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Her

Directed by Spike Jonze

Written by Spike Jonze

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johnansson, Amy Adams

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In 'Her', we find ourselves in the shoes of a man who's got nothing in this world, and who falls in love with his OS - his operating system - who is portrayed as a fully capable and emotional being, despite being inside a computer.

'Her' was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical at the 2013 Golden Globes. Like 2015's The Martian, it is not a comedy, but instead uses humour to prevent the film from getting too bleak and depressing. There are times in the film where I laughed very hard, as some scenes are absolutely hilarious. But when that it pretty much stripped away in the film's second half, you get a sad, yet elegant look at the troubles of a real relationship. The thing is, is that the relationship is between man and OS, and due to both the excellent script by Spike Jonze and the downright mesmerizing performance by Scarlett Johansson (as Samantha, the OS), this man/machine relationship is brimming with a sense of realism and beauty, and the chemistry between Joaquin Phoenix's Theodore and Johansson's Sam is some of the best I've seen in a while, even if it is all one-faced. Johansson's performance, as well as Andy Serkis' Ceaser in the new Planet of the Apes films really makes me believe that the Academy, or Hollywood in general (when it comes to awards) needs to recognize voice-over/motion capture performances - they can be some of the best in the business, and help to bring the world to life.

There are moments in the script that read like poetry. I'd like to commend Jonze's writing for 'Her', as the flowing narrative never gets too dull, and it is chalked full of solid, thought-provoking monologues and witty remarks about love and depression. It is an original film, with a very original idea, and the quality of the film proves that great, original ideas can be a very fresh addition to cinema, and are welcomed with open arms. I wish we had more original films like 'Her', and 2015's 'Ex Machina'. Also, the original score lends to the feel of the film, as mellow and beautiful themes surround the world. The original song, titled "The Moon Song", is an amazing poem put to music, (and it definitely deserved the win over Let it Go). It's a wonderful, unique and absolutely stunning song... I haven't been this blown away with an original song in a film in a while.

Probably the best thing that 'Her' does is it makes you think. Long after viewing the film, it is still on my mind, as is my view of life and love, and with the state of Theodore's life in the film, it really makes me appreciate my own life, but it also makes me love watching his unfold. Additional viewings may be required, because I think this movie is like an onion, with so many layers to pull back.

At the end, 'Her' is a stunning, beautiful piece of filmmaking. From its bold, original script, stellar performances, and thought-provoking nature to The Moon Song, Spike Jonze's sci-fi romance film is an unforgettable one.

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+Masterful script

+Scarlett Johansson's mesmerizing performance

+Wonderful original score

+The Moon Song

+Smart and original

9.7 out of 10