Spike Jonze has been firing on all cylinders since his 1999 debut “Being John Malkovich.” Every new film is cause for excitement, whether awards are in the picture or not. His is a vital voice and his latest, “Her,” promises to deliver another fresh stroke in the filmmaker’s feature career.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix as a lonely writer who develops an unlikely relationship with his newly-purchased operating system designed to meet his every need (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), I had been expecting “Her” to be an — I don’t know, something more…slight? But the new trailer for the film reveals that it’s anything but, a potential meditation on relationships and needs and, to paraphrase Amy Adams from the film, the insanity of falling in love.
We’ll see if awards are in this one’s future. Phoenix could certainly land in an already crowded Best Actor field. Adams could supplement her leading cause in “American Hustle” with a supporting bid here (does she ever slow down?). The film itself could take off. Or…it could merely be a fantastic new installment in Jonze’s canon. And that would be just fine.
Check out the new trailer above and tell us what you think.