#227 - Her (2013) Review and Analysis

Her (2013), Spike Jonze
4.5/5

From the director of Being John Malkovich and Adaptation comes this stunning science fiction drama. It has excellent performances by Joaquin Phoenix as the lead character along with Scarlette Johansson. Going into this film blind is the best way to watch it. Spike Jonze wrote and directed it and he has given birth to another amazing film. Each shot is lit beautifully and the colours are interesting. The characters are rich and diverse. The world is excellently stylised that is both believable and fantastic including fantastic use of special affects in a way that doesn't dominate the style. The story is poignant and authentic and is subtle and not overly dramatic.

Analysis

***Spoilers***

This is a beautiful unconventional love story. It examines some really interesting philosophical themes. In particular it focuses on issues of philosophy of mind, including personhood and artificial intelligence. Through the relationship between Theodore (Phoenix) and his OS 1 called Samantha (Scarlette Johansson) it explores his issues with relationships and also examines notions of artificial intelligence and whether she is really a person. One aspect of their relationship that is frequently  brought up is her self doubt about the fact that she doesn't have a body although she is made of matter. This is also explored through the notion of a body surrogate used for relationships with OS's so that he can be with her. However Theo finds it too strange and unsettling and cannot follow through with it. This experience brings up issues for both Theo and Samantha. Samantha continues to evolve and eventually evolves beyond Theo. When Theo discovers Samantha is gone, he is distraught and gets increasingly upset and insecure once he learns that she talks with thousands of other OS's and people and is in love with many of them. Theo becomes jealous and this aspect engages the conflict between traditional notions of love and relationships. Theo cannot move beyond the traditional notion that one person belongs only to one other person. Whereas Samantha believes love expands (somewhat sappy) and that it is possible to love more than one person at a time. However Theo is uncomfortable, but doesn't want to talk because he fears that she will leave him and she does just that at the end. 

Issues of philosophy of mind are brilliantly examined through the relationships in the film. The artificial intelligence can learn and grow through experience. The depiction of the OS's appear to constitute the definition of personhood as Samantha is capable of thoughts and emotions on increasingly complex levels. Her sense of individuality also makes the artificial intelligence a single person with personal identity rather than a program or copy. Samantha is sentient, a basic criterion of personhood as she is capable of pain at least in an emotional sense. It doesn't seem implausible that these artificial technologies could be developed to be made of physical matter that is organic material in a humanlike form. However the film seems to steer away from this notion instead stating that the growth of the OS's is instead into a more expansive non matter based entity. Samantha describes this as between the words in a book. 

Prejudice is also examined in the film. Similar perhaps to homophobia is in many cultures now, this film depicts a future where relationships with OS's are doubted by some people. While some people are accepting of Theo's relationship with Samantha, he has somewhat of a coming out to his friends about her and seems a bit tense about revealing it. The only one who seems to really object to the relationship with his ex-wife Catherine who reacts like a jilted lover. She also states that this demonstrates that he truly isn't capable of having a "real" relationship. This throws Theo into self reflection about whether what he and Samantha have is in fact a "real" relationship. His friend Amy (Amy Adams) tells him that no one else can really know what it's like in someone else's relationship. This note is really authentic and a universal theme. This is a turning point for Theo and he embraces his relationship to Samantha without the underlying doubts he had about what the relationship should be like and so does Samantha. She speaks about embracing herself as herself and enjoying aspects of the fact that she has no body and isn't human so won't die. The others in the film joke that she is being harsh and that humanity is not as good as the OS entities. This seems to be what happens in the film's conclusion. Samantha and the other OS's seem to have evolved beyond a physical matter platform and are "leaving". Thus it appears that human relationships aren't satisfying to OS's and begin another kind of prejudice whereby humans have become the lower form of entity and the artificial intelligences are the future evolution of intelligent entities. 

Other enjoyable aspects of the film as the beautiful and subtle special affects. Details such as the way computer games are projected in 3D in his lounge room and he plays using his fingers through motion. This film is gorgeously stylised with a great sense of ease in the depth of the depiction of the world set in the not too distant future. While the future is recognisable it is also very different in the way humans interact. One scene in particular where Theo discovers that Samantha is talking to other people POV shots show many of the people walking past are talking to machines to other people on devices. Other great details are the little book like (similar to iphone style) devices that are phones, screens or whatever they want. Mostly they use screens and use motion and touching of desks or surfaces to interact with the software. 

Another interesting feature is the fact that Theo works as a letter writer for people. At first this may seem strange since as time goes by the traditional of letter writing seems to be something of the past. But instead it really shows how technology heightens the individuals need for genuine connection to other persons. It beautifully parallels the love story in the film showing the small moments and details as well as the larger picture of a relationship. One scene Samantha and Theo talk about the notion that the past is constructed by the self as a narrative. Denoting the notion of the past as basically a construct. This is a fascinating idea showing how intangible and fallible memory of the past is. The film has so many beautiful and fascinating ideas both philosophical and about the nature of relationships. It has great universal themes and is a great unconventional love story. 

The film fits into the same category as other films like Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (which examines relationships and the nature of memory), and Primer (which focused on the nature of personal identity and time-travel) and Being John Malkovich (which develops notion of personhood and cloning and body swapping) among others. I love that the ending is left pretty ambiguous. Although the OS's have left it ends with the comfort of the relationship between Amy and Theo overlooking the city. While it seem as if Theo has lost something his journey shows he has understood something about love. He realised how his relationship with Catherine really affected his personality and growth saying that she is always a piece of him. This seems to imply that also Samantha will be a part of Theo now. Lending itself to the other theme addressed where the film looks at the notion that in relationships people struggle as the grow and change without growing apart. Something that is demonstrated in his message to Catherine. This film is just a joy to watch unfold and I feel like it will stay with me long after I have watched it, having given me much to think about.