Spike Jonze’s Her is a sweet, poignant and yet gently
chilling romantic comedy about a man who falls in love with his computer’s
operating system. Nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, it’s been
met with critical acclaim. It features a fascinating conceit which is deeply
explored and contains some beautiful set and costume design as well as some
exceptional performances. Why is it then that I found it as cold as a
hibernating laptop?
It’s 2025 and Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) is a letter writer in Los Angeles. His marriage
has failed and he’s delaying the signing of his divorce papers, holding out for
a second chance which he knows is never going to come. Desperately lonely, he’s
become a slight recluse, distancing himself from friends while maintaining a
false sunny disposition in their company. One day Theodore sports a newly
released operating system (OS) in a mall, one which promises to learn and
adapt, whose artificial intelligence is designed to be more than a computer but
to be a friend. Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) as the OS calls herself, becomes
Theodore’ friend and soon, his lover.
What makes Her so good is just
how believable the plot is. In just a few years since the invention of the
smart phone, our habits have altered considerably and we spend less time
interacting face to face than at any other point in history. I personally speak
to friends much more online than in person and I’m certain I’m not alone with
that. The film follows on from recent developments in human relationships and
technology and comes to an entirely conceivable outcome – human/computer
relationships. The film’s OS is adaptable and pre-programmed to be a good match
for its user, meaning that there is only ever one logical outcome. No matter
what, it would be nearly impossible not to get on with your artificially
intelligent OS because it would simply alter itself to suit your wants and
needs.
I liked what the film had to say about the state of human interaction and
loneliness in groups. Many of us who live in large cities, go from day to day
without greeting our neighbours, commuting in a self made technological cocoon
of screens and headphones. Her runs
with these ideas and takes us forward, into a beautifully designed future in
which we are almost unaware of our surroundings. This idea in particular was
one of many in the film that reminded me of Pixar’s Wall-E. Where the film falls down in its exploration is with
regards to the wider world. Rarely do we hear about other people’s experiences
or the major news that people can date their computers. This may be perhaps
because like Theodore, we’re so engrossed in the micro, unaware of the macro
world beyond our screen and earpiece. I also thought that the general lack of
fanfare at the release of the new OS was a little odd when considering the
amount of pomp and media coverage the latest Apple product generates. What left
me cold was the lack of heat in the central relationship. I never really bought
into it and although there were laughs, thrills and spills, I couldn’t warm to
it.
Overall though, the script is incredibly strong and packed full of
interesting ideas and complex discussions about the nature of love and reality.
Unfortunately, I felt as though some of these discussions went on a little too
long and the film’s two hour plus felt longer than it actually was. Fortunately
though, the frame is filled with incredibly beautiful landscapes and attention grabbing design. The Los Angeles of the near
future is recognisably familiar yet strangely alien. Numerous skyscrapers dot
the landscape, towering over people, walking and talking with their OS. Two
weeks worth of filming in the modern metropolis of Shanghai definitely helped the film to find
its futuristic setting. Despite the technology and architecture, the setting is
timeless. This is made possible with retro set and costume design which is
reminiscent of the 1960s. Computer screens are wood paneled and clothes are
suitably old fashioned, found in autumnal reds and oranges. The costumes look amazing and were one of my favourite
aspects of the film but the clean lines of the sets and props were also
alluring to the eye.
The acting is very good from top to bottom with Joaquin Phoenix delivering
a fantastic performance as the lonely Theodore. He presents two versions of the
character, one for them and one for us, not letting other people see the true
him. It’s a much more complex performance than one first imagines and he’s
excellent at all times. Rooney Mara gives a solid supporting performance while
Amy Adams shines. Scarlett Johansson is wonderful as the sultry and seductive
Samantha. It probably helps that the audience knows from whose lips the lines
are being uttered but she’s likeable and flirtatious. There is chemistry
between the two leads but as I’ve mentioned, I didn’t buy into the ‘physical’
relationship.
Overall I thought that Her was an
eye opening and interesting movie. It subtly creates a sci-fi world which is
reminiscent of our own while every detail looks incredible. For me though, it
was a little long and sometimes dull but on the whole, it’s a fascinating
watch, well worth spending a couple of hours investing in.
7/10
GFR 9/10
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Wall-E 2008
Great review man. I couldn't help thinking the pacing was a little off towards the end also. All in all, an interesting and original piece of sci-fi though! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://feelinfuzzier.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/film-review-her.html
Nice review Tom. Works on many levels, but the main one is as a romance-flick. It may be an odd one, but it’s still beautiful in its small, quirky and subtle ways.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, but I'm surprised it only ranked 7/10 for you. Her was a huge surprise for me, and I completely applaud the effort involved in this one. I definitely have found myself having to reassure non-movie lovers that it's more than just a man falling in love with his computer haha
ReplyDeletePeople certainly shouldn't be put off by the premise. There's much more to it than boy meets (computer) girl. I felt I couldn't go higher than 7/10 because I got too bored. It doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy the film though because I definitely did.
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