Direction: Spike Jonze
Actors: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson
Rating: *****
Imagine this.Sometime in the not-so-distant future, a soon-to-be divorced Los Angeleno named Theodore (Phoenix) upgrades the operating system on his computer.
The new advanced artificial intelligence calls itself Samantha (voiced by Johansson). Although it doesn’t exist in the physical realm, the virtual entity is programmed to serve Theo’s every need. As they get to know each other better, they develop romantic feelings.
Working from his own original script, the former music-video whiz, Spike Jonze, has crafted one of the most poignant love stories in recent memory. An invigorating exploration of identity, bonding, loneliness and pain, Her almost restores our faith in American cinema.
Johansson imbues her vocal performance with heartrending emotion. Bringing the full force of spontaneity to his role, Joaquin Phoenix is tremendously affecting.
Gorgeously photographed by Hoyte Van Hoytema (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and augmented by a melancholic music score, courtesy the Quebecois rock band ‘Arcade Fire’, Her will not likely be forgotten anytime soon.