Her

Is technology good or evil?
Is a hammer good or evil?

Considering that a hammer represents a technological advancement, I believe that these two questions are the same.  Cutting to the chase; I contend that technology cannot be evil, it depends completely on how man uses it.  Spike Jonze new film her strips away all the flash and glamour of technology, and focuses directly on one man's relationship with ones and zeros.   Joaquin Phoenix plays a lonely thirtysomething professional on the verge of divorce, who finds companionship with his new operating system.  While I imagine that many may find this concept far-fetched, let me suggest that Spike Jonze is addressing an issue which is far too real.  Our relationships with technology are stealing from our relationships with each other.  Yes, I recognize the irony as I type these words on a computer keyboard instead of saying them directly to you... 

Phoenix's character installs his new operating system in a way that is familiar to many of us; he waits patiently for the software to update and answers a few semi-personal questions along the way.  Then a friendly voice addresses him, striking-up a conversation.  He asks it the same questions I would have asked, and doesn't quite know how to process the answers.  It is a feminine voice that emits from the computer, so it's a her, right?  She expresses concern, interest, and even gets upset towards him.  Initially he knows that she's "just a program", but she's so well written that the illusion begins to take hold.  Before long he has fallen in love with her, and joy seems to have returned. 

I received a Japanese insulated coffee cup for my birthday just over a year ago.  This cup keeps my coffee hot all day, it's truly a technological marvel.  I know that if I were to loose it, I would truly miss it (please note that I haven't digressed to the point of calling my coffee cup "her" yet).  Where is the line?  I don't worship my coffee cup.  I'm not "in love" with my coffee cup, but I certainly hold it in high esteem. 

Is it alright to talk to Siri disrespectfully just because she is  synthetic?  Is it alright to be polite to Siri even though she's synthetic?  These are the kinds of questions which her has prompted me to ask.

I don't think that Spike Jonze set out to criticize society for utilizing technology, rather he is nudging us to examine how we use it.  I am pretty sure that Jonze and I would disagree on why this is important.  I believe that we should be looking to God; through the Bible and those who have been given wisdom, to guide our relationships.  Not to get overly semantical, but we have relationships with just about everything around us, from a hammer to a wife and everything in-between.   Obviously, if we want to get the relationships right, we're going to need a lot of help.

Inside Llewyn Davis

Inside Llewyn Davis is a genius masterpiece or a mediocre fanboy biopic; which one, only the Coen brothers will ever know.  What I like about this paradox, is that I will be able to convincingly argue either perspective depending on who I'm talking to.  Let me offer the basic premise for either argument:  Inside Llewyn Davis is a genius masterpiece because Ethan and Joel Coen were able to produce a film for hipsters, starring hipsters, about hipsters, that hipsters really, really like; yet the whole thing is an indictment of the hipster.  The counter-argument, the one that suggests that the Coens made a mediocre fanboy biopic is exactly the same as the other argument, only it leaves off "indictment".  I hope that the former is true, that'll be my explanation for liking it at least.  Obviously, based on the Coen brothers track record it is very likely that they meant this as a biting criticism, but it works the other way too, making a conclusive answer impossible.

What's inside Llewyn Davis?  Very little really; he's whiny, self-absorbed, and kind of a douche.  He has disdain for others who share his profession but aren't as good as he views himself.  I wouldn't be surprised to find that many talented artists have similar attitudes.  This wouldn't be so bad except that we must spend the entire film with Davis.  If we could just listen to his music and then go on our merry way, all would be right with the world.  His music is great, for the same reasons Bob Dylan's music is great.  Yet the moment we recognize that our emotions are being played just like his guitar, we should turn our backs on the whole farce.  In an aside, A few years back I noted that the horrible movie Troy should be remembered only for its multitude of "funeral pyre" scenes.  I think approximately 10% of screen time was devoted to this pastime.  Inside Llewyn Davis likewise must set some record for "sleeping on couches", Davis becomes an expert in the field. 

If you tell me that you really liked Inside Llewyn Davis please be prepared to explain yourself.  You can't be cool unless you like it for the right reason…

American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook

I went to see American Hustle a few weeks back, which reminded me that I liked The Fighter (both directed by David O. Russell) thereby prompting me to rent Silver Linings Playbook (also a Russell film)...  As you will soon discover, it seems as though I saved the best for last.

American Hustle falls squarely into the "Con Man Movie" category; or perhaps it is a definitive example.  A few other films immediately come to mind; Ocean's Twelve, Heist and to some extent The Prestige.  These are all films which center around really smart people trying to trick other really smart people.  Russell doesn't reinvent the wheel, he recognizes that a story about smart people is far more captivating than some convoluted plot.  Most likely the conclusion won't surprise you, but perhaps how it's received by certain characters will.  It would be convenient to note how drastically different Christian Bale's character is here in American Hustle from the last movie I wrote about, Out of the Furnace.  Unfortunately it isn't that simple; while both characters could be contrasted based on social status, employment, style, etc., they both share certain qualities.  One of the best moments in this film comes when Bale's character is given a gift; while he accepts the item graciously, he is ill-equipped for this moment.  He is such a disingenuous person, that it stuns him when someone wants to be his friend, and give out of kindness.  While the supporting cast here is excellent; Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, and Jeremy Renner et al., this is definitely Bale's movie.  It is fascinating to see his character's relationship to each personality he comes into contact with.  While "Best Actor" awards often go to bigger-than-life performances, I think that Bale deserves one here for his subtle nuances.

Silver Linings Playbook is like another great comedy As Good As It Gets, in that it is about someone who has a mental illness, yet not about the illness itself.  This is a wise approach, because it makes the story accessible to a wider audience; just because I don't have this specific condition doesn't mean I don't have issues of my own.  While some viewing this film inevitably will be bi-polar like the main character, it's safe to say that everyone watching will have struggled with feelings of inadequacy.  If you're not seeing your weaknesses reflected in certain film characters, and being challenged, then I'm really not sure why you keep watching.  There are much more efficient forms of entertainment that require absolutely no introspection (i.e. television).  What I said previously explains why Silver Linings Playbook is a great film; what makes it a great movie comes from how enjoyable to viewing experience was.  There are three primary characters, led by Bradley Cooper, with Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro.  All three of these characters have their own mental illness, and each has developed their own approach to coping.  Instead of being a dreary slog through daily routines of the mentally ill, this film is a joyous celebration of people, who just so happen to be ill.  While there are dark moments, while there is tragedy, the overall atmosphere is bright.  I would hate to ruin the film for any who have yet to see it, so I will delicately say only the following:  About ten minutes before the film ended I knew exactly which two outcomes were possible (there are only two) and I was concerned that it would go down a sad path.  That I really had no idea which of the two routes would be chosen only made the film that much better.

Out of the Furnace

Out of the Furnace falls into the category of "what would I do if I were in the same situation?"  When done well, this kind of movie is really thought provoking, and this film is successful.  I believe that The Road from a few years back tried to join this category, and even Zombieland would meet the requirements.  Out of the Furnace works because its characters are grounded in reality, and they face each situation accordingly.  The main question that this film asks of us, is how far would we be willing to go for a loved one?  Yet there is an added bonus question; which deals with the line between self-defense and revenge.  Both Christian Bale and Casey Affleck play their respective roles just right.  Bale is especially great in his ability to wrap quietness, honor, and intensity into one believable man.  Then there's Woody Harrelson's evil backwoods antagonist, who is anything but conventional.  What I mean, is that rarely do we see a villain who isn't explained in some basic manner; here we are forced to accept that he is both extremely evil and simply a man.  Because Out of the Furnace is about some dark questions which may lead us to uncomfortable places, it stands out as an interesting and poignant film.