By Staff Writer: Marissa VanDaelen
Whenever we think of being in love, we think of two people together. But being in love can be many different things. Sometimes you don’t even need a person to be in love. Her shows that it’s possible to fall in love with anything – even things that aren’t necessarily real.
Directed by Spike Jonze, Her is set in a futuristic Los Angeles, California. The movie follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a heartbroken man after his long marriage with his wife, Catherine (Rooney Mara), has come to an end. When Theodore finds out about the OS1, a personalized computer operating system, he purchases it and meets Samantha (Scarlett Johansson). Samantha is a female operating voice that is exceptionally funny and seems to have feelings. Without intention, Theodore and Samantha eventually fall in love with each other.
I was excited to see Her since the first trailer I ever saw for the comedy/drama film. Her has a running time of two hours and six minutes but is certainly not a waste of time. Each scene is incredibly realistic and I could practically feel Theodore’s sadness and joy through the screen. Theodore ended up being a very likable character for me. I didn’t view him as “weird” or “creepy” but simply as a man who has gone through a lot and who was trying to find happiness again.
I’d say my favorite part of this film was definitely the cinematography and the poetic side of it. Her has scenes that completely match whatever Theodore is feeling at the time and it adds a perfect touch. Additionally, Theodore worked at a company called “Beautiful Handwritten Letters,” where he wrote personal letters for other people. Theodore was a really poetic man and I especially enjoyed that in this film because I have a love for poetry. Some of the words said in Her were truly beautiful.
On the other hand, Samantha became a very likable character for me as well. It’s crazy to think about how a computer operating system could be so complex. She seemed like a real person, which was the point, but it’s weird to think that our technology could eventually become that advanced. I also felt bad for her at times because she didn’t know what it was like to have a body and she often questioned whether or not her feelings were real.
I believe that Phoenix and Johansson played their roles excellently. Playing either role would be strange, and I commend them both for taking it seriously. For Phoenix, talking to his computer constantly might have felt a bit unusual. Acting like a computer operating system probably felt unusual for Johansson too. Amazingly, they both did a wonderful job staying in character and making it all believable.
In conclusion, I believe Her is nothing short of outstanding. This film is entirely unique with a great storyline. Her received a 94% positive rating from Rotten Tomatoes. The film has also received the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay/Motion Picture and the BFCA Critics’ Choice Award for Best Original Screenplay. This film is surely one I could watch over and over without getting tired of it.
I would recommend Her for anyone who enjoys a brilliant combination of comedy and drama. Many parts of this film are ultimately touching and packed with emotion.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzV6mXIOVl4]
