January 29, 2014
Jordanit (Obstruer
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what I loved most was the in­
sights it offered about the nature
decides to give it a whirl; the ad of intimacy itself, about how and
proclaims, "It’s not just an OS - why people connect and what
it's a consciousness" which func­ causes relationships to blossom
tions by intuition.
and fade.
And so it does. After answer­
It helps that the film stays
ing a few unrevealing questions, grounded in Theodore's em o­
Theodore meets Samantha, his tional experience. His best pal,
new OS (lusciously voiced by Aimee (a luminous Amy Adams),
Scarlett Johanson). She chooses doesn't blanche when he tells her
her name in a nanosecond after he has fallen in love with his OS,
perusing thousands of prospects, remarking that falling in love is
then proceeds to deftly organize always a "socially acceptable form
Theodore's emails (pausing to of insanity."
laugh at his jokes sprinkled
Samantha, while not particu­
throughout) and peruse his hard larly needy, struggles a bit with
drive, with his permission, for her lack of a physical body, and
other ways to assist him. It’s an proposes a solution that creates
amusing start to a relationship some dissonance for the pair; that
that soon grows warm and inti­ dissonance som ehow echoes
mate.
other, more familiar relationship
Samantha quickly adopts a struggles. The bigger challenge,
rather gendered role-she is a quick also resonant, is Samantha's rap­
study, after all. She cheerfully idly evolving inner life: how can
manages Theodore's responsibili­ their relationship survive when
ties, encourages him to date, im­ she can carry on hundreds of con­
proves his performance in his fa­ versations while talking with
vorite electronic game, and as­ Theodore, and where his rivals
serts no emotional needs of her for her affection include an OS-
own. It helps that Theodore created reincarnation of a famous
doesn't have his guard up in the Zen philosopher?
way he likely would with an actual
Along the way, Theodore
woman (to whom he would be makes himself vulnerable in a way
unlikely to offer immediate access he apparently has not before, even
to his hard drive).
with the former wife whom he
Somehow this manages not to clearly loved deeply. His emo­
seem creepy. Director Jones cre­ tional journey with Samantha ends
ates a very plausible future world up involving the kind of risk-tak­
whose links to the present are ing that is, usually easy to avoid,
comfortably clear but that is alien e.ven (especially?) with other hu­
enough to bring mundane rela­ mans. Phoenix conveys that in­
tionship struggles into bold re­ creasing vulnerability profoundly,
lief.
particularly in a scene when he
Theodore goes on a date with a finds that Samantha is unreach­
real woman, at Samantha's urging, able and he literally falls on his
and the artificiality and dissem­ face trying to locate her.
bling characteristic of dating is
Ultimately, Theodore finds that
painfully apparent and familiar. In his relationship with Samantha
comparison, it makes sense when helps him to put his marriage into
he responds g rate fu lly to proper perspective and teaches
Samantha's attention and when him to love in a way he hadn't
she, eager to learn everything known before. I expect that many
about what it means to be human, will find, as I did, that this lovely
seeks out something that feels and heartfelt film manages to hold
more like intimacy than what a mirror up to longings and inner
Theodore's experiences with hu­ struggles that we mostly keep to
man women have recently offered ourselves.
him.
Darleen Ortega is a judge on the
The film offers some playful Oregon Court o f Appeals and the
suggestions about where our re­ first woman o f color to serve in that
lationship with technology might capacity. Her movie review column
well be headed that are perhaps Opinionated Judge appears regu­
more prophetic than the apoca­ larly in The Portland Observer. You
lyptic futures imagined in the "Ter­ can fin d her movie blog at
minator" and "Matrix" films. But opinionatedjudge. blogspot. com.
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 9
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