The colorful palette of Spike Jonze’s wistful, slightly futuristic digital romance “Her” had an unlikely inspiration: Jamba Juice.
Jonze premiered his highly anticipated film Saturday at the New York Film Festival, where he and his cast, including star Joaquin Phoenix, exemplified none of the interpersonal disconnect of the movie’s sleek but melancholy future. They entertainingly debuted the film for critics and film industry members ahead of an evening red-carpet premiere that was to draw the 51st New York Film Festival to a close.
Phoenix stars in the film as a recent divorce who purchases and gradually falls in love with an artificial operating system named Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). The system, dubbed OS1, is something like a far more advanced version of the iPhone’s Siri, advertised as an “intuitive entity” and “a consciousness.”
Jonze said in a post-screening news conference that he wanted to set “Her” in a somewhat utopic Los Angeles that “felt nice to be in.” It shares some of the color of the smoothie franchise Jamba Juice and is forested by skyscrapers. Jonze, who wrote and directed the film, borrowed the skyline from Shanghai, where much of the movie was shot.
It was an interesting acting challenge for Phoenix, given that his primary co-star was a disembodied voice. The character was initially voiced by Samantha Morton before Johansson took over the role.
“I’d like to say that I trained, but as an actor, I’m accustomed to walking around my house and talking to myself,” Phoenix said. “We rehearse all the time so I don’t think it was that dissimilar.”
Phoenix is known for his distaste for public appearances and media interaction, but he was in good spirits Saturday, playfully answering questions or cheerfully ignoring them. On capturing the loneliness of his character, Phoenix replied that “Spike just broke me.”
“Going into the movie, all I was concerned about was trying to feel natural in something that wasn’t there,” he said. As to how he managed to “break” Phoenix, Jonze fumbled for an answer before guessing, “I think he’s joking?” while Phoenix nodded.
The actor even ironically admonished co-star Rooney Mara, who plays his ex-wife, for not eagerly answering questions.
“Rooney, don’t do that,” Phoenix said. “I’m so sorry everyone.”
Warner Bros. will release “Her” on Dec. 18.
Producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher To Receive Harold Lloyd Award From The Advanced Imaging Society
Producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher will be presented with the 2025 Harold Lloyd Award in recognition of their producing achievement in creating Gladiator II at The Advanced Imaging Societyโs (AIS) 15th annual Lumiere Awards luncheon, which takes place Friday, February 7, 2025, at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Empowering their storytelling with groundbreaking technology and skill, Wick and Fisher have thrilled audiences and driven the film industry forward for three decades. Their steadfast dedication to the highest standards of cinematic excellence have resulted in epic films, including Memoirs of a Geisha, The Great Gatsby, the Stuart Little franchise, the Divergent Series and both Gladiator films. The first Gladiator earned Wick an Academy Awardยฎ for Best Picture. In light of their consistent and distinguished contributions over the years, as exemplified by this yearโs Gladiator II, the Advanced Imaging Society wished to recognize the team with this yearโs esteemed Harold Lloyd Award.
โDoug Wick and Lucy Fisher of Red Wagon Entertainment have revolutionized modern filmmaking with their bold storytelling and ability to elevate large-scale productions to epic levels,โ remarked Jim Chabin, AIS president. โTheir work has not only captivated audiences but also redefined filmmaking standards, leaving an indelible mark on the art of cinema. At AIS. we deeply admire their visionary contributions and enduring influence on the film industry.โ
Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of the late, great Harold Lloyd, remarked, โDougโs artistic vision and Lucyโs dynamic leadership have brought authenticity, beauty and profound emotion to some of our favorite epic films. Together, they are a... Read More