Prank in which friends pass on mobile calls to other saying there is
someone asking for him; later to make him realize that it is just a recorded computerized
voice message from service providers of all kind, is an age-old tasteless joke
ever played on you. But think of a next level in futuristic world not so far-off
where technology has made into our lives so fanatically that we are bound to
get connected to them for our every single need including the emotional support
only human could afford to offer till now…and that is the premise on which
celebrated filmmaker Spike Jonze constructs one of the finest and the amazingly
fascinating mankind-meets-technology romantic science-fiction called ‘HER’.
Writing personal letters for his clients who may not have enough time
and skill to do that and posting them to their loved ones on behalf is what Theodore Twombly
[Played by Joaquin Phoenix] has been doing for a very long. This is the world
where every single machinery around is operated by voice commands and you
literally have nothing in the name of social connect. He is a loner on the
verge of a broken marriage. His only pastime is silly interactive video-games with
body movement recognition on life-size screen. Soon, he finds an artificially intelligent
operating system run by a female voice named Samantha [Scarlett Johansson’s magical
voice]. She can talk. She can discuss. She can observe state of mind of the one
she’s talking to. She can chuckle. She can joke. She can see things and have
her own opinion about them. She is everything but a trapped soul in a computer
system without having any body. No wonder, Theodore finds a companion in her to
share his loneliness and the emotional drain he’s been in. The bond gradually
moves into a serious mutual relationship in which Samantha discovers much more
than she’s designed to experience. Where would this unusual, odd but extremely
emotional and ‘no less than any human’ love-story find its end, is the next in
line.
In HER, Spike Jonze paints a beautiful world using bright, vivid and
vibrant color palette decorated luminously with minimal props and innovative
art-design. The shades of red & yellow worn by Phoenix are nothing short of
visual treat for eyes. Brilliantly shot outdoors to establish subtle futuristic
world and aesthetically sticking to extreme close-ups to capture varied human emotions
set an example in skilled cinematography. Editing is crisp and shows an upper
hand especially in lyrical montages where Theodore recollects moments from his
past relationship. Silence has its own rhythm in music and the sound designing
in HER definitely knows how to employ and exploit that.
On one hand if it is a wonderful work of filmmaking, it is also
exceptionally good at performances. Joaquin Phoenix in broad frames and thick
moustache delivers one of his bests. Scarlett Johansson as the voice of Samantha
excels in emoting through just what you hear and not seen at all situation and
makes her presence felt completely. Amy Adams plays a colleague-cum-friend to
Theodore who’s always there with her unconditional support to him.
Having said that, though it stumbles a bit in the second half with a repetitive
approach in the series of events, Spike Jonze’s HER never slips from being the
most inventive, imaginative and one of the cutest love-story on screen in a
long time. I loved HER and I don’t see any reason why you would not. A
Must-watch!! [4.5/5]
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