TrueFilm: An in-depth discussion of film

In an article by Jan Teurling titled, "Social Media and the New Commons of TV Criticism", there was a term that stood out called aesthetic criticism, in which refers to a mode of criticism that focuses on the formal and artistic qualities like a film's narrative and character development.

It reminded me of a film (Her) that I heavily enjoyed and still remains one of my top 5 films of all time, simply due to the intricate storytelling that tackled on relationship dynamics and humanizing of AI.

Character Development

Joaquin Phoenix's acting was sublime, with the ability to bring out such raw emotions with Theodore as a character is simply amazing. In the film, you can evidently see the stages of character development of Theodore, with or without the existence of Samantha (the AI). However, Samantha is seen as the key for Theodore to open up and accept his divorce, and as Samantha is introduced, Theodore's character, a lonely and introverted man can be seen shifting to a brighter personality, a more carefree and nonchalant Theodore. Note that he felt so comfortable with Samantha, he completely gave up in trying to look "normal" in society, as he often goes on adventures with Samantha, both in the virtual world and in real life, which ultimately makes him feel more connected to the world around him. The way that Theodore's character develops throughout the film does not seem that far-fetched from reality, as many people can probably see themselves in the position of Theodore, the process of grieving a divorce/breakup and learning how to get over it by going out of your comfort zone such as going on dates, and talking to people is very applicable to real life, granted that this film does highlight potential problems with AI dating in the far future.

Narrative Development

The film does move in a very slow pace, as it shows a gradual and nuanced exploration of love, technology and human connection. However, I do think the slow pace works out for the better, the slow pacing helps the characters in the film to portray the realistic process of human emotions in life, especially when the world in the film is so fast paced (as it is set in the far future in Los Angeles where technology is quite advanced), it also allows for more complex character development. The storytelling in the film is quite intricate, as the clever use of Mise-en-scène helps to accentuate the relationship dynamic between Theodore and Samantha, which often conveys a very warm fuzzy feeling when you watch them interact with each other. Moreover, the music accommodates the many themes of the film, as it often sounds haunting, romantic and lonely all at the same time, which reflects the emotions of Theodore really well. Rather than ending the movie with a completed, finished love story of Theodore and Samantha, the ending is more bittersweet and thought-provoking, as it suggests that even in a world where technology is becoming more intertwined with our lives, machines still have limited understanding and experience of human emotions and it teaches the importance of valuing the moments we share with each other, no matter how fleeting they may be.

What do you think?