journal features

movie review - Her

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2014.05.07

This is a science fiction film about a fellow who falls in love with a synthetic intelligent that's partially resident in his "phone". As the story unfolds, it's clear that "her" completely eclipses him, and in fact that she's at any time involved in unlimited conversations and has fallen in love with several (several!) others. What I liked about this is that rather than get distracted by what the AI's are up to - they eventually decide to leave Earth - they keep the story focused on the relationship as the human struggles to get his head/heart around what's happening.

Recommended.

rand()m quote

The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov