Film Review - ‘Her’
****
After the flops that were ‘Bad Grandpa’ (2013) and ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ (2009),
both of which went virtually unnoticed in the film world, Spike Jonze has created an incredibly
interesting and unique work of art with ‘Her’. A character driven feature with emphasis on the
relationship between man and computer, albeit a nigh on human one. ‘Her’ creates uncertainty in
the audience’s mind and puts the wonderful “what would I do?” question into great use. With
outstanding acting and a beautiful script written by Jonze himself, it is no surprise that critics fell
head-over-heels for this terrific screenplay.
Joaquin Phoenix plays middle-aged Theodore Twombly, a soon-to-be divorcee that is
struggling to let go of his partner (Rooney Mara). Set in the near future, Theodore obtains a brand
new, state-of-the-art Operating System, played by the exceptional Scarlett Johansson, who proves
you don’t need a body to be sexy. After spending some time with his new artificial intelligence,
Theodore realises that Samantha (the self-named OS) knows more about him and his way of
thinking than he does himself, therefore they bond quickly. Samantha helps release Theodore from
his “mopey and depressing” state and allows him to enjoy life and its many perks. After a gratuitous
cybersex scene, they find themselves in a happy relationship. But as with most love stories, there is
always a setback, namely the fact that Samantha is a programme and often finds herself wondering
how it would be if she had a body, although this does not stop her from wanting the relationship to
work and thrive. With the help of best friend Amy (Amy Adams), Theodore attempts to sustain his
incredulous relationship and discover himself again.
The story itself is relatively uneventful and - with regard to the plot - there is not much
progression; a depressed man in his late 40’s simply falls in love with his OS. However, the main
attribute this film has is its ability to evoke audience sympathy for a computer, something that was
distinctly lacking in ‘Electric Dreams’ (1984). Phoenix portrays Theodore beautifully, managing to
capture the loneliness and isolation that the protagonist finds himself in. We see every feeling of
pain and joy in his subtle yet perfect facial expressions and we are able to observe the truly
memorable experiences Theodore goes through, especially the heartbreaking end which was
simultaneously devastating and beautiful. Despite the aging mustache, we commiserate and love the
man that Theodore becomes through Samantha’s influence, and are intrigued by his growth as a
character. Johansson puts in her greatest performance to date despite not appearing on screen once.
Her breathy yet rich voice sends waves of relaxation through the audience and we find ourselves
smiling at her shy and witty sense of humour. Furthermore, she manages to encapsulate the emotion
that a highly intelligent OS would ‘feel’, and convey that with superb voice control and tone. It
would be entirely possible to sit with your eyes closed and listen to the sumptuous sound of her just
talking.
The direction and visuals are also stunning. The transparent computer screens and
interactive gaming make the Nintendo Wii look like an Atari, and the spectacular, high-rise
buildings create a wonderful blend of futuristic and realism. Jonze has managed to replicate the
modern world but set it in the future, where everyone possesses an ear attachment and OS, thus
cutting them off from the real world. Jonze has included this subtle sub-theme since the possibility
of this actually happening is scary enough, and with the rapid progression of technology, the chance
of human interaction is depleting fast.
Overall, Spike Jonze’s cyber love story has been a huge success. Each character is complex
enough to be interesting, yet accessible enough to be relatable. Although the sexual scenes were
mildly toe-curling, they did exemplify Theodore’s emotions vividly and in their true form, creating
a more intimate atmosphere. Huge credit must go to the originality of the concept, although judging
by the amount of time modern men spend on their phones, it is no surprise that the thought of a
relationship with one’s computer instead of a nagging woman is appealing.
By Zac Smith