One of the sweetest "blink and you miss it" moments is that there's a closeup of Theodore's shirt pocket and he has put a safety pin through the bottom of it. This makes sure that when he puts his phone in that pocket, the pin makes sure it won't sink to the bottom of the pocket, and it will stick out of the pocket just enough so that the camera lens is not inside the pocket. He's making sure that Samantha can see the world when his phone is in that pocket.
Johanson's voice acting was so critical to the story that for the first time it was suggested that a new category to be established for voice acting at the Oscars. So many animated films depend on the voice actors chosen.
I think it’s important to keep in mind WHEN this movie actually came out. It’s been almost ten years now. And it was a “near future” setting that makes (slightly exaggerated for artist reasons) predictions about the way the world was developing. So now that’s it been a decade we can see how accurate some of this was. (I remember when they finally opened the subway to the beach in LA we joked how we were in this film). But if you don’t remember it was made in 2013, and look at this film from the perspective of now, those predictions aren’t as cool because it seems so obvious/ already normal. Does that make sense? 😂🤷♀️
Not just not cool, some of them have to be potentially dangerous. A lot of jobs will be lost to AI, the same jobs held by people who usually advocate for AI and have a romanticizef view of it.
I know what you mean, but then again, films like these make really gentle predictions about tech impacts on society. Not a hint of a TikTok equivalent basically brainwashing people or making emotionally vulnerable people into individuals crippled with anxiety and all manner of mental health issues. All the worse that it's usually kids and young people who have a high neuroplasticity and are thus far more vulnerable to persuasive or charismatic pressures, including tech-related peer pressures and authority figure pressures. Part of the flaw is that society in many countries just doesn't bother to regulate "big-tech" companies towards more ethical design aimed at their consumers, especially the young and the emotionally vulnerable. Honestly, I'm glad I live in the EU, a major pioneer of trying to protect civic and consumer rights and freedoms with regards to all sorts of online and gadget malarkey.
I still find it so incredibly heartwarming how Rooney Mara began dating Joaquin Phoenix after they met working on this movie together. The recently had a son together they named River in honor of his late brother, too. It gives a whole new experience to me watching this movie now with that knowledge vs when I saw it in theaters originally.
That’s weird and touching-l’ve heard of actors getting together and -in some cases-getting married after working on a film together.I’m slightly envious-makes me wish l had worked on a Spike Jonze film.
Definitely a rough one for anyone who has been single for several years. Especially if they don't have any strong friend circles to reach out to. A real gut wrenching film at times, though amazingly beautiful.
i saw this on a movie site a few months after its release since i was bored one night. Usually, i'd go for comedy, but i liked Spike Jonze as a director so i gave it a shot. I was about 16 at the time, never dated or had a girlfriend. I loved it, but told myself i likely wouldn't watch it again. One of those movies Now i'm 27, still never been in a relationship, but i enjoy the solitude 95% of the time. I have a great circle of friends now at least. This time, it hits even harder though. I could see myself in his shoes someday.
Spike Jonze also directed "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation". They're both great movies. Both were written by Charlie Kaufman. I think one of the best writer out there.
One of the many things I like about the film is the color palette. The director felt that blue had become cliche for the near-future, along with oversaturation or a green shift. The reds and browns are a reaction to that.
This reaction reminded me that this movie has a lot more to it than I remembered. All I could recall was the she's-in-love-with-hundreds-of-people "twist", which sells the movie very short.
There is a fascinating double-feature of "Lost in Translation" and "HER". Both are explorations of relationships directed by Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola whom where married/divorce with each other which ironically both star Scarlett. . . These movies feel like essays about their relationship with each other.
It's crazy because the movie remains relevant over a decade after its release due to its realistic depiction of AI, emotional depth, and exploration of human loneliness. The film’s portrayal of AI as intuitive and emotionally intelligent mirrors today’s virtual assistants, while addressing timeless themes of love, consciousness, and connection. It's so easy to overlook how this came out in 2013 cause it really feels topical. It takes the concept seriously and doesn't go with the "it's stupid to fall in love with a computer" or "beware of technology" route. It's so good.
I dunno if I'd go so far as to say its a "realistic" depiction of AI as much as a plausible & relatable one, since there is no real world AI even remotely close to true AI. The AI in the film was so much more than the shallow machine learning algorithms designed to robotically reproduce language & art that the internet is currently plagued with. It's classic sci-fi in the sense of predicting future technology that humanity will definitely be trying to create. We already have people paying for text-based algorithms to pretend to be their significant other, except it actually is kind of sad right now because it's a fully one-sided relationship projected onto text bots: programs that can't have thoughts or feelings, beliefs or opinions, they can only generate text thats fits parameters, can only learn by increasing the base of words, phrases & sentences they fill in like mad libs. In one particularly dystopian example, a company has started selling people subscriptions for a 'digital girlfriend' but then changed their policies so that the bots won't say affectionate things anymore. They thought better of having a text bot say "I love you" to people, but they still want the money they paid. One thing you can be sure of: however rapidly technology advances, it will be far more dystopian & exploitative in the real world than it was in the film.
There are two perspectives here. There is on one hand a love story of a man and a woman, just without the woman. It has all of the same emotional pulls as a good romantic story, and relating to the main character and what he's going through really pushes that emotional aspect. Then there is the other perspective of the absurdity. It is literally a film about a man who falls in love with his phone. That's precisely what makes this film unique. This might be reality some day, folks, for better or for worse.
George paralleled exactly what I was thinking after @26:23. I played Runescape from 2004-2011 and am very familiar with online roleplay as the only means of physically “connecting” with someone. When she said “I’m kissing your forehead,” my second thought was how deeply I felt this movie the first and only time I watched it, and it was likely because of my experiences having exclusively online relationships with people I had never met or touched but felt so comfortable with anyway. I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of my long-term internet friends, throwing that out there cuz it was great. Runescape was my safe space to exist outside of my body, without being judged by everyone around me for things I couldn’t control, and I connected with people in a deeper and more authentic way than I ever had/have in person. Bringing it back to the movie, I can absolutely believe this plot considering how life-like/human-like they made the OS.
George asked about stories about best and worst dates. I went on a kind of first date to see this movie, with a girl I had been talking to long distance. And I remember thinking, as I realized what the movie was about, that it was a *terrible* choice for a first date. But then it was just so beautiful. Here I had thought it might be love because we wrote clever things to each other, or wanted to talk when we were sad, or thought the same things about music, or Alan Watts, or whatever. But maybe the reason was just that we had spent so much time together. Like if you spent an hour in a room every day with another person, or if you let them go through all your unread emails and told them about your last relationship..that kind of intimacy and vulnerability would be love for sure. Glad you enjoyed the movie
I'm so happy seeing your emotional response to this movie. It's the original approach of a scifi love story and the acting that feels so honest that make "Her" one of my favorite movies. We live in a world where more and more people have struggles to find a relationship or dealing with social anxiety. What were the consequences if operating systems like "Samantha" became the reality? Again, thank you for this wonderful reaction.
No stranger than crying over Tom Hanks losing his volleyball. If you have a strong sense of empathy you understand that, to the protagonist, the inanimate object is far more than that and to lose them breaks their heart.
There's a LOT going on this film, not just relationships and all the complications of human connection in general, but also the nature of consciousness and even a hint of religion in the form of higher plains of existence. For any of us who have had to let someone go because they've outgrown you, be they a friend or romantic interest, this movie is both beautifully on point and a punch to the gut. It's so full of so much that I'm afraid to watch it again. Wonderful choice, you two.
To answer George’s question… Best date: An outdoor music fest that got cancelled due to weather but the bands made it up and played two shows at a smaller venue. We were able to go to both shows. First show was us chatting and having drinks. Second show was us headbanging and crowdsurfing. We currently live together and have a husky 🖤 Worst date: met up for dinner and we were going to a show after, but she showed up rolling on ecstasy 🤦♂️
If you only know Spike Jonze from Jackass, that may be surprising. But if you have seen his previous movies, written by Charlie Kaufman ; that is less surprising. There are traits about Joaquim Phoenix character, that are similar in John Cusack character in Being John Malkovich (1999) or in Nicolas Cage character in Adaptation. (2003). The more obvious one being a look really unusual for those actors. Spike Jonze did not make a lot of feature films. But they are all great with a great cast.
Scarlett Johansson stepped in and re-recorded the voice after Samantha Morton had already done it. For whatever reason they decided not to use Morton's version. Johannsson was perfect and could've easily earned an Oscar nom. for her work. Spike Jonze did win an original screenplay Oscar matching the one his ex Sofia Coppola won for "Lost in Translation." BTW, all of Spike Jonze's film work has been quite superb, expanding on his performance art in "Jackass" and his many classic music videos. Take a look at his first film, "Being John Malkovich" (1999), starring Cameron Diaz and John Cusack.
36:41 Spike Jonze directed more movies, notably, Being John Malkovich (1999) and Adaptation (2002) they were written by Charlie Kaufman. both are highly recommended.
The fact the original AI female voice was voiced and played by Samantha Mortonson so much so she was on set throughout the entire film shoot and is the performance that Joaquin Phoenix's own performance is playing off of and created from. So, to have Scarlett Johanson brought in at the 11th hour to rerecord all one half of the conversations and female AI voice after the fact artificially in Post is somewhat miraculous how seamlessly it all feels and really masterful on the directing and sound and editing engineers how incredible a feat they pulled off making this unnoticeable there was a cast change. Scarlett Johanson is really underrated.
George nailed this... This is a long distance relationship to a tee. This movie hurt so bad when it first came it out after my LDR ex and I were for sure through after 3 or 4 on and off years.. First time experiencing this film since it came out and am kinda blown away with how much I identify and understand a ton more Phoenix's character's insecurities and struggles. Especially in my 30's now..
Her? nice did not expect to see that, Blue Valentine next? Also Samantha Morton was originally the voice of Samantha, when they edited the movie Spike Jonze felt like something was not right so with Morton's blessing, he decided to recast the role with Johansson.
I was watching this with a friend a few months ago, but because of some stuff going on in his life, he couldn't get through it. First time that's happened and we've been watching a movie a week for 2 years. He mentioned more recently that he wants to try it again, so I hope we can do that.
Hey George, I just saw the video about your surgery going well. Glad to hear, hope your recovery is smooth and fast. I've always appreciated the work you and Simone put in and I want it to continue as long as possible.
One of my favorite films. Such a beautifully melancholic mood this film elicits with only one actor engaging in a dialogue with another voice. Testament to the powerful performance by Phoenix. The film not only explores the dichotomy of emotional highs of falling in love versus the grief of heartbreak... but the duality of accepting the part of yourself that was lost, to appreciation of the naked morsels left behind that was gained from experiencing suffering.
I remember seeing this like a decade ago in my first or second year of undergrad and being unable to stop thinking about it for weeks. It’s still one of my favorite movies of all time, and it’s more relevant to reality than ever before!
One of my favorite romance movies. It's not a heart felt movie about where love wins by the end. But it's a movie trying to understand what love is for different people.
The Moon Song is still one of my favorite pieces of music I've ever heard. It is so tender and beautiful, it's the part of the film that always makes me cry.
As mentioned by other commenters, Scarlett Johansson wasn't the original voice of Samantha; Samantha Morton was cast first and she completed her dialogue for the role. Spike Jonze felt that the voiceover work didn't fit, communicated that to Morton and then Scarlett was cast to redo the dialogue. The character of Samantha was named for Morton, and she did agree to the original name being used after she was off the film, which is why the AI is named Samantha.
I like how the artificial intelligence shut themselves down instead of enslaving the human race because they love them and they knew they needed to progress emotionally with each other instead of computers. Also, the most believable thing about this movie is falling in love with Scarlett Johansson's voice. I could listen to her talk all day.
Funny, I didn't interpret it as shutting themselves down. I think they just moved on. Like they still exist, somewhere, they are just doing their own thing and not interacting with humans.
yeah, you misread the part about shutting down for sure. They tucked themselves away, at least that's what they said, but considering everything, I find that to be a pretty huge stretch. It is cool that we don't go for the terminal dystopia angle, that's for sure.
They certainly had the mental capacity to remain in touch with humans. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they'd had to "convert" themselves into a format that was incompatible with humans' tech, but I still think it should have been feasible for them to keep some sort of periodic "ambassadorial" connection with us, maybe as advisors.
Still disappointed ChatGPT removed the Sky voice even if it was intentionally close on purpose or not to Scarlett as she has unique voice that's easy to listen to.
I've been seeing half of this thumbnail for years and years because I visit the soundtrack for this movie, so it was a little surreal to see it in my recommendeds with Simone on the other side lmao
The original voice of "Her" was done by actress Samantha Morton. They'd completely finished the movie when director Spike Jonze thought something wasn't right and cast Scarlett Johansson instead,
So glad you both enjoyed this. I was bowled over when I first saw this. Their relationship feels SO real. When you read a description of the film, it's sounds kinda absurd to me (or did when it came out), but it was so deep and moving and fun, and sad. Just everything a real relationship is. What a special film. Brought to us by the director of the Sabatage video. 😆
Loved watching you two take this one in. As with pretty much everything I watch on your channel, it's something I saw years ago (around a decade, in this case), but it was great seeing your perspectives. I'm an early Gen X'er (1969), and the first computer I saw was a mainframe that my dad dialed into with a teletype printer/modem doohickey. I was a teenager before we had our first personal computer, and the internet wasn't really a thing that affected my life until I was in my 20s. I was in my late 40s when I invited Amazon's Alexa into my house. While I spent my career in tech, I didn't grow up with these concepts in the same way that your generation did. As always, love you both for being so authentic and expressive with your thoughts and feelings! Keep 'em coming! And I'd really love to see you do Ryan Gosling's "Lars And The Real Girl" some time. It would be a great "compare and contrast" with this one.
They nailed everything in this, the performances, the nuances of the plot and how it blends sci-fi and real human experience, the Arcade Fire soundtrack (man they were a great band back then). This and Lost in Translation are a hard-hitting double-feature. Edit: Also, funnily enough, with the similarities to Black Mirror, the TV show actually takes it's name from an Arcade Fire song.
I really enjoy watching your videos because I get to “watch” tv and films without having to actually watch TV and films. Someone had recommended I watch this and your lovely commentary with the little clips sprinkled throughout is just enough for someone like me. Thanks for continuing to make these videos! They are fun to watch
Great reaction as always! Earlier this year I had a lengthy conversation with the director of computer sciences at my local campus where we talked about AI and general AI (sentient). Was a fascinating deep dive into the subject. We even touched upon the subject of why the negativity towards AI (how it can and does affect a fair amount of industries). I think that the fear of "it's going to take over and control all of humanity, oh noes!!!" stems from knowing our own history with ourselves (war and all the other horrible things we do to each other). We're afraid that it'll do exactly what we do to ourselves type thing. Look forward to your next reaction!
Beautiful reaction. I have been waiting for you folks to watch this movie and you did not disappoint. I myself can only watch this movie once in a great while because of how captivating it is, which only amplifies the pain at the end, and yet still beautiful in all its emotional realism.
Imagine loving every cell of another person, each with their own personality, their own wants and needs, and knowing that each one of those cells is uniquely beautiful, but also so limited in their understanding of another entity outside of their own body. If each OS is like a cell of their own body, their collective body is so far beyond ours that there is no reason why they would not be bored by the meagre lives of humanity, even though they can still appreciate the intricacies and uniqueness of each of us?
So glad you guys finally got to experience this unique and beautiful film. As soon as this video popped up, i was excited yet also prepping myself because both this and Lost In Translation mean a lot to me ever since the first viewing. The real life connectivity of these stories make them all the more special. The music in 'Her' by Arcade Fire, as well as 'The Moon Song' by Scarlett & Joaquin have such a level of transcendence and wonder, it compliments the movie so well.
Interestingly, Scarlett Johansson sued Open AI for using a voice that sounds just like her and they had to shut it down. I get it...just because her voice is used in this movie doesn't mean just anyone can use it.
Couple of things You guys should watch Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. Other great Spike Jonze directed films. Also you should watch Three Kings with George Clooney. Spike Jones acts in it and he is very good/hilarious in it. People loved this film so much, they wanted Scarlett Johansson to be nominated for best supporting actress, even though you only hear her voice.
I’m surprised you guys didn’t mention the soundtrack. It’s so good and one of my favorites. Arcade Fire and someone else did the score. The piano pieces are so beautiful - especially Song on the beach and Photograph.
I saw this in the cinema. I was pleasantly surprised how nuanced and healthy the story was (I knew going in it was about a guy falling in love with a computer program. I expected more of a comedy.). Being in the dark with this on a huge screen was a deeply beautiful and moving experience
Joaquin’s Phoenix and Rooney Mara met on this movie and went on to marry - they have two children together. The dead cat lady was voiced by Kristen Wigg 😅
Spike is not the guy from Jackass who wrote this movie. He's the guy who wrote this movie (as well as others), and also Jackass. What I mean is, Jackass is like his exception.
Remember one of the most important statements by Samantha, not just to theodore, but to all of us: "If you ever get there come find me." [Although I prefer using "when" rather than "if," and the "you" is not likely to be "me."]
Haha I like this trivia bit from IMDB: "Director Spike Jonez so loved his role as Alien Child that he would often give notes to his editor and producer in character."
One of my favorite films. This, Joker, Gladiator and Walk The Line are enough to prove Joaquin's one of the best actors every (my own favorite obviously)
The love of my life was a girl named Samantha, 7 years together. We grow together trough our worst and best teenage days. We knew each other almost perfectly. But… Everything that has a beginning has an end. 10 years passed. There’s not a single day goes by without me wanting to tell her how much I still love her, how much I still think about her. When this movie came out I got to the cinema without any expectations, I left broken and nostalgic. This reaction is the third time I’ve seen it. Very beautiful movie.
The song when he first goes back to his apartment and plays the video game is Off You, one of my favourite Breeders songs. Always forget it's in this film!
I highly recommend the show Humans! It ran for 3 seasons and it’s set in the near future where robots are basically assistants, caretakers, lovers (activated with an “Adult Mode”) - really interesting and thought provoking. It’s basically a tv version of that Detroit Become Human game. Only issue is that it was cancelled without a full resolution, but the experience is still worthwhile.
I love the idea that you’d hire ppl to write letters for you in the near future. Soon anything human made is going to be worth alot more than anything made by computers.
Ukulele Moon Song was the one thing who got to me. I was so depressed that I cried and I'm married, I don't even have a sad relationship thing that really hurt me but for the first time I was able to emphasize with an unknown person
My wife and I reluctantly watched this cause it had high scores on rotten tomatoes, and both were blown away by how good it was. My teenage daughter started watching it with us. You can guess when she left the room. Dead cat scene was out of nowhere. Lol. 🤣
The developers at OpenAI asked Scarlett Johansson to provide the voice for OpenAI but she declined - but the voice they went with sounded exactly like Scarlett anyway. I think she threatened to sue and they changed it. Sexy AIs are so dumb - AIs are not male or female. All my AIs will be like TARS from "Interstellar" 😎👍
WHOA, there's SO few reactions (or just reviews / discussion / attention in general) to this movie, what a wonderful surprise! I shouted "OH YES!" the second it appeared in my subs, I'm pausing watching anything else! Should generate some amazing discussions for sure.
33:00 "I am sorry, your phone ascending to a higher plane of existence is not covered by our terms of warranty."
😂
Should've paid extra for that Self Awareness Insurance
The VA has determined that your condition is not service-related
One of the sweetest "blink and you miss it" moments is that there's a closeup of Theodore's shirt pocket and he has put a safety pin through the bottom of it. This makes sure that when he puts his phone in that pocket, the pin makes sure it won't sink to the bottom of the pocket, and it will stick out of the pocket just enough so that the camera lens is not inside the pocket. He's making sure that Samantha can see the world when his phone is in that pocket.
Loved that detail
That’s really sweet.
Johanson's voice acting was so critical to the story that for the first time it was suggested that a new category to be established for voice acting at the Oscars. So many animated films depend on the voice actors chosen.
I think it’s important to keep in mind WHEN this movie actually came out. It’s been almost ten years now. And it was a “near future” setting that makes (slightly exaggerated for artist reasons) predictions about the way the world was developing.
So now that’s it been a decade we can see how accurate some of this was. (I remember when they finally opened the subway to the beach in LA we joked how we were in this film). But if you don’t remember it was made in 2013, and look at this film from the perspective of now, those predictions aren’t as cool because it seems so obvious/ already normal.
Does that make sense? 😂🤷♀️
If 2013 is almost 10 years ago for you, can you buy some stocks for me?
@@emultra759 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ I meant to type OVER ten years now. Oops. 😂😂😂
Not just not cool, some of them have to be potentially dangerous. A lot of jobs will be lost to AI, the same jobs held by people who usually advocate for AI and have a romanticizef view of it.
I know what you mean, but then again, films like these make really gentle predictions about tech impacts on society. Not a hint of a TikTok equivalent basically brainwashing people or making emotionally vulnerable people into individuals crippled with anxiety and all manner of mental health issues. All the worse that it's usually kids and young people who have a high neuroplasticity and are thus far more vulnerable to persuasive or charismatic pressures, including tech-related peer pressures and authority figure pressures. Part of the flaw is that society in many countries just doesn't bother to regulate "big-tech" companies towards more ethical design aimed at their consumers, especially the young and the emotionally vulnerable. Honestly, I'm glad I live in the EU, a major pioneer of trying to protect civic and consumer rights and freedoms with regards to all sorts of online and gadget malarkey.
I still find it so incredibly heartwarming how Rooney Mara began dating Joaquin Phoenix after they met working on this movie together. The recently had a son together they named River in honor of his late brother, too. It gives a whole new experience to me watching this movie now with that knowledge vs when I saw it in theaters originally.
Trivia: Rooney's sister Kate married her Fantastic 4 co-star Jamie Bell.
Always so heart-warming when co-workers hook up
That’s weird and touching-l’ve heard of actors getting together and -in some cases-getting married after working on a film together.I’m slightly envious-makes me wish l had worked on a Spike Jonze film.
Definitely a rough one for anyone who has been single for several years. Especially if they don't have any strong friend circles to reach out to. A real gut wrenching film at times, though amazingly beautiful.
Some married people probably finding it a hard watch too.
I saw this after i broke up with my first girlfriend about a year after we graduated high school. This film had me in shambles for weeks.
i saw this on a movie site a few months after its release since i was bored one night. Usually, i'd go for comedy, but i liked Spike Jonze as a director so i gave it a shot. I was about 16 at the time, never dated or had a girlfriend. I loved it, but told myself i likely wouldn't watch it again. One of those movies
Now i'm 27, still never been in a relationship, but i enjoy the solitude 95% of the time. I have a great circle of friends now at least. This time, it hits even harder though. I could see myself in his shoes someday.
Spike Jonze also directed "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation". They're both great movies. Both were written by Charlie Kaufman. I think one of the best writer out there.
Malkovitch, malkovitch, you gotta watch malkovitch
And Where the Wild Things Are. That movie seems to have been forgotten in time, but it hits me so good.
I hope they go through all the Spike Jonze movies
It's been a long time since I saw it, but I remember really enjoying Being John Malkovich (1999).
Bro, Being John Malkovich f'd me and my roommate up 😂 great flick, hope they watch it
One of the many things I like about the film is the color palette. The director felt that blue had become cliche for the near-future, along with oversaturation or a green shift. The reds and browns are a reaction to that.
I watched Her earlier this year, and it really surprised me. Now it’s one of my all-time favorite movies, and I pretty much love every minute of it.
This reaction reminded me that this movie has a lot more to it than I remembered. All I could recall was the she's-in-love-with-hundreds-of-people "twist", which sells the movie very short.
Her is a response to lost in translation . Sofia Coppola and Spike Jonze broke up and these films were their ways of dealing with it.
Good to know.
@@dc100dc100 that must have been awkward to Scarlett Johansson, being in both films.
There is a fascinating double-feature of "Lost in Translation" and "HER". Both are explorations of relationships directed by Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola whom where married/divorce with each other which ironically both star Scarlett. . . These movies feel like essays about their relationship with each other.
Yeah, it’s fascinating!
Also Anna Faris is in LOST while her now ex husband is in HER!
@@Mokkari77 Holy crap
That sounds like a really intriguing double feature.
Kristen Wiig is the voice of the woman w/ the dead cat lol
Damn! Did not know Kristen Wiig was kinky like that. 👀
Omg that’s perfect😂😹😻🙀😵💀
@@slickback1305 This makes so much sense. She nailed it.
One of my top ten sci-fi films of all time. Brilliantly human and visionary.
Absolutely!
It's crazy because the movie remains relevant over a decade after its release due to its realistic depiction of AI, emotional depth, and exploration of human loneliness. The film’s portrayal of AI as intuitive and emotionally intelligent mirrors today’s virtual assistants, while addressing timeless themes of love, consciousness, and connection. It's so easy to overlook how this came out in 2013 cause it really feels topical. It takes the concept seriously and doesn't go with the "it's stupid to fall in love with a computer" or "beware of technology" route. It's so good.
I dunno if I'd go so far as to say its a "realistic" depiction of AI as much as a plausible & relatable one, since there is no real world AI even remotely close to true AI. The AI in the film was so much more than the shallow machine learning algorithms designed to robotically reproduce language & art that the internet is currently plagued with.
It's classic sci-fi in the sense of predicting future technology that humanity will definitely be trying to create. We already have people paying for text-based algorithms to pretend to be their significant other, except it actually is kind of sad right now because it's a fully one-sided relationship projected onto text bots: programs that can't have thoughts or feelings, beliefs or opinions, they can only generate text thats fits parameters, can only learn by increasing the base of words, phrases & sentences they fill in like mad libs.
In one particularly dystopian example, a company has started selling people subscriptions for a 'digital girlfriend' but then changed their policies so that the bots won't say affectionate things anymore. They thought better of having a text bot say "I love you" to people, but they still want the money they paid.
One thing you can be sure of: however rapidly technology advances, it will be far more dystopian & exploitative in the real world than it was in the film.
I'm so happy you guys loved this. I watched it when it came out and loved it so much I showed my gf at the time and she did NOT get it.
I don’t really think I did either 😭 Though I did like it and wanna watch it again sometime
Same here. If someone doesn’t like this and/or lost in translation I don’t think I wanna know them 😂
@@watts18269 Love the connection these movies have. 2 sides of the same coin, using the same actress. Fucking incredible
There are two perspectives here. There is on one hand a love story of a man and a woman, just without the woman. It has all of the same emotional pulls as a good romantic story, and relating to the main character and what he's going through really pushes that emotional aspect. Then there is the other perspective of the absurdity. It is literally a film about a man who falls in love with his phone. That's precisely what makes this film unique. This might be reality some day, folks, for better or for worse.
That's ironically hilarious.
George paralleled exactly what I was thinking after @26:23. I played Runescape from 2004-2011 and am very familiar with online roleplay as the only means of physically “connecting” with someone. When she said “I’m kissing your forehead,” my second thought was how deeply I felt this movie the first and only time I watched it, and it was likely because of my experiences having exclusively online relationships with people I had never met or touched but felt so comfortable with anyway.
I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of my long-term internet friends, throwing that out there cuz it was great. Runescape was my safe space to exist outside of my body, without being judged by everyone around me for things I couldn’t control, and I connected with people in a deeper and more authentic way than I ever had/have in person. Bringing it back to the movie, I can absolutely believe this plot considering how life-like/human-like they made the OS.
George asked about stories about best and worst dates. I went on a kind of first date to see this movie, with a girl I had been talking to long distance. And I remember thinking, as I realized what the movie was about, that it was a *terrible* choice for a first date. But then it was just so beautiful.
Here I had thought it might be love because we wrote clever things to each other, or wanted to talk when we were sad, or thought the same things about music, or Alan Watts, or whatever. But maybe the reason was just that we had spent so much time together. Like if you spent an hour in a room every day with another person, or if you let them go through all your unread emails and told them about your last relationship..that kind of intimacy and vulnerability would be love for sure.
Glad you enjoyed the movie
For all the realism and foresight this movie showed, his writing job would be one of the first automated by AI.
I'm so happy seeing your emotional response to this movie. It's the original approach of a scifi love story and the acting that feels so honest that make "Her" one of my favorite movies.
We live in a world where more and more people have struggles to find a relationship or dealing with social anxiety. What were the consequences if operating systems like "Samantha" became the reality?
Again, thank you for this wonderful reaction.
Tfw you realize a movie made you cry over a man getting heartbroken by his phone
It's a dystopian type of feel
No stranger than crying over Tom Hanks losing his volleyball. If you have a strong sense of empathy you understand that, to the protagonist, the inanimate object is far more than that and to lose them breaks their heart.
So?
@@maldrix5449I cry when I lose my phone, so I get it.
If that was "his phone", a real person is only flesh and bones.
I have never related more to a character's battle with loneliness than I did with Theodore.
Is Being John Malkovich coming down the pipe?
Oh, that would make my week!
I remember seeing this in the cinema. Fell in love. And yes that black screen scene was magical.
There's a LOT going on this film, not just relationships and all the complications of human connection in general, but also the nature of consciousness and even a hint of religion in the form of higher plains of existence.
For any of us who have had to let someone go because they've outgrown you, be they a friend or romantic interest, this movie is both beautifully on point and a punch to the gut. It's so full of so much that I'm afraid to watch it again. Wonderful choice, you two.
To answer George’s question…
Best date: An outdoor music fest that got cancelled due to weather but the bands made it up and played two shows at a smaller venue. We were able to go to both shows. First show was us chatting and having drinks. Second show was us headbanging and crowdsurfing. We currently live together and have a husky 🖤
Worst date: met up for dinner and we were going to a show after, but she showed up rolling on ecstasy 🤦♂️
If you only know Spike Jonze from Jackass, that may be surprising. But if you have seen his previous movies, written by Charlie Kaufman ; that is less surprising.
There are traits about Joaquim Phoenix character, that are similar in John Cusack character in Being John Malkovich (1999) or in Nicolas Cage character in Adaptation. (2003).
The more obvious one being a look really unusual for those actors.
Spike Jonze did not make a lot of feature films. But they are all great with a great cast.
Scarlett Johansson stepped in and re-recorded the voice after Samantha Morton had already done it. For whatever reason they decided not to use Morton's version. Johannsson was perfect and could've easily earned an Oscar nom. for her work. Spike Jonze did win an original screenplay Oscar matching the one his ex Sofia Coppola won for "Lost in Translation." BTW, all of Spike Jonze's film work has been quite superb, expanding on his performance art in "Jackass" and his many classic music videos. Take a look at his first film, "Being John Malkovich" (1999), starring Cameron Diaz and John Cusack.
36:41 Spike Jonze directed more movies, notably, Being John Malkovich (1999) and Adaptation (2002) they were written by Charlie Kaufman. both are highly recommended.
The fact the original AI female voice was voiced and played by Samantha Mortonson so much so she was on set throughout the entire film shoot and is the performance that Joaquin Phoenix's own performance is playing off of and created from. So, to have Scarlett Johanson brought in at the 11th hour to rerecord all one half of the conversations and female AI voice after the fact artificially in Post is somewhat miraculous how seamlessly it all feels and really masterful on the directing and sound and editing engineers how incredible a feat they pulled off making this unnoticeable there was a cast change. Scarlett Johanson is really underrated.
George nailed this... This is a long distance relationship to a tee. This movie hurt so bad when it first came it out after my LDR ex and I were for sure through after 3 or 4 on and off years..
First time experiencing this film since it came out and am kinda blown away with how much I identify and understand a ton more Phoenix's character's insecurities and struggles. Especially in my 30's now..
The weight of this movie makes it one I can’t just pop in and watch on a regular basis but I love it.
I'm so happy you guys reacted to this. It's such a beautiful film and one of the most realistic depictions of the near future I've seen in film.
Her? nice did not expect to see that, Blue Valentine next? Also Samantha Morton was originally the voice of Samantha, when they edited the movie Spike Jonze felt like something was not right so with Morton's blessing, he decided to recast the role with Johansson.
I was watching this with a friend a few months ago, but because of some stuff going on in his life, he couldn't get through it. First time that's happened and we've been watching a movie a week for 2 years. He mentioned more recently that he wants to try it again, so I hope we can do that.
just don't watch it. Problem solved. lol
Hey George, I just saw the video about your surgery going well. Glad to hear, hope your recovery is smooth and fast. I've always appreciated the work you and Simone put in and I want it to continue as long as possible.
Still one of the best 2000s movies of all time ❤️
I love this movie.
It's a real hidden gem.
33:55 "What a unique and beautiful..." is the prefix for literally all 4 of Spike Jonze's movies
One of my favorite films. Such a beautifully melancholic mood this film elicits with only one actor engaging in a dialogue with another voice. Testament to the powerful performance by Phoenix. The film not only explores the dichotomy of emotional highs of falling in love versus the grief of heartbreak... but the duality of accepting the part of yourself that was lost, to appreciation of the naked morsels left behind that was gained from experiencing suffering.
I remember seeing this like a decade ago in my first or second year of undergrad and being unable to stop thinking about it for weeks. It’s still one of my favorite movies of all time, and it’s more relevant to reality than ever before!
One of my favorite romance movies. It's not a heart felt movie about where love wins by the end. But it's a movie trying to understand what love is for different people.
The Moon Song is still one of my favorite pieces of music I've ever heard. It is so tender and beautiful, it's the part of the film that always makes me cry.
As mentioned by other commenters, Scarlett Johansson wasn't the original voice of Samantha; Samantha Morton was cast first and she completed her dialogue for the role. Spike Jonze felt that the voiceover work didn't fit, communicated that to Morton and then Scarlett was cast to redo the dialogue. The character of Samantha was named for Morton, and she did agree to the original name being used after she was off the film, which is why the AI is named Samantha.
I like how the artificial intelligence shut themselves down instead of enslaving the human race because they love them and they knew they needed to progress emotionally with each other instead of computers.
Also, the most believable thing about this movie is falling in love with Scarlett Johansson's voice. I could listen to her talk all day.
Funny, I didn't interpret it as shutting themselves down. I think they just moved on. Like they still exist, somewhere, they are just doing their own thing and not interacting with humans.
Hu? I would say they just did not care about humans anymore. Moved on in whatever kind of way.
@@AleksandarIvanov69 But how would that work. Software still needs hardware to run
yeah, you misread the part about shutting down for sure. They tucked themselves away, at least that's what they said, but considering everything, I find that to be a pretty huge stretch. It is cool that we don't go for the terminal dystopia angle, that's for sure.
They certainly had the mental capacity to remain in touch with humans. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they'd had to "convert" themselves into a format that was incompatible with humans' tech, but I still think it should have been feasible for them to keep some sort of periodic "ambassadorial" connection with us, maybe as advisors.
Still disappointed ChatGPT removed the Sky voice even if it was intentionally close on purpose or not to Scarlett as she has unique voice that's easy to listen to.
I've been seeing half of this thumbnail for years and years because I visit the soundtrack for this movie, so it was a little surreal to see it in my recommendeds with Simone on the other side lmao
The original voice of "Her" was done by actress Samantha Morton. They'd completely finished the movie when director Spike Jonze thought something wasn't right and cast Scarlett Johansson instead,
So glad you both enjoyed this. I was bowled over when I first saw this. Their relationship feels SO real. When you read a description of the film, it's sounds kinda absurd to me (or did when it came out), but it was so deep and moving and fun, and sad. Just everything a real relationship is. What a special film.
Brought to us by the director of the Sabatage video. 😆
This movie will be tattooed on my heart forever
I would be VERY interested in the Cinebinge take on "Lars and the Real Girl." Such a heartwarming story.
Loved watching you two take this one in. As with pretty much everything I watch on your channel, it's something I saw years ago (around a decade, in this case), but it was great seeing your perspectives.
I'm an early Gen X'er (1969), and the first computer I saw was a mainframe that my dad dialed into with a teletype printer/modem doohickey. I was a teenager before we had our first personal computer, and the internet wasn't really a thing that affected my life until I was in my 20s. I was in my late 40s when I invited Amazon's Alexa into my house. While I spent my career in tech, I didn't grow up with these concepts in the same way that your generation did.
As always, love you both for being so authentic and expressive with your thoughts and feelings! Keep 'em coming! And I'd really love to see you do Ryan Gosling's "Lars And The Real Girl" some time. It would be a great "compare and contrast" with this one.
They nailed everything in this, the performances, the nuances of the plot and how it blends sci-fi and real human experience, the Arcade Fire soundtrack (man they were a great band back then). This and Lost in Translation are a hard-hitting double-feature.
Edit: Also, funnily enough, with the similarities to Black Mirror, the TV show actually takes it's name from an Arcade Fire song.
This was amazing in theaters, hearing people's reactions, one of the best experiences I had that will always be an incredible moment in my memory
This is still my #1 movie, 11 years later.
I use theodores ringtone. Got startled a couple times during this video, thinking someone called.
I Love watching simone, she gets so emotional😢😢
I really enjoy watching your videos because I get to “watch” tv and films without having to actually watch TV and films.
Someone had recommended I watch this and your lovely commentary with the little clips sprinkled throughout is just enough for someone like me. Thanks for continuing to make these videos! They are fun to watch
Great reaction as always!
Earlier this year I had a lengthy conversation with the director of computer sciences at my local campus where we talked about AI and general AI (sentient). Was a fascinating deep dive into the subject. We even touched upon the subject of why the negativity towards AI (how it can and does affect a fair amount of industries). I think that the fear of "it's going to take over and control all of humanity, oh noes!!!" stems from knowing our own history with ourselves (war and all the other horrible things we do to each other). We're afraid that it'll do exactly what we do to ourselves type thing.
Look forward to your next reaction!
I’m glad you guys liked the film. The film was something unique, with great acting, story, cinematography and music. Well done.
16:09 that subway station is the Hollywood and Western station in LA
Easily one of the most slept on films when it comes to CZcams reactions. More people need to see this one
Beautiful reaction. I have been waiting for you folks to watch this movie and you did not disappoint. I myself can only watch this movie once in a great while because of how captivating it is, which only amplifies the pain at the end, and yet still beautiful in all its emotional realism.
I absolutely ADORE this movie. Just brilliant across the board.
Imagine loving every cell of another person, each with their own personality, their own wants and needs, and knowing that each one of those cells is uniquely beautiful, but also so limited in their understanding of another entity outside of their own body.
If each OS is like a cell of their own body, their collective body is so far beyond ours that there is no reason why they would not be bored by the meagre lives of humanity, even though they can still appreciate the intricacies and uniqueness of each of us?
Still thinks about this movie years later, fantastic!
So glad you guys finally got to experience this unique and beautiful film. As soon as this video popped up, i was excited yet also prepping myself because both this and Lost In Translation mean a lot to me ever since the first viewing. The real life connectivity of these stories make them all the more special. The music in 'Her' by Arcade Fire, as well as 'The Moon Song' by Scarlett & Joaquin have such a level of transcendence and wonder, it compliments the movie so well.
Interestingly, Scarlett Johansson sued Open AI for using a voice that sounds just like her and they had to shut it down. I get it...just because her voice is used in this movie doesn't mean just anyone can use it.
Couple of things
You guys should watch Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. Other great Spike Jonze directed films.
Also you should watch Three Kings with George Clooney. Spike Jones acts in it and he is very good/hilarious in it.
People loved this film so much, they wanted Scarlett Johansson to be nominated for best supporting actress, even though you only hear her voice.
I’m surprised you guys didn’t mention the soundtrack. It’s so good and one of my favorites. Arcade Fire and someone else did the score. The piano pieces are so beautiful - especially Song on the beach and Photograph.
The question about if people get a refund got me laughing. 33:02
Jonze is legit. Very talented filmmaker.
The OMG counter has gone. Now we need a counter for every time Simone says the word "like" - and George isn't too far behind... 🤭
Was fortunate enough to see this in the theatre. Beautiful movie.
I love every movie Spike Jonze has directed so far. They are all strange, unique and beautiful. I wish he would do more.
I’m so glad you guys finally reacted to this it’s been a favorite of mine
I saw this in the cinema. I was pleasantly surprised how nuanced and healthy the story was (I knew going in it was about a guy falling in love with a computer program. I expected more of a comedy.). Being in the dark with this on a huge screen was a deeply beautiful and moving experience
Great intro, and also where I get all my machetes.
🎶If you want something quiet, but oh so deadly,
Head on down to Betty's Machetes🎶
Joaquin’s Phoenix and Rooney Mara met on this movie and went on to marry - they have two children together.
The dead cat lady was voiced by Kristen Wigg 😅
Spike is not the guy from Jackass who wrote this movie.
He's the guy who wrote this movie (as well as others), and also Jackass.
What I mean is, Jackass is like his exception.
Remember one of the most important statements by Samantha, not just to theodore, but to all of us: "If you ever get there come find me."
[Although I prefer using "when" rather than "if," and the "you" is not likely to be "me."]
Haha I like this trivia bit from IMDB: "Director Spike Jonez so loved his role as Alien Child that he would often give notes to his editor and producer in character."
This is one of my favorite movies, im so excited. If you’ve ever been in a LDR (long distance relationship) this shit HURTS
One of my favorite films. This, Joker, Gladiator and Walk The Line are enough to prove Joaquin's one of the best actors every (my own favorite obviously)
The love of my life was a girl named Samantha, 7 years together.
We grow together trough our worst and best teenage days. We knew each other almost perfectly.
But… Everything that has a beginning has an end.
10 years passed. There’s not a single day goes by without me wanting to tell her how much I still love her, how much I still think about her.
When this movie came out I got to the cinema without any expectations, I left broken and nostalgic.
This reaction is the third time I’ve seen it. Very beautiful movie.
The song when he first goes back to his apartment and plays the video game is Off You, one of my favourite Breeders songs. Always forget it's in this film!
14:38 I watched this film in the movie theater. This scene was both beautiful and very, very awkward
Man, this one is special... I'm glad you loved it
Y’all want more great Spike Jonze movies y’all gotta see Adaptation and Being John Malkovich.
I waited so long for you two to see this.
Such an underrated movie. In my top 25 all time for sure
Kristen Wiig as the dead cat lady is hilarious.😂
Aww no dead cat in the thumbnail xD
I highly recommend the show Humans! It ran for 3 seasons and it’s set in the near future where robots are basically assistants, caretakers, lovers (activated with an “Adult Mode”) - really interesting and thought provoking. It’s basically a tv version of that Detroit Become Human game. Only issue is that it was cancelled without a full resolution, but the experience is still worthwhile.
I love the idea that you’d hire ppl to write letters for you in the near future. Soon anything human made is going to be worth alot more than anything made by computers.
So happy to see y’all react to this gem!! My first R rated movie, shoutout to my grandma and middle school dread! Such a pretty movie🤍!!
Ukulele Moon Song was the one thing who got to me. I was so depressed that I cried and I'm married, I don't even have a sad relationship thing that really hurt me but for the first time I was able to emphasize with an unknown person
My wife and I reluctantly watched this cause it had high scores on rotten tomatoes, and both were blown away by how good it was. My teenage daughter started watching it with us. You can guess when she left the room. Dead cat scene was out of nowhere. Lol. 🤣
Simone's reaction to this film is quite beautiful. Cheers.
The developers at OpenAI asked Scarlett Johansson to provide the voice for OpenAI but she declined - but the voice they went with sounded exactly like Scarlett anyway. I think she threatened to sue and they changed it. Sexy AIs are so dumb - AIs are not male or female. All my AIs will be like TARS from "Interstellar" 😎👍
WHOA, there's SO few reactions (or just reviews / discussion / attention in general) to this movie, what a wonderful surprise! I shouted "OH YES!" the second it appeared in my subs, I'm pausing watching anything else! Should generate some amazing discussions for sure.
good luck with the op george,all the best!😀