10 Sci-Fi Movies That Had No Right To Be This Good
5. Her
On paper, Her is absolutely bizarre.
Joaquin Phoenix's Theodore falls in love with a virtual assistant that bestows itself with a female voice and personality - in this case, Samantha, brought to life by the tones of Marvel mainstay Scarlett Johansson. While the film's core concept is ripe for in-depth exploration, one initially does not expect any kind of lasting emotional impact from such an unconventional relationship, but this could not be further from the truth.
Her is an introspective, deeply moving examination of the nature of love. Phoenix highlights his status as arguably the most gifted actor of his generation by bringing an otherworldly sense of vulnerability to his role, sharply juxtaposed to his iconic roles in Gladiator and The Master. One can barely believe that this is the man who will don the green hair and crimson smile of Arthur Fleck just six short years later!
The film is rounded out by an incredible voice performance by Johansson. It's hard to comprehend how an actress who doesn't appear on-screen during the film manages to draw such a deep, emotional response from viewers.
Ultimately, Her is an unflinching glimpse into the ineffable mechanics of love, standing as one of the finest sci-fi outings of modern times.