The first words that came to my mind after seeing Her were Damn and Wow. There are so many great things about this film I just don't know where to begin.
Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), A lonely heartbroken ghost writer, downloads the latest new technology, an artificially intelligent operating system that is customized to fit the personality of its user. She names herself Samantha (Scarlett Johansson). He begins to fall in love with her and together, they go through the usual ups and downs that any normal relationship would go through as both evolve in their own different and unique ways.
Surprisingly, Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson have amazing chemistry together (even though Phoenix never once heard Scarlett's voice while filming was going on, he was reacting to Samantha Morton's voice who was replaced by Scarlett in post production). The film does a fantastic job at creating a discussion on human/computer dating and on the future and just relationships in general. While I did find it weird, I'm not ashamed to say I completely bought Theodore's and Samantha's relationship and was actually rooting for them (they even share a steamy, albeit a bit awkward sex scene). Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson put on superb performances here, I can't say one was better than the other. They both worked together to create something beautiful. I would love it if they were both nominated for Best Actor/Actress (While we're at it why not give Spike Jonze a nom for Best Director too), especially since Scarlett really impresses using nothing but her voice (it's got to be her most challenging role yet. She effectively conveys a full range of emotions and convinces you she is quite human. You are completely charmed by her character and her voice. It's really hard not to fall in love with her yourself).
The color palate and aesthetics of the film are fantastic as well. The film is set sometime in the near future, and the office Theodore works in is quite beautiful even though the job he holds is a bit depressing (he seems to make a good deal of money though because he owns a sweet pad in a hotel). The video games him and others play in the film also wow a good deal and offer some fun moments of surprising humor (Jonze himself makes a memorable voice cameo as a cute, foul mouthed game character that steals every scene he's in). More than anything though, Jonze's version of the near future is a believable one. I could see this as where we could likely end up (in fact, with how absorbed everyone is in technology now I wouldn't be surprised if people did start to date their Operating Systems if they ever did become intelligent).
There are also some great supporting performances from Amy Adams and Chris Pratt, both of whom play co-workers of Theodore's. Adams looks positively dorky and normal here (it's surreal to see her in American Hustle and then to watch her performance in here, she's so different in each), and Chris Pratt is fairly memorable and funny.
Her is probably the greatest surprise of 2013. It's a film that's got a little bit of everything in it. From humor, to feel good moments, to heartache, to sadness, to tragedy, to love, and beyond. Her is bound to create a good, healthy discussion about the future and technology while at the same time getting audiences to think about their own lives and relationships they have held or are currently engaged in. It's a fantastic, amazing film that is surprisingly complex and very intellectual (I was constantly thinking while I watched it). I absolutely loved it and have no problem naming it my personal favorite (and best) film of 2013.
5 STARS
Fun Fact: Arcade Fire did the score for the film.
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