HER

Both a heartfelt and captivating film, Her is a love story like no other.

Joaquin Phoenix stars as Theodore Twombly, a writer going through a divorce who decides to purchase a new operating system to meet his every need. The trouble is that it does more than that when he falls in love with the operating system named Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson).

Set in 2025, Her shows us a world where people rely on technology even more than they do today. So much so that some people are more comfortable having a relationship with their computer software than another human being.

The initial idea of the film is one that could alienate an audience but I recommend that you should give Her a chance. It really could turn out to surprise you.

The film is funny, wonderfully written by director Spike Jonze and beautifully shot by Hoyte van Hoytema. 

Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix)

Theodore and Samantha are played exceedingly well by Phoenix and Johansson. They have a genuine chemistry and that is quite an achievement for a film that has only one human in the relationship.

That is one of the most interesting aspects of Her. Johansson's performance as Samantha makes you think of her as more than just a voice. Some of the emotional exchanges between Theodore and Samantha are very moving.

There is also some good work from the supporting cast. Amy Adams plays Amy, Theodore's friend who breaks up with her husband and also finds herself becoming close with an operating system. You can always rely on Adams to deliver, whether it be in the main role or in a lesser supporting role.

Rooney Mara brings a steeliness to Theodore's ex-wife, Catherine and Olivia Wilde shows up briefly as Amelia, a woman who Samantha sets Theodore up on a date with. Theodore's struggle to let go of Catherine and his lack of interaction with humans make this date all set to fail.

Her is an alternative to all the love stories that are released in the cinemas nowadays. Her is also a film that is so relevant in today's world, of course with the relationship between man and machine taken to a whole new level.

Verdict: 4/5