October 16, 2023 - BlackBerry
Presented by Reel Alternatives in partnership with the Algonquin Theatre

Algonquin Theatre
37 Main Street East
Huntsville ON P1H 1A1

The latest from Canadian writer-director Matt Johnson tells the story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world’s first smartphone.
In the late ’90s, Research In Motion was just a humble tech outfit selling modems in Waterloo, Ontario. Best friends and co-founders Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) — a soft-spoken tech whiz who’s the brains of the operation — and Douglas Fregin (Matt Johnson) — a headband-donning, nerve-grating goof — are trying to sell a product they call PocketLink, a never-before-seen combination of cellphone, email device, and pager. The telecom world isn’t impressed with Mike and Doug’s invention, but a domineering, foul-mouthed salesman named Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton) is. Jim sees the device’s potential and brokers a deal to acquire part of RIM in exchange for cash and business expertise.
What follows is the gut-wrenching and side-splitting story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of the world’s first handheld computer. BlackBerry is a Canadian story told with tremendous national pride by Canadian talent. The three visionaries at the centre of this tale, despite their device’s ultimate descent into obsolescence, changed the way the world communicates today.

Content Advisory: Strong language