Saturday 18 January 2014

Movie Review: Her



Ever heard of a program speak of love? Most people would say no, arguing that it's a human emotion. All of us, regardless of our gender, age, social or marriage status...crave love, the feeling that allows us to find and connect with someone to spend our life with, to relieve us from feelings of loneliness. Her is a sci-fi romantic drama comedy film about an unconventional love story between an introverted, lonely writer named Theodore and an A.I. who calls herself Samantha.


Samantha, a self-aware digital consciousness created from an interactive operating system (OS1), has the ability to communicate in human language, able to learn new things and evolve through experience and self-reflection, is sentient and capable of loving, has a good sense of humour, attentive and responsive, has creative and artistic skills, is compassionate and able to comprehend other people's feelings. Though she only exists through an earpiece and a small, hand-sized computer, her presence is strongly felt, as if she is really side-by-side with Theodore as they go on a date or on the bed together.


As the film progresses, their relationship deepens and it raises some disturbing, thought-provoking questions: Is Samantha considered to be a conscious, living being? If she's not, could you name any single cognitive ability humans have that she doesn't? Other than that, the film also provides a thoughtful examination on human relationships in a not-too-distant future that's not that different from us. Is it true that technology can never substitute the authenticity of human interaction? How much of love is emotional and how much of it is physical?


Joaquin Phoenix provided a splendid convincing performance in conveying his character's loneliness, isolation and sadness, his new-found feelings of hope and love with a co-star who's not even there. His expression felt believable and authentic. The same could be said for Scarlett Johansson's performance as well. Although it's only a voice only role, she needs to convince the audience that her presence is felt throughout the film, to convey all her feelings, emotions and personality just by talking...which is not a simple task at all.

Overall, the film provides a deep look at what love really means and how it feels to be in love.This is a well-made great film to watch. Highly recommended.

Love is just a word. What matters is the connection the word implies..What you would give to hold on to that connection.


Rating: 9/10



"Sometimes I think I have felt everything I'm ever gonna feel. And from here on out, I'm not gonna feel anything new. Just lesser versions of what I've already felt." - Theodore

"you're mine or you're not mine." -Theodore 
"No – I'm yours...and I'm not yours." - Samantha

"I've never loved anyone like I love you." - Theodore 
"Me too. And now we know how." - Samantha

What was it like to be married? What does it feel like to share your life with somebody? 
While marriage was hard, there was something great about being able to share your life experiences with another person. Although relationships are about changing, improving, influencing each other, but it can be scary when you start to change and grow apart from the one you love...In the end, they changed too much...and you don't really know each other anymore.




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