Dating is hard, there’s a whole world out there, with only a small percentage of people in the world who could be your match. Sometimes it’s easier for us to settle for less, we don’t get hurt, we can maybe get more out of almost nothing, just a talk now and then from someone of another gender or a friend. But then someone comes around to change your whole perspective, they think the world of you, and you think the same of them. But heartbreak is always just around the corner at the slightest misstep.
‘Her’ is one of my all-time favourite romance films, around the same time Joaquin Phoenix was announced as the Joker, I investigated his filmography and soon enough, I sat down to a film with a protagonist I could relate to and just as he felt deep melancholy and sweet joy, I felt terrible sorrow and relieving gladness. Despite its bizarre premise, ‘Her’ promises that you will find your other half at some point and reminds you never to settle for less than what you deserve. Even if what you deserve is an AI-program voiced by Scarlett Johansson.
Theodore Twombly is a background character of his own life, his only sense of self-recognition being the marriage, he can’t let go of and his job as a love-letter author. On a whim, Theodore picks up a brand-new AI program designed to learn and grow to your needs. Theodore and his AI program, Samantha become quick friends and after a drunken failed date, they initiate a romance. What follows is a heartwarming journey through the ups and downs, the ins and outs, the advantages and limitations of their relationship, but as the limitations become all too clear, and technological advancement approaches to threaten the existence of the programs, Theodore and Samantha are forced to evaluate their bond and themselves as people.
Joaquin Phoenix plays Theodore, lovable but socially awkward, Phoenix masterfully cements the relationship between character and audience. You want everything to go right for him because a win for him might be a win for you, too. Phoenix’s tenderness in each word of dialogue displays Theo’s sensitivities and pure goodness to the point where you just want to give him a hug. Scarlett Johansson plays Samantha, and while the voice-only role doesn’t give her much to do, she shines in every scene. Johansson voices the character so well, you forget she’s still just a program. Her bubbly sweetness, her painful tears are really a demonstration of the amazing filmmaking she’s able to accomplish outside the MCU, ‘Her’ and ‘Lost In Translation’ are must-sees if you’re a Scar-Jo fan. Amy Adams plays Amy, Theodore’s only other friend and the chemistry between the two actors are just too beautiful. The heart breaks when Joaquin takes her in his arms, embracing her lovingly as she announces her own tear-jerking news.
Mason’s Top 3 Reasons To See ‘Her’
- An unconventional love interest that will challenge your understanding of love and romance
- A main character to love more than Bridget Jones, Elizabeth Bennet and Tessa Young
- A revelation so far out of nowhere, you feel betrayed that someone you believed to be so pure could hurt someone so innocent
Mason Horsley is a graduate of UOW with a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts, majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in Theatre. He hopes to write and direct a feature film and has been working on screenplays since he was 17. He writes film reviews for the Tertangala and works on his latest project ‘The Last Film’ while working a full-time job at a fish market. Mason despises reviewing films he dislikes and because of this, every review he writes acts as a recommendation.
Image Credit: IMDb