‘Her’ Review: Where Do Broken Hearts Go?

Credit director-screenwriter Spike Jonze’s for answering the question, “Where do broken hearts go?” His bold answer is “Her,” a strikingly personal response that is also his most rewarding film experience yet. The Jonze penchant for quirky and poetic visuals is very much intact. But thanks to the central performances from stars Joaquin Phoenix and an unseen Scarlett Johansson, “Her” operates with a near flawless system of emotional truths.

Set in the megalopolis known as Los Angeles in the not-so distant future, Phoenix stars as Theodore, a professional letter writer dealing with the aftermath of a painful divorce. Despite providing clients with the positive release of emotions with his letters, Theo finds his life mired in stagnation. Relief arrives in the most unexpected way when he begins an unlikely relationship with his computer operating system named Samantha (the voice of Scarlett Johansson). Literally loved back to life, the emotional connection Theo has missed becomes increasingly complicated once Samantha begins to evolve in her awareness of life and love. Suddenly, Theo is forced to face the truth of whether or not the patterns his relationships have less to do with the women – real or digital — he has chosen, but with the man he continues to be with each pairing.

What makes “Her” such an intriguing experience is not so much Jonze’s statement about our diminishing human connectivity in this advanced technological age. That Theo, along with several other characters, including a positively winning Amy Adams, become so involved with their OS systems becomes such a poignant device speaks volumes for Jonze and his screenplay. But what makes “Her” such a heartbreaker is the subtext of perhaps discovering how much of Jonze’s real life can be read and seen between the lines.

It is hard not to think about how the filmmaker’s relationship with Oscar-winning ex-wife Sofia Coppola may have had something to do with the genesis of “Her.” It is no coincidence that several of the film’s threads lead to Coppola’s own “Lost in Translation,” from the inclusion of Johansson to production designer K.K. Barrett’s exquisite east-west hybrid of LA and Shanghai to create a sense of future shock. Add the contribution of cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema’s beautifully muted visuals and you have quite a bit to jawbone over after the credits roll. However, what gives “Her” its heart is not its exquisite aesthetic or peerless craftsmanship.

Perhaps there is an element of projection here, but what made “Her” resonate strongest was the sense that Jonze is offering an apology for a failed relationship. It’s a cathartic experience to watch Theo face his ex-wife Catherine (a memorable Rooney Mara, who even suggests a bit of Sofia Coppola in her look.) Their exchange runs the gamut of emotions from the polite & congenial to the awkward and then angry in a matter of minutes. So precise and relatable is Jonze’s script, his adept ensemble is giving an exact roadmap on who to be in “Her.”

Phoenix has not been so grounded and appealing in a leading role since is Oscar-nominated turn as Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line.” His emotional arc is one we all can share, particularly in how he goes from sad sack to joyously in love to aware and connected once his affair with Samantha reaches its logical conclusion. However, “Her” becomes a winning experience because Johansson’s voice offers the perfect counterpoint to Phoenix. She is an absolute revelation and a real achievement.

The challenge of being unseen has provided the actress the ultimate freedom to run the spectrum of emotions that come with experiencing love for the first time. You accept the concept of an aware OS system because of the humanity represented by Johansson’s honest and clear voice. You literally will “see” Samantha as a result. She’s never been this warm or uninhibited on film, resulting in one of the best performances of her career.

The central conflict of “Her” may not seduce a widely mainstream audience based on a hastily explained plot summary. However, know that too many pleasures exist in the film to not want to download it all. It is truly one of the best and most engaging films of the year.

“Her” is in select theaters December 18th, everywhere January 10th, 2014.