Before we begin let us celebrate the coming of another Spike Jonze movie and one that has the prestigious closing night gala spot at the NYFF this year. Jonze has yet to make anything less than very memorable (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Where the Wild Things Are not to menion numerous iconic music videos).
Let us also bask in the saturated colorogy of Her's poster
Mmmmm never have I loved reds bleeding into pinks before... perhaps it's the hypnotic turquoise of Joaquin's eyes? They're like pools of inviting water thatinduce hypothermia once you've dove in. They're so hypnotic I didn't even notice the mustache and I hate face carpet unless it's evenly spaced about the room. (in other words: beards are fine)
But we are here for the trailer and our Yes No Maybe So verdicts (after the jump)
YES
- "A Spike Jonze Love Story" is enough to sell me
- Even in condensed trailer form it looks bewitching and melancholy with a resonant sidewise jab at our communal dependance on technological crutches instead of human interaction.
- I was sad when they recast "Samantha" (Scarlett Johansson) but she sounds delicious. More and more I'm sensing this is a real breakthrough year for Scarlett in terms of gaining back her rep as a Gifted Actress.
- "How would you touch me?" ...perhaps very much. It looks suspiciously like something that will become hundreds of people's instant favorite... which is a scary lot to live up to
- Cinematography by the very awesome Hoyte Van Hoytema (Let the Right One In, Tinker Tailor)
NO
- Charlie Kauffman didn't write this. Sadface. With mustache to underline it. (not that Jonze isn't a good writer but I was hoping they'd be in tandem again, especially with such a rich premise)
- Rooney Mara is smiling again. What is happening to the world?
- Um... no, sorry, I got no "No"s. I'm just babbling to come up with some. No wait I do have one...
- That damn mustache!
Joaquin readies himself for our new banner
MAYBE SO
- If Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde are only there to facilitate Joaquin's emotional arc, that would be annoying. They'd better have some inner life of their own because...
- Two hours is a long time to spend with Joaquin Phoenix.
- This could get really bogged down in self-pity and tweeness... though Jonze usually avoids those cliché emotional and stylistic traps in his films
- If this is furiously beloved by critics I can see Sideways Part Two coming with all the late year editorials complaining that critics loved it specifically because they are so much like its protagonist: middle aged white men with social and dating problems who spend a lot of time online. I'm not looking forward to these editorials which will probably be as mean as this.
Are you ready to fall for Her? Yes, no, or maybe so?