#678 – Her (2013)

Her (2013)

Film review #678

Director: Spike Jonze

SYNOPSIS: Theodore works creating love letters for couples as a service for those who don’t want to do it themselves. Following his marriage break-up, he entertains the idea of dating his new operating system, Samantha.

THOUGHTS/ANALYSIS: Her is a 2013 sci-fi romance film. In a near-future, Theodore’s job is to write bespoke love letters to couples from each other, for those who can’t won’t do it for themselves: already sounding somewhat dystopian and also surprising that someone has tried to build a start-up based on said service (I’m actually sure someone has at least tried). Theo (Joaquin Phoenix) himself is currently going through a divorce, and in a romantic slump. When he gets a new personalised A.I. operating system, Theo and Samantha (the A.I.) begin to develop a relationship , thus experiencing the heights and challenges that it brings. Adopting the thinnest of science-fiction veneers, Her is a commentary on modern relationships in the widest possible sense; the fact that one of them is an A.I. is supplementary to that. The science-fiction element is also kept wafer thin because this is obviously intended to be a romance film foremost and designed to appeal to that audience, which is easily obfuscated by a thicker sci-fi backdrop that traditionally keeps that target audience away. The film provides a substantial amount of depth as it moves through different stages and issues, creating a romance that is warm and supporting, but doesn’t shy away from the issues it raises. The plot does run out of steam nearer the end, as the two drift apart and the film fails to articulate any motivating factors or engaging dialogue. I think part of that is the point: that sometimes, two people just drift apart as they change, and there’s no real way to articulate or rationalise it. Nevertheless, it did feel like there wasn’t anything more profound in the ending like the rest of the film, to latch on to.

Her has a very distinctive, consistent style that permeates the film: the colour schemes of warm, soft and pastel-esque colours evoke a calm and contemplative atmosphere. The music and soundtrack too reflects a similar kind of lightness and liberation, but still leaves space for the serious moments. The acting is flawless across the entire cast, I find no issue with that, even if the lead character is a bit flaky, but I think that’s the point in that we are watching him learn a few things. I have to say though; I did not love this film as a lot of people have done. There felt like too much faffing about at points, and tried to make it’s point one too many times by giving a line of dialogue that was clearly meant to be amazingly meaningful and profound, but I just didn’t feel like the film needed that weighty dialogue. Her is a well-made, thoughtful, and insightful film that aims to say a lot lot about modern human relations (and beyond human relations at that). A mix of quieter and loud moments that will connect with different people, and a soft sci-fi surface that won’t alienate more general filmgoers. Personally the film falls off near the end and runs it’s course a little before the two hour runtime is over, and there are moments that the film tries to be more explicitly profound than it needs to be. So I don’t think it’s perfect, but it’s certainly one for personal taste, and others may get more out of it than I have.