Theodore and Samantha, a significant chronicle of a relationship.

Rating: 9/10 (11 May 2017)

When we watch love stories we expect that two people end up together and live happily after. When we watch relationship stories we expect that personal attitudes and character chemistry end up assembled and live happily after. Her is related to the latter. Theodore is a mild-mannered, educated, urbanized, technologically proficient, near forty male and Samantha is an operating system that Theodore specified to be with a female voice. The reading of this synopsis is a downer, I know. The actual interest in watching it is the notion that Spike Jonze, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Scarlett Johansson are in the project. Well, the movie removes these fears instantaneously. The camera shows Theodore's world in and out. He is a letter writer in an important company; he is content but not impassioned about his work. He plays video games as an entertainment and he is friendly with a couple. He seems lonely and he moves around with confidence. His solitude may be connected to his recent separation. He is purposely delaying the official ending of the marriage and he still wonders what went wrong. From long shots to close ups we get to know Theodore thoroughly. The acting, the color, the sound and the editing complete a canvas that is as specific as it is needed. The looks of the movie are testimony of an aesthetically controlled and enjoyable environment. None of the domestic or urban maladies threaten Theodore walking and talking digitally. Urban spaces are friendly and safe. He is not exposed to illness. Even the speaking voices are calm and paused. He values his friendship with Amy and Charles, basically to Amy as the movie progress. In short Theodore emotional aches can be found in his loneliness and his still unsolved separation. Samantha has a beautiful voice and a great speaking style. She is mega smart to the point of using her enormous amount of progressive information in understanding human emotions to enhance the relationship with Theodore. He falls for her. She is great to him. A relationship with the dynamics trying to unite personal attitudes and character chemistry is starting. Even if Samantha does not have a body. She has needs and desires as a human. This interacting is worth to watch because is central to the movie. What happens next is due to the accurate mixing of the components that we have been shown. The manner in which the scenes are constructed creates the base of a perfect storytelling with a sharp study of characters, issues and its interconnections. Spike Jonze directed Her with a sensitive ability to present us with an excellent, entertaining picture. Cinematography, editing, set design and music concurred to create the atmosphere that the story accept easily, the script is sober and functional to the comprehension of the story and the acting is outstanding. I believe that the title of the film is homage to an operating system who is working hard is a human (her) and Scarlett Johansson has the merit of convincing us of this. Amy Adams was perfect fleshing the woman who is the friend that Theodore wants. Joaquin Phoenix shaped a character with a richness of textures by means of a tasteful subtlety. In sum, Her is an brilliant, enjoyable movie.