LA Movie Review- Her

   Taking place in the not so distant future, a recently divorced man falls in love with Samantha, his charming computer operating system. Spike Jonze directs this incredibly beautiful and unique love story. Spike Jonze's film is one with an unbelievable screenplay which he wrote himself, wonderful performances, and great art direction. 

   Opening with Joaquin Phoenix  reading a love letter, you can tell you are in for something special. This is a story about love and all that it can cause and all of it's effects it can have on people. After being divorced Theodore Twombly, played engagingly by Joaquin Phoenix, feeling the loss of love in his life, decides to download an operating system with a personality. They fall for each other in a story unlike any other. Along the way, they face the challenges of their relationship which include criticism from others and the limitations they face.
   Joaquin Phoenix is terrifically engaging in the film. You feel for his character in each scene, whether he's enjoying the delightful conversations he has with Samantha or is having is heart broken. You smile when he smiles and when his heart is breaking you feel it like a dagger in your own. Scarlett Joahnsson lends her voice to Samantha who is curious, understanding, and loving to Theodore. Amy Adams is good in everything she is in and I cannot fathom why she is not getting more recognition for her work here. Rooney Mara plays Theodore's ex-wife in the film and she does so much with so little lines. Chris Pratt, whose star is glowing brighter and brighter, provides comic relief in the film.
   Her, as a love story, is so different from many other romantic movies but at times it falls into the same predictable plot points they all seem to have. It is original enough that these common moments can be over looked by some, but if Spike Jonze was going to write such an original story then he should have gone the extra mile. Still, Spike Jonze did a fantastic job, especially collaborating with his art director to create such an interesting visual world.
   All of that being said, or rather read, Her is still an immensely beautiful love story that has no equal.
4.5/5