Her

There is only one word I can effectively and confidently use to describe "Her". Creepy. Incredibly creepy. I'm sure everyone knows the plot of this, but it tells the not-so-farfetched story of a man falling in love with his new home operating system. It's a creepy concept. One that made plenty of people uncomfortable.

But the concept for the film isn't that creepy to me. I mean, is it really far fetched to picture a human falling in love with an artificial intelligence? I'm sure it's already happened. Sure, it's unsettling. But it's a movie. I can buy that. No, what makes this movie creepy is everything else. Our main characters job is writing personalized greeting cards from one client to another...yikes. That's unsettling. Or how about the complete lack of a reaction from Chris Pratt's character, when his coworker outright admits to be dating his CPU, simply suggesting they go on a double date. How about the unsettling image of one couple on a double date with another couple, where the woman in the relationship is an ear piece in everyones ears. How about a young child talking to a pocket sized device, never questioning the relationship her uncle(?) has with it? It's strange, it's weird, it made me and my friend feel rather antsy.

But this all culminates into a film that is shockingly organic, believable, and perhaps understandable. Phoenix's character is depressed from the recent divorce from his wife. Along comes a CPU that is completely engrossed in his life, there for him whenever he needs her, even if it's just for conversation. Is it really so far fetched to fall in love with his computer? I've gone through some breakups that had me fall for a girl who, later, I look back upon and think "what the HELL was I thinking...?" And that's what this movie succeeds at - taking an initially outlandish idea, and making it shockingly believable.

And this doesn't just stand for the human characters. Our CPU, played by Scarlett Johansson, starts out initially perfect for our character. But just as any other significant other, the truths start to shine through, and so does her immaturity. Or perhaps it isn't immaturity. Perhaps it's an overwhelming lack of understanding, but desire to understand, a world she simply cannot physically be apart of of. Doesn't this movie raise some amazing questions?

Not to mention the film really manages to make you laugh. Whether it's through the fun conversations held between our protagonists that so easily remind me of nostalgia in my past relationships, or the funny video game character that's just too blunt to not laugh at while Phoenix plays, there's just a lot to enjoy, admire, and think about in this film. It's beautiful really, one to really define a year in movies.

Rank - 5/5