It is always such a great pleasure to watch someone like Joaquin Phoenix in a frame. And consider this; this time it is Spike Jonze (of “Being John Malkovich” fame) who has crafted this interesting-looking story of  a man, with what looks like high and complex EQ, and female-voiced piece of technology falling in love. Jonze knows how to read and show complex minds, and the actors, Phoenix, Amy Adams and Scarlett Johansson do give ample evidence of magic in this trailer.

I must admit that the first time I watched it, I was immediately reminded of the The Big Bang Theory episode where Raj buys an iPhone 4S and falls in love with Siri. That was hilarious, and the premise of this one is too. Except that here,  the treatment looks very endearing, sensitive and tender. One, that is expected to arouse lesser guffaws and more smiles and a great deal of thought.

Notice that the aspect of technology displaying  emotional responses has been quite a favourite with filmmakers and authors who have given us some brilliant sci-fi work — Blade Runner, AI: Artificial Intelligence, Bicentennial Man. This will again, like always, spark off another round of debate on how much technology we are allowing into our lives, how difficult it has become to dismiss it  and if we are really doing the smart thing by allowing their presence to loom so large over our everyday life? I am looking forward to Her for the ethical arguments that will follow and to see the cast and crew work their charm, not necessarily in that order.