Joaquin Phoenix plays Theodore a man struggling to recover from a divorce. He works at Beautifulhandwrittenletters.com(yuck) a company family and lovers outsource their correspondence to. He works, he plays video games, and he engages in bizarre sex chats before bed. Enter Samantha voiced by Scarlett Johansson an artificial intelligence operating system. Samantha gets Theodore's life in order and they gradually fall in love mirroring the problems and pace of a normal relationship. Other than Theodore's ex-wife everyone acts as if this is totally normal and acceptable.
The future that is portrayed is unassuming but sad and quietly horrifying. Technology is ubiquitous. The relationship which is the focus of the film is handled with grace and feels organic however a romance between human and computer feels hollow. Phoenix's performance is good but there is something unsatisfying, incomplete about his scenes with Samantha. He doesn't come off as pathetic or a loser but he is not particularly likable, in fact none of the characters are save maybe Samantha.
It's been said the film encapsulates the 21st century, has it's fingers on the pulse of our culture. If that is the case humanity is on a collision course with isolation, weakness, dependence, perpetual immaturity and fear. To me Her is a cautionary tale of a bleak future, a glimpse into the depraved socially handicapped society we may become. It is no doubt beautifully shot, excellently scored, and well acted but it is unpleasant.
The best scene of the film is about a minute long. The only scene Phoenix interacts with his ex-wife played by Rooney Mara. It's refreshing to see him interact with a human, makes you wish the whole movie would have actually been about his failed marriage.
Interesting and thought provoking but not enjoyable. And the high waisted pants don't make any sense.
Rent It.
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