Set in the Los Angeles of the slight future, ‘Her’ follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. (Her – movie review)
Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship with Catherine (Rooney Mara), Theodore buys himself a new hand-held computer device which fits in his shirt pocket and take it around where ever he goes. He becomes intrigued with this new, advanced operating system, which promises to be an intuitive entity in its own right, individual to each user.
Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet “Samantha,” a bright, female voice, who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny.
Scarlett Johansson is Samantha, the most intresting character in the film. Samantha doesn’t have a body, one cannot see her. One can hear her voice, experience her companionship, be with her, listen to how she feels, but cannot feel her.
Samantha is witty, and she proves herself helpful for him so much that very soon she and Theodore are best friends.
As her needs and desires grow, in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other.
Theodore carries the Operating System (OS1), walks through life showing Samantha the outside world. Being a loner, he finds her company so interesting that the two chat constantly and they even go on a double date with his office colleague and his girl friend. They go in a picnic, a guy and girl, Theodore and his operating system.
His ex-wife is appaled by his new relationship with Samantha, that she is convinced that Theodore has really lost it.
There is a real-life neighbour cum-friend Amy (Amy Adams), who has an operating system pal of her own. Amy understands his relationship with Samantha, appreciates their compatibility.
Here is a film set in a not-too-distance future having impressive production design which makes one wonder is this really the future of what is to happen in our lives? The mere thought of it happening in our lives is somewhat frightening to the extent that will an individual have to seek companionship of an Operating System?
In ‘Her’ the director has dealt with a futuristic operating system named OS-1, and going a step forward in future, what could be OS-2 or OS-3? An individual could have a choice of selecting the best physical attributes (the height, colour of skin, hair, etc) for his companion. A companion who is super intelligent, understanding ones likes, desires and who could walk with him, travel with him anywhere and could even have a feeling of touch…
From the unique perspective of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Spike Jonze comes an original love story that explores the evolving nature—and the risks—of intimacy in the modern world.
But the question remains. Can these two different systems: Humans and Tech (the futuristic OS) , find bliss?
In that futuristic world, would actual love and romance exist between two real, living beings?
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Cast:
Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly
Amy Adams as Amy
Rooney Mara as Catherine
Olivia Wilde as Amelia
Scarlett Johansson as Samantha (voice)
Chris Pratt as Paul
Matt Letscher as Charles
Sam Jaeger as Dr. Johnson
Luka Jones as Mark Lewman
Credits:
Studio – Warner Bros. Pictures, Annapurna Pictures, Sony Pictures
Presented by Warner Bros. Pictures
Production House – Annapurna Pictures
Produced by Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze, Vincent Landay
Written and Directed by Spike Jonze
Executive Producers – Daniel Lupi, Natalie Farrey, Chelsea Barnard
Director of Photography – Hoyte Van Hoytema, F.S.F., N.S.C.
Sound & Music Supervisor – Ren Klyce
Music by Arcade Fire
Additional Music by owen Pallett
Costume Designer – Casey Storm
Edited by Eric Zumbrunnen A.C.E., Jeff Buchanan
Pruduction Designer – K. K. Barrett
Casting by Ellen Lewis, Cassandra Kulukundis
Her – movie review
