(Movie Review) Her: Why that weird movie about Joaquin Phoenix dating his phone is actually pretty great!
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What is love? |
When the trailer for Spike Jonze latest film Her debuted a few months ago you could almost hear the collective laughs and see the collective rolling of eyes at theaters everywhere. No matter how well done the film, how great the director, or how great the cast, it just did not seem that America would be willing to a give a film a chance about a guy who falls in love with not his phone, but rather a multi-faceted operation system voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Fast forward a few months and Her has become one of the most widely talked about films of last year and has even managed to get a best picture Oscar nomination. So how good is Her? Is it the cheese ball film mainstream audiences were expecting or is it the beautiful commentary on love and society critics are making it out to be? Find out after the break….
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I'm in love with my OS, not my phone stupid! |
If you had to call Her, one thing it would have to be a balancing act. In the film, Spike Jonze tries to balance a heavy hearted societal commentary on love with elements of futuristic science fiction. I would argue that Her is at its most meaningful peak when it is a love story, even if it is a very complicated one. In addition to the overwhelming element of a man being in love with an artificial intelligence, the love story in Her asks an even bigger question: What is love? (*Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me no more- Editor*)
What is love in our society?
The question of "what is love" is asked in a non-traditional way as it is represented by the relationship between Theodore (Phoenix) and his operating system Samantha (Johansson). Her, however, makes the audience ponder that question not only in their own society but perhaps in their own life. The question that Jonze poses can relate to something as prominent as same sex love or could address simpler loves such as those for the passions we all have as human beings, whether that be collecting or sports. Beyond that, Spike Jonze not only provides his portrait of love, but how others view the personal portrait of love of others. This is evidenced in the film by how the different people in Theodore’s (Phoenix) life view his relationship with Samantha with reactions varying from utter disgust by his ex-wife (Rooney Mara), and sheer acceptance in the form of a co-worker (Chris Pratt).
CONFIRMED: GREAT AND A 1/2
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