This is probably the furthest thing in the universe from a generic love story. I was talking to some of my friends the other day and I brought up this film, only to get a bunch of weird looks and people claiming "It looks so weird" or "It just looks like a sappy romance movie." The concept is a bit weird, I'll give them that. But the unique idea that seems to be getting more and more plausible (a man dating an artificially intelligent operating system) makes this one of the most thought-provoking film in years.
I absolutely loved how this movie was filmed. The wise camera shots and intriguing visuals make this a huge pleasure to watch. A lot of the movie is purely conversation, yet it's not once boring. The screenwriting was just a huge gift to the audience (it actually won best screenplay last night at the Golden Globe Awards) and it definitely shows on screen.
The acting was also probably in the higher rankings of movies I've seen, as it's so genuine and appears to happen effortlessly. But when incredible acting can seem effortless, you know it has some of the best actors. Joaquin Phoenix plays the main character who has just struggled through a break up and becomes attached to his operating system. It's equally beautiful as it is heartbreaking, and his performance really sells the story that could have otherwise been too absurd. My other favorite was Amy Adams, who plays probably the kindest woman ever, and always sees the best in people. She's also probably the most relatable character and also brings up some complex themes.
Alright, now that I've mentioned the themes a few times, I'd like to talk about them. Her places the audience in the not too distant future where people are completely attached to their electronics and devices, which is what we kind of see happening already. Human emotion is dwindling and it poses a rhetorical question that asks us "Do we need social interaction and human affection?" I feel like the true definition of love is always changing, and we see that shift in definition a lot in this film. But in the end I feel like we will always need someone, another human, to be truly happy. Because while talking with a device that gets to know you can be soothing and therapy at times, it's also important to get out and experience the world. What Her achieves is remarkable, I can't recommend it enough. It's engaging, heartwarming (and heartbreaking), and eye opening. It's a true spectacle. A+
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