By KATHERINE BAKAITIS
Staff Writer
Her, in a nutshell, is a story of the unhappy Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), who finds love in his computer OS named Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) after experiencing difficulties with his divorce. Just like a human, Samantha can expand her thoughts through experiences and adapt to the world around her. Her philosophic curiosity attracts Theodore instantly and they begin to “date,” but a ton of drama, both good and bad, happens during and after.
Based off of the low box office numbers, but the positive critical reviews, I decided to balance them out and go in with a neutral attitude. I was immediately swept off my feet. A roller coaster ride of emotions swam through my body as I sat through the two hours of Her.
Roars of laughter were echoing throughout the cinema almost instantly, and I’m proud to report that some of the loudest came from me. But viewer be warned: The humor is not for everybody, as it can become racy at times (let’s just say that it brings phone sex to a whole new level). But in its entirety, it has a little something for everybody. Soon after the laughter calmed, I found myself and everybody else seriously contemplating and thinking about the depth and complexity of the characters’ situation, and then people, including myself, began to weep buckets of tears onto the cinema floor.
Most people have complained about how it seems to “drag on,” but I found that each scene had its own purpose and fit perfectly into place. The movie’s ability to transfer emotions without a single word being said is probably one of my favorite qualities of the film. The music is perfect, with some original score, and the setting was amazing. It takes place at some point in the future and the portrayal of the impending seems quite realistic and plausible, almost like I would be in my mid- 50s when it took place (I am currently 20).
The movie presents a great number of life questions and answers. To what extent are we willing to let technology control our lives? Is it possible to genuinely love a machine romantically, even if it does portray itself as human? Also, people have a tendency to change and grow apart from one another, but the key is to keep those who matter most close to heart and stick to reality. The film also portrays the inevitable loss of personal face-to-face connection with the advancement of technology.
Each actor gives an incredible performance, especially Scarlett Johansson in her voice-over roll as Samantha. Her soothing voice reels you into a comfort zone I never knew existed. Also, Joaquin Phoenix was born to play the role of an adorably awkward man such as Theodore; it must be a natural gift.
This romantic science fiction comedy-drama has a lot more to offer the viewer than trivial entertainment. Life lessons are abundant in this film and you regularly find yourself pausing in self-reflection. Her has something to offer everybody who watches it, but only if you give it some thought and appreciation.
