In the not so distant future, a brand new AI will be developed that is so advanced it can interact and evolve just like humans. Her tells us the story of Theodore who gets the new OS named Samantha, and then they begin to have a loving relationship. How ridiculous does that sound?
Yes, the concept sounds pretty out there, and it is very out there, but holy originality Batman is it oh so good. Spike Jonze knocked it out of the park with Her, on both writing and directing. This film is one of the most original stories I’ve seen in a long time, and he shot it perfectly. The tone he sets for this not so distant future is like he just jumped into a time machine and took a peak on how it will really be. He really shows how us humans interact with this growing technology, and just how lonely we can get.
Joaquin Phoenix does a fantastic job once again, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise. The guy is a phenomenal actor, and going by the trailer and TV spots, I thought he was going to be this very closed off, lonely guy that didn’t talk much. He really isn’t like that at all. I mean, yes, he is a lonely man, but he is so likable, and does his very best to be sociable. Scarlett Johansson has had a bit of Oscar buzz for her role in this flick, but they aren’t going to consider her because she is only a voice. I think they should reconsider that notion, because that is what makes this movie work so well. The fact that this is a love story, but you are only seeing one person on the screen is quite difficult to pull off, but Jonze did it like it was a natural love story formula, and Scarlett will make you fall in love with her voice.
Other actors such as, Amy Adams, Chris Pratt, and Olivia Wilde, also do a great job with their small roles. The sheer awkwardness that is portrayed on screen is also done so well, and I found myself smiling a whole lot as the story progressed. If you want a beautfully shot, perfectly acted original movie, then I highly suggest checking Her out. The title alone makes for some funny sentences when you type it or say it out loud. “Check Her out”, but that is just more of the brilliance of Spike Jonze. Check out my video review below, and let me know what you thought about the movie if you saw it.