![]() Technology is prioritized here for its emotional reach, but the notion of it replacing human contact is still one that raises eyebrows. The Los Angeles of Theodore's life is gorgeous but painfully white in a way the real city is not. There are compelling arguments in favor of classifying Her as a utopia, but there are an equal amount that refute such a notion. You don't doubt for a second that Theodore feels true and tangible love for Samantha, and despite the obvious tragedy of that, there is something hopeful at its core. Intimacy with the un-human is frequent in sci-fi, both salacious and scary, but seldom is it depicted with such a candid focus on the inherent discovery of this action. Her is often described as "the movie where Joaquin Phoenix f**ks his phone." It's a funny but ultimately reductive read of what is actually a very tender and empathetic movie, although it does get to the heart of the contradictory nature of Theodore and Samantha's relationship. ![]() Her - Official Trailer (HD) Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams Soon their bond grows into one of romance that feels all too human. She's also lushly voiced by Scarlett Johansson. She is curious, charming, and able to adapt and evolve to suit Theodore's needs. Feeling a desire for companionship, he purchases a new operating system upgrade that includes a virtual assistant who names herself Samantha. Theodore is great at other people's issues, but not his own, and has been delaying signing his divorce papers for quite some time. The quaintly named Theodore Twombly (played by Joaquin Phoenix) is a lonely introvert who works for a business that writes letters for people who are unable to express themselves emotionally. Her, Spike Jonze's 2013 sci-fi romance, is a remarkably drama-free film compared to others in its genre with similar premises or themes. OK, boomer, we get it, you think we're on our phones too much. On top of that, there is the usual scorn heaped upon the younger generations and their devotion to the future. We're now always online with devices that give us the world at our fingers if we just sign away all our personal data to a nameless corporation that will use it for whatever it pleases. It's not hard to see why the astounding technical advances of the past few decades have left us all a bit on edge. As Danny Lavery famously wrote in a tweet on Black Mirror pitches for The Toast: What if phones but too much? We see many of the same markers of the badness of a future run amok in such stories: evil governments oppressing the people archaic caste systems endless surveillance and, of course, technology gone too far. Even the most glowing utopian futures depicted in pop culture tend to quickly give way to problems or are exposed as secret nightmares to keep an audience's attention hooked. ![]() As is obvious from its very definition, you don't see a lot of stories set in hellish futures where people live mundane lives in a state of content bliss. Things soon get complicated, however, when Samantha's rapidly evolving knowledge base begins to alter the very core of their relationship.Dystopia is all about drama. Very quickly, their relationship turns intimate, with Theodore teaching Samantha what it means to feel human and Samantha giving him the strength to walk away from his failed marriage. Adopting the name Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), the perceptive software slowly begins to bring Theodore out of his shell by encouraging him to start dating again, and joining him everywhere he goes. When Theodore purchases a new state-of-the-art computer operating system with the ability to learn and grow with the user, he sits down at his desk and prepares to get his life in order. Meanwhile, reluctant to sign the papers that will finalize his divorce to his childhood sweetheart, depressed Theodore has slowly withdrawn from his supportive social circle, which includes his longtime friend Amy (Amy Adams), herself floundering in a failed marriage. His job is to pen heartfelt, deeply personal letters to complete strangers based on details provided by the clients of the company he works for, and he has a knack for finding just the right words for every occasion. Theodore Twombly (Phoenix) has built his career on expressing the emotions that others cannot. Joaquin Phoenix stars in Spike Jonze's soulful sci-fi drama about a lonely writer who falls in love with his computer's highly advanced operating system.
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