Actors: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt, Olivia Wilde
Directors: Spike Jonze
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: May 13, 2014
Run Time: 126 minutes
Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Only from the mind of Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Jonze can a movie like “Her” be created. I first saw this film last holiday season and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since. It is also a very hard film to verbally sell to someone without an open mind or a love for Jonze. Joaquin Phoenix gives an amazing performance. I think I would go as far as one of his best. Even though Scarlett Johansson is voice only of Samantha, she really gives life to the character. I loved the blend of the romance with the futuristic science fiction drama. This has easily become one of my favorite films of 2014. I highly recommend it, but like I said it is not for everyone because don’t forget it is in the end about a man that falls in love with an operating system…though so much more at the exact same time.
Official Premise: Set in Los Angeles in the slight future, “Her” follows Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, he becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system, which promises to be an intuitive and unique entity in its own right. Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet “Samantha,” a bright, female voice (Scarlett Johansson) who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. As her needs and desires grow, in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other.
Warner Bros is delivering this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet digital copy. The 1080p transfer is gorgeous. It really captures the look and feel of this slightly yet retro futuristic world. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track works amazingly with the band Arcade Fire’s score. There are some decent extras as well included, but I would have loved to see a commentary track from Jonze. “The Untitled Rick Howard Project” is a short film from Lance Bangs about creating “Her”. “How do you Share Your Life with Somebody” is another featurette on the film’s relationship topic. Lastly “Love in The Modern Age” loves into conversations about love and relationships in our time.
Own “Her” on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD Download 5/13