Critics Really Love “Her” (Short Review)

Her Phoenix Her, the new film starring Joaquin Phoenix and written and directed by Spike Jonze, is garnering very good reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes currently gives the film a 93% critics rating (and 87% audience rating). The movie was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. It does address an interesting concept and I enjoyed much of the story, but I was not as overwhelmed as the critics.

Her takes place in the not-to-distant future where we know it is the future because people do not wear belts but they do wear mustaches. Phoenix stars as a writer named Theodore Twombly going through a divorce who falls in love with the advanced operating system on his cell phone, voiced by Scarlett Johansson.

I have admired movies by Jonze since Being John Malkovich (1999), and he does an excellent job here of capturing a world that is recognizable but slightly different from ours. The film also raises interesting questions about artificial intelligence and human relationships, addressing more immediate problems raised by computers than what we see in other science fiction films like Terminator. I enjoyed the characterization by Phoenix and the voice work by Johansson. And Amy Adams does a great job here too. But my one complaint about the film was that there was not enough there to keep me entertained for two hours. I never became invested in Phoenix’s character enough to stay entertained. For me, the movie could have told the same story in ninety minutes or less.

Conclusion? Most people are enjoying this film, so maybe you will too. For me, I enjoyed a lot of the movie but it could not keep me from looking at my watch several times. Still, Her raises some interesting issues that might lead you to further discussions with your friends.

Bonus Parody Video: This weekend on Saturday Night Live, host Jonah Hill (with a little help from Micheal Cera) did a funny parody with the preview for the movie Me. Check it out.

Did you like Her? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    New “Man of Steel” Trailer

    man of steel

    On April 18, 1938, Superman made his first appearance in Action Comics No. 1. Just in time for his 75th birthday, we have the new trailer for Man of Steel (2013), which has me excited about the upcoming Superman movie. The trailer shows young Clark Kent struggling to find his identity, beginning with the young child being held by his Krypton father Jor-el played by Russell Crowe and talking to his earthly father played by Kevin Costner.

    With Henry Cavill as the adult Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Michael Shannon as General Zod, the new Zach Snyder film shows a lot of promise for the franchise that has not had a great film since the last time we saw Superman battle General Zod in Superman II in 1980. Check out the trailer.

    Man of Steel comes to your local theater on June 14.

    What is your favorite Superman film? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Full “Man of Steel” Trailer

    The new full trailer for Man of Steel (2013) has been released. From the trailer, you can see that the latest Superman movie takes us back to the origin story. Some have compared the look of the trailer to Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life (2011), but the music with the images make me think of Gladiator (2000), which starred Russell Crowe who just happens to play Jor-El in Man of Steel. Check it out.

    Man of Steel is directed by Zack Snider and stars Henry Cavill as Superman and Clark Kent. Others in the movie include Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Kevin Kostner as Jonathan Kent. General Zod from Superman II (1980) returns in this film and is played by Michael Shannon. Man of Steel is scheduled to be released on June 14, 2013, so you only have six months to wait for yet another reboot of a film about a classic superhero.

    Will you see Man of Steel? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Can You Catch Frank William Abagnale Jr.?

    to tell the truth abagnale Many know of Frank William Abagnale, Jr. because he was played by Leonardo DiCaprio in Director Steven Spielberg’s movie Catch Me If You Can (2002), which also starred Tom Hanks, Amy Adams, and Christopher Walken. As portrayed in the film, Abagnale was on the run from the FBI in the 1960s, after he started as a young man passing bad checks and impersonating people around the country. Later, Abagnale went on to work for the FBI.

    You can see what the real person looked like, as well as test yourself on whether you can spot him, by watching this 1977 episode of To Tell the Truth. For those who do not remember the television show, the premise is that someone of note appears on the show with two imposters. A panel of celebrities ask the three people questions and then try to determine who is the real person.

    The twist with Abagnale’s episode was that he was an imposter who was playing himself for once. Can you figure out which one is him?

    How long did it take you to figure out which man was Frank William Abagnale Jr.? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Leap Year: Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

    february calendar leap year If you are wondering why we have the Leap Day of February 29 every four years, it is all about keeping the calendar lined up with the earth and the sun. If Leap Day is your birthday, then unlike every other day where the birthday odds are approximately 1 in 365, the odds of being born on today’s date is 1 in 1,461. If you are curious about the tradition of women proposing to men on this day, then you should thank St. Bridget and Sadie Hawkins, the latter who was from a Li’l Abner cartoon.

    If you are looking for a movie to watch for Leap Day, there is always Leap Year (2010), a light romantic comedy with Amy Adams and Adam Scott that is not terrible. But the critics hated it.

    Finally, if you are looking for an excellent song to go with the day, there is Billy Bragg’s song “Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards” from Workers Playtime (1988).

    Jumble sales are organized and pamphlets have been posted,
    Even after closing time there’s still parties to be hosted;
    You can be active with the activists,
    Or sleep in with the sleepers
    While you’re waiting for the Great Leap Forwards;
    One leap forwards, two leaps back,
    Will politics get me the sack?

    Bragg’s excellent song is about getting involved instead of just waiting or sleeping “with the sleepers.” As such, it might remind one of the connection between Leap Years and U.S. presidential elections, both which happen every four years.

    Occasionally, we have an election year that is also not a Leap Year. But that will not happen again until we make a great leap forwards to 2100. Leap Years skip on years on turns of the century that are not divisible by 400, like 1900.

    So enjoy the extra day this month. And remember, if you are on an annual salary, you are working for free on Leap Day. If you think that is unfair, remember as Bragg reminds us, “The Revolution is just a t-shirt away.”

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