FILM REVIEW | Her

Technology. Its advancement in the 21^st century has given us ease and comfort in order to live easier and more efficient lives. But what if technology advances so much that it evolves into its own person; with thoughts and feelings; with hopes and dreams; with aspirations and achievements for growth; for understanding; maybe even, for love. Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Pheonix) and OS1 Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) are about to embark on seeing the seemingly infinite possibilities of the evolution of Technology.

The Story

This is not your typical love story. In an era where online dating has become the norm and iPhones are becoming preferable due to its in-built responsive operating system, it’s a no-brainer that someone would combine the two and create something to ponder upon. Twisting Big Bang Theory’s comedic take on Raj falling in love with Siri on it’s head, Her questions the possibilities of falling in love with something with particular qualities of human beings and the nature of relationships.

Following a man who’s going through a disheartening divorce and comparing it to his relationship with his personalised operating system, Her combines the complications of human relationships to that of an ever changing technological advancement, which – in its nature – appears to be limitless in its capability to perform human-like tasks without physically embodying a human form.

I love the concept and the nature of the story. I found it fascinating that having an operating system with a personality is what brings the idea of the possibility of forming a relationship between man and computer together. I also love the striking contrast of having the physical relationships with people work alongside the individual relationships with their OSs. It’s a beautiful concept that was executed just as wonderfully.

The Cast

Joaquin Pheonix is an incredible lead as he takes you on the highs and lows of being in and out of relationships. There’s sadness in his joy and brightness in his solemnity. He understands the complexity of the relationships that Theodore enters into and opens himself to, but also captures the struggle that he goes through in attempting to understand the evolutions, dissolutions and resolutions of those relations.

Scarlett Johansson by far receives my congratulations on her performance. Even if her role was mainly to lend her voice to the commands of what it means to be an operation system, she really does bring Samantha to life. She completely grasps the struggles that Samantha has in terms of her evolution and the anxious excitement of that growth. As Theodore began to believe in entering a forever with Samantha, Johansson made you believe in that possibility too.

Overall, this film has a beautiful concept that touches the heart. It’s one to take your love ones to and discuss afterwards. It’s one that will get you talking and thinking.

Star Rating: ★★★★

Next of sL: I, Frankenstein

FILM REVIEW | Man of Steel

Clark (The Tudors’, Henry Cavill) never fit in. Always being the heroic freak – a combination that is harder to live out than define – of the Kansas town, Smallville, his never really known what it meant to be different. But after a close encounter with something that should not have been seen by human eyes, Clark realises that it’s time to fulfil he’s greater purpose.

The Story

Alright, the last time we saw Superman, he was coming back to earth with the storyline that he may or may not have a son with Lois Lane. This time around we’re taken back to the fall of Krypton and we’re back to basics with the introduction to the supernatural-farm-boy Clark Kent with an eye for the feisty reporter, Lois Lane, played by Enchanted’s, Amy Adams.

I’m not a big Superman fan, so I have to assume that it’s a revival of the essence of the comic book series (DC Comic nerds please don’t kill me!). I thought the story was fine, flashing back and forth between past and present to signify Clark’s self-discovery is great and new. In this new take, we see the more of the human side of Superman that the writers intended in comparison to the ‘super’-ness of his character.

But let’s cut to the chase, it’s still Lois Lane meets Clark Kent and at the end of the day, Superman is still the blue-eyed-underwear-on-top-of-the-spandex-ripped-superhero that we all fell in love when the first film came out in 1978.

The Cast

Henry Cavill – Not going to lie, as dazzling as Superman is suppose to be – and history shows that a few of the best looking actors have played the incredible superhero – I was more entertained by the authority that Cavill brings to the character in the delivery of his lines. For the first time in a long time, Superman is actually a leader rather than some coy farm boy trying to be normal for Lois one minute and saving her the next. Cavill commands the audience with his voice rather than his prowess, and personally, I thought he made Superman a lot more attractive when he was rugged rather than the clean-cut spandex look.

Amy Adams – finally landing the role that she’s always wanted, I have to take my hat-off of Miss Adams for her portrayal of one of the most well known superhero love interest. I like that she was more reporter than damsel in distress – so kudos to both Adams and the writing team for capturing the reality of what a journalist really goes through in the field.

Michael Shannon – Every hero needs a villain, and although Shannon was a phenomenal actor and played a solid contrast to Cavill, I was more distracted with the fact that he looked more like he popped out of a video game – everything about his look was off-putting in terms of detail. I only point this out because everyone else was not as perfect as his character. Kudos to the acting, but I think the hair and make-up department let the character down slightly.

Overall

Execution was great, but I have to say that it was way too long. By the time Clark and Lois kiss it’s like, cool-done-finished, but it’s not! Personally I thought the final fight sequence should have come sooner and that a lot of those action sequences were simply too video game like – too fast and it looked like a trailer for the next gaming thrill rather than an action sequence. I loved the first half, but I just wasn’t convinced with the second half.

sL Star Rating: 3.5 Stars

Next on sL: TBA