Theodore Twombly is a lonely soul. He cannot speak without mumbling and drifts around from place to place with his head down. He is divorcing the love of his life, and is constantly failing with women yet, ironically, works as a love-letter writer for Beautifulhandwrittenletters.com. It’s not until a super-intelligence operating system comes into his life, that he actually experiences happiness again.

Spike Jonze’s 2013 film, Her is an examination of many subjects. It is not only focused on the question of what true love asked but is also a vision of our future. It is a future of profound technological advancement, to the point where an OS can name itself and hold continuous conversation with a real human being. Her recently took home an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and it is easy to see why. The script is very well taken care of, and there is no dry moment between any of the characters.

Joaquin Phoenix plays Twombly. He is convincing, and it almost feels like his own personal emotions mix in with those of his character. Everything from his sad eyes, to his hunched posture makes Theodore Twombly come to life. Scarlett Johansson voices Samantha, the OS who seems to be the only “person” who can understand Theodore. Their chemistry is the best I’ve seen between two leads in a romance film in a long while.

Everything in Her is meticulously put together. Jonze puts extreme care into his film. The Los Angeles and Shanghi backdrops are perfect sets for a futuristic city. The lighting plays roles between the regular present, lighter and softer flashback scenes, and the pitch blackness for intimate moments between the characters.  Arcade Fire provides a very electronic sound track that adds to the feel of the setting. At the end of the day, the most powerful part of Her is the questions that are asked even after the film ends. What is love? What makes something real? Overall, Her is a refreshing experience with true heartfelt emotion. It is definitely one of the best movies of 2013.