Film: Her

There are two ways how to watch Oscar-nominated films: 1) pre-Oscars to predict the winners and 2) post-Oscars to confirm the winners. I like the latter. :)

Her's only win in the Oscar, Original Screenplay, is the category where the film has won other awards. The description for the film is it is a story in which a man falls in love with a computer and is marketed as a love story. The boulderdash and incomprehensible irony screams. It is not something you would want to watch. Kinda lame and sad, like those real people who really do. Yet, after winning Oscars, might as well give it a shot.

I saw why after watching the film. Among the entries, Her has the most novel storyline. It has the prefect balance of depth, entertainment and quality. It is not epic material but it is not a dumb, in-your-face film. It's just right. Although, it disrupted the the psyche and cliche of love stories. It brought deepness and connection better than the usuals.

Set in the near-future, kinda advanced metropolis, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) is a lonely, introvert guy who got recently separated with his wife Catherine (Rooney Mara). He works at a handwritten letter service where they write letters for people. He came across an ad for OS1, an operating system that provides an advanced artificial intelligence who can process, talk, and think like humans and develops the personality by aggregated information from humans. Theodore got one in the name of Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). The relationship deepened as Samantha goes beyond being programmed.

Spike Jonze really outdid himself. For a first time of solo screenwriting, he made such a good start. The story actually is what made the film worthwhile but the script is exquisite. It is natural and easy to follow, with a little cheesiness (well, which love story doesn't have?) that in some unknowable way, hit straight to the feelings. I find myself laughing in some parts. The ending led me to so many questions that went unexplained, but like love, it is best not to know everything in the end. The geek talk has been kept to minimum, if not none. Jonze focused on the love story, despite the call for explanations on the process of the OS. The script is not to highfalutin or magnanimous yet not too simple. Again, just right. It may have not won awards in different aspects, but I believe this will be a film that will be remembered.

Another good thing is that Jonze also directed the film. Most of the good films are written and directed by the same person. One can tell the story the way it was supposed to be when being written. His direction was within standards, although a lot more coordination must be enhanced for him to have a statuette himself. Cinematography and scoring-wise, it was not outstanding. The music did not match the loneliness the scenes called for. The composed songs, however, were good. Editing was good, it kept itself consistent to a theme. I like the mute scenes that simulate memories. Sound editing helped keep the film classy.

To keep with the 2025 era, and to lead the story to the reveal of the OS, the film made so many references to technology: such as voice-activated devices, 3D desktop interface, etc. Also the production design made it a bit more futuristic starting from the elevator to interior design. Make-up and costume failed at some areas, though. It became a hybrid of 80s and the future with the costume design.

Joaquin Phoenix deserves a praise in his acting. I can feel the awkwardness and loneliness in his character, may it be speaking or not. He could improve in nuances, though. Scarlett Johansson has never been sexier than ever. She added spice to the film with her bedroom voice that made one yearn for the scenes with her. It must be hard to be acting when you are not exactly in the scene but she managed to successfully. Hands down, Phoenix and Johansson's love scene - best love scene ever. :) Notable was Rooney Mara, who in brief moments, stole some scenes with her charm and acting. Sadly, Amy Adams took a step back in this film, which provided as a good support. Coming from Doubt, I was hoping for more.

Yeah, Her is worth your time and dime. It is the love story that will leave an ache even after watching even if you never saw the leading lady. For single people who's been single for a long time, this is it. A preview to the future. Falling in love with your computer sounds sad and crazy but everyone who falls in love is crazy - the only allowable amount of insanity for everyone.

Film: Frozen

I rarely watch animated films. I have to make sure, if it's animated, it will serve me its best purpose: to entertain the child in me. While the child in me is also critical when it comes to filmmaking, I give it a shot to watch animated films with a pure childish heart. I haven't failed so far with my selection of animated films; well, most of them are Oscar winner or nominee. I've enjoyed Hayao Miyazaki's films, especially Spirited Away. Disney-Pixar, no matter what everyone - including myself - says about the company, still makes the best animated films. Not always, though.

So when Frozen came, I had doubts watching it. I did not enjoy Tangled and Brave that much and I think this might be of the same line. Yet, there had been a big hoopla on the film's original song, Let It Go, so as the other songs. The film has also won in Golden Globe, BAFTA and Critics' Choice, so as the song. The film and the song got nods from the Academy.

So I watched it and thank God I did. Disney did not fail me. Noticeable is the great screenplay by Jennifer Lee. Although it's animated, and usually for kids, the script was not forced. The lines were fresh and not cliche. The storyline is not your usual fairy tales. I love that the film's romantic angle is just right and the film has centered on sisterhood love. Nothing was out of place and the plot was very fluid. While watching though, I thought Olaf the snowman was just a deus ex machina and was not really necessary. Yet, the snowman was made value-adding to the script. Even some of the witty antics was from him. Though, Disney has resorted back to its recipe of lead love team (or couple of persons) with a team of talking or moving animals or creatures.

The characters were really given a big thought. It's hard to create a story for two strong heroines and with almost no villain. Yet the film made sense. Anna and Elsa are two different princesses. I like the fact that the girl characters are not made to be your usual fairy-tale princesses. It was enjoyable as a child and as a moviegoer.

For me, the most outstanding part of the film were the songs composed by husband-and-wife songwriting team Robert and Kristen Lopez. My favorite are the arrangements of "First Time in Forever". I particularly love the counterpoint parts. Of course, among the voice actors, laudable are Idina Menzel (Elsa) and Kristen Bell (Anna). All the songs are actually great and fresh. The better version of Let It Go (as opposed to the one in the closing credits) sung by Menzel in the film has been garnering awards from different award-giving bodies. I think, being the only song closer to pop rather than broadway, the song was composed to have a signature song. Nonetheless, it's terrific. And it's trending because it sings of a feeling few composers would write about: loneliness - a feeling most people now can relate to.

I loved the ending. It really warmed my heart. For a film titled "Frozen", warmth can be felt through the story. I say it's worth your time and dime.

Forecast: It will win Oscars for the Original Song and maybe for the Animated Feature. Remember, Skyfall by Adele won over Suddenly by Claude-Michel Schonberg because Adele was new and Skyfall was in the billboard already.