A Subtle But Powerful Film With Great Performances

Her focuses on the unique relationship between a lonely man named Theodore Twombly, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and an artificial intelligence named Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Director Spike Jonze has worked on critically-acclaimed artistic films in the past such as Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Where the Wild Things Are. Spike Jonze has also worked on several music videos and even co-created Jackass. His filmography focuses on nuance filmmaking and storytelling that is perfectly exemplified in this film. Her could have easily have been a completely ridiculous film if it were not for the subtle ways that Spike Jonze directs the romance of this interesting relationship. The interactions between the characters seems genuine due to the terrific performances from great actors like Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, and Amy Adams. Even the brief appearances from Matt Letscher, Chris Pratt, and Rooney Mara manage to be memorable and engrossing.



Her takes place in the future but it is never directly addressed as such. Through subtle use of technology, hobbies, and environment, the film manages to establish the setting as a future period that could realistically occur in a couple of years. While Her does focus on science fiction elements like artificial intelligence and the distant future as its setting, this film is much more a romance film. While most romance films try to be schmaltzy and fantastical with a cliched storyline and uninteresting characters, this movie works in not only deconstructing the typical romance formula while also presenting a natural relationship between Theodore and Samantha. Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson really do excel in their roles, especially considering they do not actually physically interact during the movie. Phoenix’s shy and neurotic Theodore charmingly going with Scarlett’s curious and optimistic Samantha. It is not a easy-going romance they go through and it does not end completely peachy with these two but it is a romantic couple you support throughout the film.

Like the story, setting, and performances, the film score is also rather nuanced when it comes to its presentation. Unlike more acclaimed and recognized film composers like Hans Zimmer and John Williams, the film score was composed by the indie band Arcade Fire. This shows as there is no bombastic or epic moments in this soundtrack but rather soft sounds and chords that play to the scene more like background music. Even the Oscar-nominated “Moon Song” by Karen O presents a soft-spoken but deeply emotional work of music that really sets the scene its feature in as memorable, along with the memorably beautiful background that surrounds it.



The ideas that Her explores can allow different emotional and intellectual cinema experiences from different people. Some people could question elements from the film: whether the relationship between Theodore and Samantha is genuine? Is Samantha really breaking out of her established role? Should the advancement of artificial intelligence be seen as a positive or a negative feeling? If the relationship between Theodore and Samantha is not real, does that mean Theodore is still lonely? Will artificial intelligence eventually advance enough to replace humans as the dominant species of the planet? Does Theodore have a successful relationship after Samantha? The film addresses but never answers these questions, leaving the viewers to discuss, analyze, and explore their own answers while watching this fantastic one-of-a-kind movie. Her is subtle but emotionally effective in presenting a unique relationship that manages to question the validity of romance and human life.