From the quirky mind of visionary filmmaker Spike Jonze comes Her, a warm romantic comedy-drama with just a touch of science fiction that takes the concept of technological dependency to the next level. It’s the classic tale of boy-meets-girl given a post-modern, cerebral twist.
The title is misleading, for you see Her is actually about him. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Theodore Twombly, a socially awkward recluse living in a near-future Los Angeles that looks like it’s been airbrushed in Photoshop, rendered on an Apple Mac and uploaded to YouTube.
Working as a writer for the Beautiful Handwritten Letter Company, it seems that finding love in an age dominated by technology is no easy task, even for a die-hard romantic like Theodore. There’s very little room for human interaction when everyone is tethered to their smart phones and constantly connected to the internet. Sound familiar?
After his attempts to forge a loving connection with the female of the species fail, it seems that the only relationship worth any effort from Theodore is with Samantha, his computer’s ever-evolving sentient operating system, voiced by the seductively husky Scarlet Johansson.
Beneath the surface, the film satirically comments on the state of modern relationships. Her is a very dry and rather revealing take on our increasing reliance upon gadgetry to function in a social capacity. As Theodore navigates the dangers of singledom, such as online dating and disturbing phone sex, his relationship with Samantha is surprisingly the most human and real one depicted on screen.
There’s an anxious comedic tone to Theodore’s interactions with his operating system, but that
doesn’t make the film lose any of its sweet emotional integrity. Much of the film centres on the "honeymoon stage" of Theodore and Samantha’s relationship, with Phoenix performing some of the most endearing and tender acting of his career all by himself. the film is clearly inspired by the works of Woody Allen; imagine Annie Hall for the internet generation.
The premise is as simple as it is bizarre, but then Jonze was never one to play by the rules of our reality. To some, the sheer notion (and indeed the film’s lead character) may strike audiences as creepy or unnerving. Alongside the slow pace and rather peculiar ending, the whole concept of Her just may not sit well with some. But what else can you expect from the director of Being John Malkovich?
Deservedly, award committees are praising Her like they should, and the film has been nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. More importantly, Her is perhaps the first great heart-breaking romantic tale inspired by the twenty-first century, and a film that might even move some to tears.
