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Her (2013)
Director: Spike Jonze
Cast overview: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams
Running time: 126 minutes
This looked an interesting idea when I first saw the poster and I thought that the rave reviews it received were extremely promising, indicative of a great film. It's anything but, from what I watched. It's the story of a loner who develops a relationship with an intelligent computer operating system. Nice idea, I thought.
It's boring. BORING. DULL. DRAB. The whole two hours pass by so slowly that it's difficult to watch. It's essentially Joaquin Phoenix with a simple expression looking at his computer and talking to Scarlett Johansson's voice. I'd like to say it's more than that, but it isn't. I will praise Jonze for the idea, as it was truly original, but the execution is terrible, with seemingly little idea of how boring it is for the viewer. The music is also very good, and the cinematography is superb. That's about all that's good, with the rest of it so ponderous and sentimental that it was an instant turn-off. I stuck it out to the end to see if things improved any, but they didn't.
Perhaps the whole premise was going to be difficult to turn into anything that wasn't dull, but - in my view - that's all it was: dull. Two-dimensional and uninteresting. I felt very little empathy or understanding with Phoenix's character. In fact, the little virtual alien thing was about the most interesting thing about the film, and I genuinely think this could have been developed upon to create an interesting sidekick-type character.
As you'll guess, not one I enjoyed. A dull, hype-ridden snoozefest that didn't keep me interested at all. Some promise, and some cracking ideas, but the execution was terrible, I thought. Still, others seem to have enjoyed it a fair amount and it got an Oscar nomination - somehow - so it must be me that's wrong.
Quotes
Theodore: Sometimes I think I have felt everything I'm ever gonna feel. And from here on out, I'm not gonna feel anything new. Just lesser versions of what I've already felt.
Samantha: The past is just a story we tell ourselves.
[last lines]
Theodore: Dear Catherine, I've been sitting here thinking about all the things I wanted to apologize to you for. All the pain we caused each other. Everything I put on you. Everything I needed you to be or needed you to say. I'm sorry for that. I'll always love you 'cause we grew up together and you helped make me who I am. I just wanted you to know there will be a piece of you in me always, and I'm grateful for that. Whatever someone you become, and wherever you are in the world, I'm sending you love. You're my friend to the end. Love, Theodore.
[pauses]
Theodore: Send.
Trivia
Samantha Morton was originally the voice of Samantha. She was present on the set with Joaquin Phoenix every day. After the filming wrapped and Spike Jonze started editing the movie, he felt like something was not right. With Morton's blessing, he decided to recast the role and Scarlett Johansson was brought and replaced Morton, re-recording all the dialogue..
Most of the city backgrounds, especially the ones featuring skyscrapers, are actually filmed in Shanghai. You can see many very identifiable skyscrapers such as the Shanghai World Financial Center. There are even Chinese signs if you look carefully.
Amy Adams said writer/director Spike Jonze would essentially lock her and Joaquin Phoenix in a room together for an hour or two every other day, and make them talk to each other. Jonze did this so that the actors could get to know each other better. Adams credits this for her and Phoenix's close friendship.
Trailer
Director: Spike Jonze
Cast overview: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams
Running time: 126 minutes
This looked an interesting idea when I first saw the poster and I thought that the rave reviews it received were extremely promising, indicative of a great film. It's anything but, from what I watched. It's the story of a loner who develops a relationship with an intelligent computer operating system. Nice idea, I thought.
It's boring. BORING. DULL. DRAB. The whole two hours pass by so slowly that it's difficult to watch. It's essentially Joaquin Phoenix with a simple expression looking at his computer and talking to Scarlett Johansson's voice. I'd like to say it's more than that, but it isn't. I will praise Jonze for the idea, as it was truly original, but the execution is terrible, with seemingly little idea of how boring it is for the viewer. The music is also very good, and the cinematography is superb. That's about all that's good, with the rest of it so ponderous and sentimental that it was an instant turn-off. I stuck it out to the end to see if things improved any, but they didn't.
Perhaps the whole premise was going to be difficult to turn into anything that wasn't dull, but - in my view - that's all it was: dull. Two-dimensional and uninteresting. I felt very little empathy or understanding with Phoenix's character. In fact, the little virtual alien thing was about the most interesting thing about the film, and I genuinely think this could have been developed upon to create an interesting sidekick-type character.
As you'll guess, not one I enjoyed. A dull, hype-ridden snoozefest that didn't keep me interested at all. Some promise, and some cracking ideas, but the execution was terrible, I thought. Still, others seem to have enjoyed it a fair amount and it got an Oscar nomination - somehow - so it must be me that's wrong.
Quotes
Theodore: Sometimes I think I have felt everything I'm ever gonna feel. And from here on out, I'm not gonna feel anything new. Just lesser versions of what I've already felt.
Samantha: The past is just a story we tell ourselves.
[last lines]
Theodore: Dear Catherine, I've been sitting here thinking about all the things I wanted to apologize to you for. All the pain we caused each other. Everything I put on you. Everything I needed you to be or needed you to say. I'm sorry for that. I'll always love you 'cause we grew up together and you helped make me who I am. I just wanted you to know there will be a piece of you in me always, and I'm grateful for that. Whatever someone you become, and wherever you are in the world, I'm sending you love. You're my friend to the end. Love, Theodore.
[pauses]
Theodore: Send.
Trivia
Samantha Morton was originally the voice of Samantha. She was present on the set with Joaquin Phoenix every day. After the filming wrapped and Spike Jonze started editing the movie, he felt like something was not right. With Morton's blessing, he decided to recast the role and Scarlett Johansson was brought and replaced Morton, re-recording all the dialogue..
Most of the city backgrounds, especially the ones featuring skyscrapers, are actually filmed in Shanghai. You can see many very identifiable skyscrapers such as the Shanghai World Financial Center. There are even Chinese signs if you look carefully.
Amy Adams said writer/director Spike Jonze would essentially lock her and Joaquin Phoenix in a room together for an hour or two every other day, and make them talk to each other. Jonze did this so that the actors could get to know each other better. Adams credits this for her and Phoenix's close friendship.
Trailer