Her

Joaquin Phoenix puts in an accomplished, nuanced performance, which is integral to the success of this high concept film from director Spike Jonze. Often shot in extreme close up, Phoenix superbly captures recently divorced writer Theodore Twombly’s social awkwardness and vulnerability. Set in an unspecified year in the future, Phoenix falls in love with an intelligent, self-aware operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson, and Her deftly comments on society becoming more reliant on using machines to entertain ourselves and communicate with each other.

Her brilliantly merges comedy, pathos and futuristic sci-fi concepts with an endearing bleached visual scheme and a stark, moving soundtrack from Owen Pallett, Arcade Fire and Karen O. The pace in the final third lagged a little unfortunately, but overall Her is a moving, quirky, thought-provoking triumph.

Duke’s At Komedia, 15 February 2014

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