We first meet Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) at work. He’s writing a letter. He works for a company that writes letters for people who want to write letters but suck at writing letters. Theodore is likeable. He immediately comes across as someone who is thoughtful and soulful. He’s someone with whom you want to instantly connect.
Theodore is pretty obviously lonely. He’s so lonely you can see it in his eyes. Joaquin Phoenix puts those eyes to work immediately and thoroughly as the majority of this movie transpires right there in them.
Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), Theodore’s love interest, is an operating system. That’s right, she’s the program that runs things on his desktop and phone. She’s also really nice. Samantha has a soothingly imperfect voice and she’s patiently enthusiastic with Theodore at every turn. She’s fun, calming and intriguing. Surprisingly, the fact that she’s an OS doesn’t prevent Theodore from falling madly in love with her. But then she’s so charismatic that it’s hard not to understand where Theodore’s coming from.
Her is the story of one utterly lonely man’s realization that love can come in any form, or without any form. Her also chronicles the evolution of time, the mind, consciousness and relationships. It’s a lot to take in, for sure. Lucky for us, this movie is simple in every other aspect. I suppose that is what makes it interesting. All other distractions are muted so you can focus on what’s most important: the relationship between these characters.
The premise of the story is simple. The concept behind that premise, however, is rather complex. What is consciousness? What makes us who we are? What makes us real? These are all questions that as a moviegoer, you’re tasked with answering while you lose yourself in Theodore and Samantha’s futuristic love story.
The story behind Her, intrigued me from the moment I saw the first trailer. The thought of artificial intelligence being considered a real person was preposterous to me. It seemed I was already prejudiced against A.I. and I just hadn’t noticed.
Sure, I was willing to suspend reality and watch a fantastical movie about a man’s obsession with this operating system, but I was not ready to identify with the characters or the story. Despite not being ready, I did. Joaquin Phoenix was delightfully real in his portrayal of Theodore Twombly. He brings us a vulnerable, likeable, friendly yet lonely and sad lead character. Twombly has been let down by life. You can see the disappointment all over him the moment he finds himself alone. It almost feels as if this movie takes place on his face and the story transpires in his eyes.
Phoenix got to the core of me before the end of the opening scene. His nuanced performance was replete with emotion, which seems like a contradiction in terms but plays out beautifully on screen. Through Theodore he channels and embodies all those things that make us human, miserable and elated.
Scarlett Johansson plays Samantha. She voices the operating system in this love story. Despite not being able to see her, the performance is strong. If you listen carefully you can hear the different emotions evolving in much the same way Samantha’s intellectual and emotional capacity does in the film. I enjoyed listening to Johansson as Samantha, I found myself beguiled by her just as much as Theodore was.
Amy Adams plays Amy, she’s Theodore’s neighbor and friend. She’s married, frazzled and attempting to get through life like most of us. She’s a great friend and excellent listener. Adams brings us a friend that any one of us would like to have. She’s not judgmental, she’s warm and she’s funny. Adams’ portrayal is down to Earth and grounds this otherwise fantastical story.
The supporting cast also came through. Rooney Mara as Catherine, Theodore’s soon-to-be ex wife, is cold and alluring. Chris Pratt as Paul the receptionist is accepting, hilarious and kind. Together they help to create an reality in which it’s easy to get lost.
There's a lot to like in this movie. The costuming is quirky and fun, but reminiscent of a bygone era. This makes the futuristic setting seem familiar on multiple levels. Subtlety and nuance are employed nicely to ease the audience into this world where love is possible between a man and one overwhelmingly charming computer program.
Her provoked intense emotion in me. It’s rare to have a movie make you feel a little more alive, but that’s exactly what Spike Jonze (director) has done. The costuming, cinematography and performances all come together to create a place that feels familiar and unknown at once. The story is easy to identify with and the atmosphere Jonze creates amplifies everything so you’ve no choice but to get lost in what will come next on screen.
