I had high expectations for “her” since it’s been on many critics’ top ten lists, and it didn’t disappoint. Such an interesting, thought provoking and ultra romantic concept film that also happens to be gorgeously shot and beautifully acted. Yes, it’s too long but directors these days seem to have lost the ability to edit their work.
Set in the future in downtown LA, “her” stars Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore, a lonely, sweet man who writes touching, special occasion letters for other people. His wife (Rooney Mara) has left him and he can’t move on, let along bring himself to sign the divorce papers. His only friend is Amy (Amy Adams), who lives in the same building and is going through her own marital breakup.
Into Theodore’s life comes his new computer operating system. He has the option of selecting a male or female voice for the Siri-like OS and picks a female, who calls herself Samantha. This voice emanates from Scarlett Johansson, so it’s husky and sexy and girlish all in one. Samantha is a highly intuitive OS, so she “gets” him in a way no real woman does. And they fall in love.
How this ingenious film tells their love story is unique and wonderful, and thoroughly captures the zeitgeist of how connected/disconnected we are with all the technology. Leave it to Spike Jonze, the director of “Being John Malkovich” and “Adaptation” to take us on another mind-bending trip.
