Can There Be Intimacy With No Physical Contact?

Rating: Null/10 (24 January 2014)

Spike Jonze comes up with an original love story between a man and an OS aka operating system aka computer. Lonely and depressed Theodore who was struggling with his loneliness and coming to terms with his estranged wife wanting a divorce in addition to living a monotonous life falls for Samantha. There's no physical contact between the man and the computer and there never will be...but can there be intimacy, the kind many crave for all their lives? The story is told through Theodore's point of view and is accompanied by a mesmerizing soundtrack. The stupendous cinematography brings out the dazzling visuals (even though at times the green screen filtering is obvious). The director also makes some fine use of colour.
Joaquin Phoenix delivers a marvelous performance. He is wonderfully supported by radiant Amy Adams. Their scenes together Scarlett Johanssen does a good job. However, I do wonder why Jonze had Samantha Morton (who'd already done the dubbing)? Olivia Wilde does a very effective job too. Chris Pratt is quite adequate. Jonze himself does a funny job as Alien Child.
'Her' is perhaps one of the most refreshing on-screen love stories of 2013. In its own subtle way, it addresses the relationship between man and technology and how people are becoming more and more dependent on technology everyday.