Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Joaquin Phoenix | ... | Theodore | |
Lynn Adrianna Freedman | ... | Letter Writer #1 (as Lynn Adrianna) | |
Lisa Renee Pitts | ... | Letter Writer #2 | |
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Gabe Gomez | ... | Letter Writer #3 |
Chris Pratt | ... | Paul | |
Artt Butler | ... | Text Voice (voice) | |
May Lindstrom | ... | Sexy Pregnant TV Star | |
Rooney Mara | ... | Catherine | |
Bill Hader | ... | Chat Room Friend #2 (voice) | |
Kristen Wiig | ... | SexyKitten (voice) | |
Brian Johnson | ... | OS1 Commercial Lead | |
Scarlett Johansson | ... | Samantha (voice) | |
Amy Adams | ... | Amy | |
Matt Letscher | ... | Charles | |
Spike Jonze | ... | Alien Child (voice) (as Adam Spiegel) |
Theodore is a lonely man in the final stages of his divorce. When he's not working as a letter writer, his down time is spent playing video games and occasionally hanging out with friends. He decides to purchase the new OS1, which is advertised as the world's first artificially intelligent operating system, "It's not just an operating system, it's a consciousness," the ad states. Theodore quickly finds himself drawn in with Samantha, the voice behind his OS1. As they start spending time together they grow closer and closer and eventually find themselves in love. Having fallen in love with his OS, Theodore finds himself dealing with feelings of both great joy and doubt. As an OS, Samantha has powerful intelligence that she uses to help Theodore in ways others hadn't, but how does she help him deal with his inner conflict of being in love with an OS? Written by Bob Philpot
Science fiction has been dominated by 'space westerns' for so long that the occasional concept- based story situation hits a big number on my personal richter scale.
What does it mean to be human? And if we create near-humans what is our responsibility to them and what is their relationship to us? These themes underpinned Blade Runner and Spielberg's A.I. And Sci Fi of the 50s and 60s dealt with machine self awareness. None of the films that touched on this subject in the past presented it so thoroughly, intimately and believably.
Her is in the near future, but everything we see is within reach now: the isolation and starkness of the "business district," the oppressive scale of the architecture (with thin, clumsy attempts to soften its sterility) and the need for continuous connection to remote voices.
A personal assistant that learns independently and takes initiative for its hapless user, "Her" is at once the ideal tool and — who knows — perhaps closer to the next level of evolution.
Pitch perfect performances and direction kept me in the story. As others have said, the locations, cinematography and even music shine in the fabric of this film. Spike Jonze is a master story weaver at the top of his game. Joaquin Phoenix is utterly credible as are all the other leads. Even Scarlett Johansson, who has not always seemed a strong actress to me performs utterly convincingly.
It's an adult-themed film in more ways than one, but especially in the best way: it makes you think about a reality that's right around the corner.