is the sole US distributor.
Important to clarify -- I am basing this bluray/digital copy business off the back cover image on Amazon's product page. http://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Blu-ray-Danny-Boyle/dp/B0168UF2PS
Compare this to Crimson Peak's back cover that includes an "also on iTunes" graphic.
http://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Peak-Blu-ray-Mia-Wasikowska/dp/B016JB0JDG/

And I mildly resent this observation being called a conspiracy. :p I don't think it's conspiratorial at all because it's all pretty up front. I just think it's a case of Apple being needlessly defiant against a film that's 1 critically well regarded and has great talent involved and 2 really isn't all that defiant or unfair, itself.

Gav2k: No. Giant corporations don't step out of their way and inconvenience their sales to protect from dumb hypothetical lawsuits that have zero grounds, would be immediately thrown out, and wouldn't affect them. Apple sells, and has outwardly promoted, plenty of outside works (books, films, etc.) that comment on their company already. Starbucks sold hardcovers of their CEO's book inside their own shops when it was first released. There are no laws against this.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
NameUndecided said:
I thought this was pretty funny, but also, ultimately, far too petty for my own tastes.

Steve Jobs -- directed by Danny Boyle, written by Aaron Sorkin, up for two acting Oscar nominations for Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet -- was released digitally today, and there is no mention made of it on the iTunes storefront alongside today's other new releases.
Click to expand...

i believe those spots, especially at the very top, are paid placement. So it's very possible that the producers weren't willing to pay Apple to get the movie up there
 
charlituna said:
i believe those spots, especially at the very top, are paid placement. So it's very possible that the producers weren't willing to pay Apple to get the movie up there
Click to expand...
Well I can understand it not being in the very top banner. But it just wouldn't have been Universal's decision to not have the title anywhere to be found on the main page until it's ("fingers crossed," they'd be left to say) made its way to the top-sellers list.

Tim Cook and other Apple higher-up people were speaking ill of the movie before it was even released in theaters and obviously didn't want it to do well. It just leaves a bad taste -- so much in large part because their proudly featuring that Ashton Kutcher film when it first released. A good movie is discouraged against and swept away while mediocrity wins applause by sycophancy.
I'm kind of repeating myself now.
 
NameUndecided said:
Well I can understand it not being in the very top banner. But it just wouldn't have been Universal's decision to not have the title anywhere to be found on the main page
Click to expand...

yeah it could have been. placement is a big market. it's possible that getting into the front slots on the new releases etc is by payment.
 
It's not due out until the 7th of March in the UK. I'll watch it. Worth a watch at home but not at the cinema.
 
Well that was disappointing. 95% exposition. 2% nonsense. 2% character.

Wow, Steve Jobs was mercurial and often difficult and mean. Didn't see that one coming.
 
charlituna said:
yeah it could have been. placement is a big market. it's possible that getting into the front slots on the new releases etc is by payment.
Click to expand...
I'm not saying that a studio definitely wouldn't have to pay to have their movie featured somewhere on the storefront. They probably do pay for that space.

I'm saying that a major studio wouldn't decide to not feature their multiple Oscar nominated film - that they certainly could stand to make some more money on - anywhere on the iTunes store space on the day or week of its release. That makes absolutely no sense. This wouldn't have been Universal's weird-ass choice to abandon all hope and bury their own film.
 
emjaycee18 said:
Sony acquired the rights to the biography, and the movie was originally produced by Sony before Universal took over it. Sony doesn't provide iTunes digital copies in their blurays, so this might have more to do with the iTunes not being included than a conspiracy.
Click to expand...
You are right about that. I bought Minions which I was able to add to iTunes and UV but Hotel Transylvania 2 I could not redeem on iTunes just UV. As for FOX releases I was able to claim Night at the Museum Secret of the Tomb on iTunes but I was no longer able to redeem it on UV. I wish all these studio's would do what Disney does I can redeem everything on all services.
 
garirry said:
Wasn't it the movie that flopped so hard that it got pulled off from 2000 theaters? Isn't it obvious now why it isn't featured on the Apple Store?
Click to expand...

If so it explains why no iTunes copy. That's the new MO with digital copy. If it's not a big blockbuster it only gets UV. Blockbusters used to get both, but now it may come with both but you only get one or the other. Fortunately Vudu has disc to digital. I've resorted to taking the iTunes copy when they come and then turn around and drop the two bucks on disc to digital. Right now I'm doing disc to digital through Vudu on my BD collection. I drop about $40 a month which if you do them in bulk will net you 80 copies, assuming they have them. Most of them also copy into the UV locker as well. I have about 140 left. They give you 50% off when you do 10 at a time and that's pretty much a steel. So far I think I may only need to double down on about 20 titles they don't have in disc to digital to get the full collection. It's a pretty slick process that I wish Apple had.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back