I find myself feeling split, having two different yet similar reactions to a popular film that the majority support while I sit here and scratch my head as to the point of what I've seen (and question my own sanity as a result).
THE BIG LEBOWSKI is a movie I have NEVER really understood, because the Dude (while a funny character well played in the film) doesn't change an iota from beginning to end. There's no character arc at ALL in the film, leaving me scratching my head as to the point of all of it. Sure, it makes you laugh, I guess, but like watching an episode of Seinfeld, it doesn't have a purpose. There's no meat on the dinner plate; you'll have to make do with mashed potatoes and forcing yourself to eat your vegetables like a good young man.
SE7EN felt similar yet different. The movie DID have a point, and there certainly were character arcs. But in THAT film, I felt like a fish getting caught by a hook and being dragged to death after several miles against grating asphalt. "People suck", said the movie.
No way. Really? I didn't know that. Thanks for enlightening me.
With HER, I GUESS the movie is an exploration of Artificial Intelligence (and proves once again why it shouldn't happen. EVER.). Theodore (Juaquin Phoenix, doing excellence as he almost always does) just got divorced and tries out the new OS1 operating system, because...
Jeez, I just had this picture in my head of somebody trying to make love to Alexis. You know, the sentient house tool that everybody bought because...
...
"People are stupid".
Anyway, the OS becomes Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansen, who pretty much always delivers amazing performances), a helpful tool with emotions that organizes and rearranges Theodore's life, while being a sympathetic shoulder to cry on when life kicks him in the balls (over and over again). Eventually, ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER, ha ha, and they get much, much closer, until friction happens as a result of the exploration of A.I. and its limitations (to say nothing of human beings being themselves, illustrating the frustrating nature of human nature repeatedly throughout the film).
Like I said, "People are stupid".
I don't want to leave out Amy (played by the sometimes brilliant Amy Adams... or maybe its just some of the crappy movies she's played in that has me looking at her cross-eyed. Whatever, she does very well here), Theodore's very best friend, who manages to support him throughout the film, because...
"People are stupid".
Ugh.
The reason I'm having so much trouble with this film is, like the highly rated LEBOWSKI and SE7EN movies, I don't get the point. Or I don't like the point. Or it HAS no point, other than that
"People are stupid".
Up against the endlessly evolving and constantly learning threat of Artificial Intelligence, it's understandable that we would be, and it's even more understandable that the events of the film happen as they do, however, just like SE7EN, that leaves very little in the department for enjoyment in the movie. Is it a romance, trying to bitter-sweetly deliver a message to take home with you?
No.
Is it a criticism of Artificial Intelligence? That it is more threatening than we think, and should be held with a careful hand?
Not really, no.
Then what the heck is this film ultimately about?
...
...
Well, if I have to be honest, I only took one thing away from this beautifully shot, occasionally funny film:
People are STUPID.
No way. Really?
Because I already KNEW that.
THE BIG LEBOWSKI is a movie I have NEVER really understood, because the Dude (while a funny character well played in the film) doesn't change an iota from beginning to end. There's no character arc at ALL in the film, leaving me scratching my head as to the point of all of it. Sure, it makes you laugh, I guess, but like watching an episode of Seinfeld, it doesn't have a purpose. There's no meat on the dinner plate; you'll have to make do with mashed potatoes and forcing yourself to eat your vegetables like a good young man.
SE7EN felt similar yet different. The movie DID have a point, and there certainly were character arcs. But in THAT film, I felt like a fish getting caught by a hook and being dragged to death after several miles against grating asphalt. "People suck", said the movie.
No way. Really? I didn't know that. Thanks for enlightening me.
With HER, I GUESS the movie is an exploration of Artificial Intelligence (and proves once again why it shouldn't happen. EVER.). Theodore (Juaquin Phoenix, doing excellence as he almost always does) just got divorced and tries out the new OS1 operating system, because...
Jeez, I just had this picture in my head of somebody trying to make love to Alexis. You know, the sentient house tool that everybody bought because...
...
"People are stupid".
Anyway, the OS becomes Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansen, who pretty much always delivers amazing performances), a helpful tool with emotions that organizes and rearranges Theodore's life, while being a sympathetic shoulder to cry on when life kicks him in the balls (over and over again). Eventually, ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER, ha ha, and they get much, much closer, until friction happens as a result of the exploration of A.I. and its limitations (to say nothing of human beings being themselves, illustrating the frustrating nature of human nature repeatedly throughout the film).
Like I said, "People are stupid".
I don't want to leave out Amy (played by the sometimes brilliant Amy Adams... or maybe its just some of the crappy movies she's played in that has me looking at her cross-eyed. Whatever, she does very well here), Theodore's very best friend, who manages to support him throughout the film, because...
"People are stupid".
Ugh.
The reason I'm having so much trouble with this film is, like the highly rated LEBOWSKI and SE7EN movies, I don't get the point. Or I don't like the point. Or it HAS no point, other than that
"People are stupid".
Up against the endlessly evolving and constantly learning threat of Artificial Intelligence, it's understandable that we would be, and it's even more understandable that the events of the film happen as they do, however, just like SE7EN, that leaves very little in the department for enjoyment in the movie. Is it a romance, trying to bitter-sweetly deliver a message to take home with you?
No.
Is it a criticism of Artificial Intelligence? That it is more threatening than we think, and should be held with a careful hand?
Not really, no.
Then what the heck is this film ultimately about?
...
...
Well, if I have to be honest, I only took one thing away from this beautifully shot, occasionally funny film:
People are STUPID.
No way. Really?
Because I already KNEW that.