Her

        

  I just watched one of the most interesting films out there. There’s a lot that could have derailed this movie, but it works out on almost every level. And what film is that? Well, for those that skipped reading the three-letter title at the top, I’m talking about Her. This is a story of a near-future world centered around a lonely writer named Theodore played by Joaquin Phoenix who has been separated from his wife for almost a year. He sees an advertisement for an operating system with the first-ever technology of an artificial intelligence, and he uploads it to his computer that night. From there he develops, well, a relationship with the system that calls itself Samantha and is voiced by Scarlett Johansson. And if that doesn’t sound like a typical rom-com setup, you are 100% accurate.

            There were a couple of films that I think compare nicely here to give you an idea of what Her is really like. First, the tone is actually reminiscent of Lost in Translation which is interesting for a variety of reasons. Lost in Translation is one of my favorite romantic movies, so comparisons to that is always a plus. But calling it a romantic movie is a bit of a disservice because it’s much more complex. The tone is somber, but there are deeply funny moments, and there’s also a very real bond between the two leads. Strangely enough, this description works surprisingly well for Her as well. Near the beginning of the film, Theodore puts an ear piece in on his way back to his apartment, and he tells the device to play a melancholy song. That reveals a good amount about the film. It’s here that we’re introduced to some great music provided by Arcade Fire, and we’re also treated to some great shots of just Theodore walking and the surrounding city. It’s impeccable to look at, is technically well-thought out from a design perspective, fits the vibe of the film, and it all makes sense with director Spike Jonze’s experience with music videos. If you're wondering if you've seen any of Spike Jonze's other works, he's notable for directing the Charlie Kaufman-written scripts for Adaptation. and Being John Malkovich.

            Just to connect the dots a bit, the director of Lost in Translation Sofia Coppola based that film loosely on her relationship with her then husband. That husband was in fact Spike Jonze. And to bring everything full circle, Theodore’s separated wife is played by Rooney Mara. Mara and Phoenix are currently engaged to get married (first having met on the set of this film). And they’re both strange creatures and perfect for each other, and I wish them the best.

            The other thing Her reminded me of was Wes Anderson. Her doesn’t use the symmetry that Anderson is famous for, but both utilize bright, mostly primary colors to great effect. The production design here is some of the best I’ve ever seen. What stands out the most is Theodore’s salmon-colored shirt he wears frequently and how that matches well with the vibrant hot pinks scattered throughout. There’s also plenty of cool blues used, but those are mostly used in the apartment scenes; and there’s even just enough yellow used to bring it all together. But it’s not just the colors. Every shot is artfully conceived with depth and loads of varying, interesting lighting. What I’m trying to get at is that this film is a joy to look at. Some shots from Skyfall that stand out the most are from Shanghai, and it’s clear some of the city shots in Her are also in Shanghai, and they look great.

            Let’s move on to the characters so that I can talk about something else so great in this film. Almost as good as his mustache is Phoenix’s performance. And the film really hinges on this as well. The movie is almost constructed theater-like in the fact that the camera lingers on Phoenix like he has these expansive monologues he’s giving, but half those are him engaging with Samantha because the AI don’t have no body. And those conversations are brought to life courtesy of Scarlett Johansson. I am convinced that she was a perfect choice for this role, and when you consider she had nothing but her voice to lend to add depth to her character, it’s actually quite remarkable what she achieves. And as you are all aware, I’m sure, I would be the first to sign up for whatever technology would allow me to have ScarJo talking in my ear all day. I was even getting small Emma Stone vibes from it all, and that is also perfectly okay with me.

            There’s actually a great supporting cast here as well. Chris Pratt brings a light-hearted touch, and he even sports his own mustache (Not as well as Phoenix, but I think that was the point. His character looks up to Theodore, so I think it was him trying to emulate Theodore a bit.) for some of the film. Amy Adams plays Theodore’s supportive friend, and there’s an incredible purity and kindness that she brings. And Scarlett isn’t the only famous voice here. Kristen Wiig has the most hilarious scene as a woman in an online chat room with the username SexyKitten. Spike Jonze even lends his voice to an incredibly adorable and vulgar alien creature in a videogame that Theodore plays.

            So we’ve covered tone, the look of the film, and the characters, and all of it hits the mark. Then there’s the story. And you know what, it’s also well done. From the way the characters are presented with their present states, their backgrounds, and how they arc throughout the film, it all makes sense. And Theodore’s job is to write letters for other people, and those letters are also really well-written. It’s details like those that elevate movies from good to great.

            Speaking of the writing, let’s talk about the awards. Her is pretty well-represented at the Oscars with many nominations and one win, but I enjoyed this film so much that I’d pull for even more. The win is for Original Screenplay for Jonze (no idea how to pronounce that by the way), and that’s well-deserved. Her lost to The Great Gatsby for Production Design, and I understand that Gatsby was going to grab the popular vote for that category, but I truly believe Her’s is better. This was also the year Frozen came out, so there was no way Her was going to beat “Let It Go” for Original Song. Jonze isn’t nominated for Directing, and there aren’t any actings nods either. Phoenix is the noticeable absence here (he did get a Golden Globe nod), but Amy Adams could have and should have easily gotten a supporting nod. There’s no way ScarJo gets a nom, but her work should still be recognized as well. You can even make arguments for either Cinematography or Costume Design to get in over a couple of the other films in those categories.

            Now okay, you know the critic in me has to nitpick this film at least a little. As well shot as they are, there are about three montages in the film. They’re not particularly long, but there’s one too many here. And I understand why the movie went where it did, but I do have some slight conflictions over the ending. But with that said, there’s so many cool things here. Videogames are incorporated in a cool way, the way Theodore’s job as a writer evolves the story is clever, and there are really funny moments that break up the undeniably weird nature of some of the scenes. Heck, I even enjoyed the credits. They’re a really cool font and some of the character names for the cast are quite funny. If you’re looking for a moving film with a unique twist on the romantic formula, you can’t get much better than Her.



In Brief:

• Everything is getting delayed. Daniel Craig’s last appearance as Bond in No Time To Die is delayed to November, Mulan is delayed, and although I really couldn’t care less, F9 (the next film will just have to be called 10 if they plan on continuing to shorten these titles) is delayed a whole year. These decisions make sense, but it’s still a bit of a shock to see. It will be interesting to see what else moves or stays. As it is huge films like Black Widow are staying where they are.
• A Quiet Place Part 2 I just learned is also delayed, and that's the biggest disappointment so far. You betcha I was going to risk the Coronavirus to see this movie. Well, whenever I do get to see it, it's going to be so good.
• Pixar’s Soul could be interesting. That's really all I have to say right now.
• Wanting to continue the legacy of The Pirates of the Caribbean, we will now get Jungle Cruise. There’s a lot of winning elements like Emily Blunt and The Rock leading the bill and drawing in the younger age group. From the trailer, though, the CGI looks shoddy. And I’ve been on the ride—waited in a much too long line for it—and wasn’t impressed. I don’t expect much better from this.
• I find it hilarious that Contagion is trending right now as a streaming movie, and I will genuinely consider rewatching it to be my next review.