HER

HER Review

By Darin Skaggs

     Spike Jonze’s new film Her is a story about a man named Theodore Twombly, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who falls in love with his computer operating system.  The premise sounds ridiculous and like an exploration of our obsession with technology.  While the film does have that aspect going on, it is also a look at the very idea of love.

     Theodore lives alone, works a job writing “personal” letters for people and has separated from his wife for about a year.  The only interaction he has is with the characters in his video game and his computer.  The new Operating System comes out and he gets it.  While setting it up he is asked if he wants a male or female voice.  He replies female and the voice that emerges is Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson.  Her software is so intelligent that it seems she can feel emotions proved by Theodore and Samantha joking during this first interaction.

     The two slowly fall in love.  The genius of the film is that Jonze, who also wrote the film, convinces you that these two people are happy together and then later convinces us that they are drifting apart.  The film is saying that we are more comfortable with our phones and the internet then talking to real people.  It also says that it is hard through rough times to talk to anyone.  Constantly in the background of the film are other people talking to their OS computers.  At times Theodore has to say he is dating an OS and nobody has any negative comments towards that fact.  With this relationship it explores all the aspects of love.  It says what sex can mean to people.  Sometimes people just want a one night stand but nothing serious and a few months later that same person could want a romantic experience.  It explores how people can seem so in sync and later the two people can change and want different things.  This film could have been told with two humans but Jonze’s makes it work with one human and a super smart computer.

     Phoenix really carries the film.  All he has to work against is his knowledge of what the dialogue is.  He did not hear Johansson’s voice while filming due to the fact she was cast after.  Her vocal performance is amazing.  She is playing a computer, she can learn a ton of information, but she is just a computer.  The film is set in the near future so she is smarter than anything we have now.  The whole cast is in fact wonderful including Amy Adams.  The script and the performances really lead to some funny and also touching moments.

     There are little touches in the film that have nothing to do with the story, but add so much to the film as a whole.  The video games have no controller which is probably where gaming counsels are heading.  The clothes look like they are from the 1990’s but a heightened version of what people were wearing back then.  The film ends with people staring at a beautiful view.  The whole view is buildings, all man made. 

     This film is weird, like other Jonze’s films.  It is a surprisingly touching film about love and technology and the dangers of them.  It is very hopeful with some sadness as well.  One of the best of the year and demands repeat viewings.