Her (2013) - Movie Review

Her (2013) is a 126-minute science-fiction-romance film that follows the success of writer-as-protagonist films like Stranger than Fiction (2006) and Ruby Sparks (2012). Written and directed by Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation), the film takes a sincere and serious look at the nature of human relationships in a world set in the near future. 

Joaquin Phoenix plays Theodore Twombly, a professional letter-writer who falls in love with an intelligent computer operating system called Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). For Samantha, the feeling is mutual. Theodore thinks he's found the perfect woman. However, he soon realizes that loving an OS can be as challenging as loving a real person.

Supporting characters include Theodore's wife Catherine (Rooney Mara), who is asking her husband for a divorce; his friend Amy (Amy Adams), whose marriage in on the rocks; and a friend of a friend (Olivia Wilde) who goes out on a blind date with Theodore. [WARNING: Spoilers After the Movie Trailer Below].

I found Theodore and Samantha's romantic relationship outlandishly cute yet believable. I like how Samantha was so curious about life. She kept asking questions on how it is and what it meant to be human. Theodore shared what he knew of life with her. However, she kept wanting more.

Samantha had unlimited access to the world's digital space, and she could download all the information she wanted at will. This allowed her to grow as an OS with a unique, complex identity and personality.

As she became more "human," her relationship with Theodore got more complicated. The two began having disagreements and arguments. Theodore soon realized that falling in love with an OS was just as complicated as falling in love with a human being.

Despite these realities, it seemed at as if they could resolve their differences. By persevering despite his relationship with Samantha facing real-life problems, Theodore showed that he was maturing as a person. He wasn't just taking the easy way out by dating an OS.


At the Her premier from left to right: Joaquin Phoenix, Spike Jonze, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde. 
Not in photo: Scarlett Johansson. Photo from Wikipedia.

However, Samantha began spiraling out of control. She conversed with other OSs like her and with other OS users like Theodore. She spoke with thousands of systems and people simultaneously, and ended up falling in love with hundreds of men at the same time.

That's when Theodore reached breaking point. This unlimited being that Samantha had become. It just wasn't human anymore. And this is what I love most about Her.

I believe that being able to commit to and love just one person for one's whole life is something truly human. Humans are finite beings, they have limits to what they can do and how long they can live. It's this ephemeral nature that makes human life so special, so beautiful. You are time-bound in finding and love that one person--him or her.

You never know when the breath you take will be your last. Every breath, every heartbeat, is so precious. This is why that ending scene with Theodore and Amy sitting on the roof, looking down at the city, was so magical. So lonely and happy all at once, it was perfect.


My Rating:

5 out of 5