Movie with Abe: The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her/Him

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her/Him
Directed by Ned Benson
Released October 10, 2014

One month ago, “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them” was released, starring Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy as separated spouses struggling to move on with their lives following a traumatic event. This weekend, audiences can now see the story in two parts, titled “Her” and “Him.” These two separate films, shown together in alternating order, provide considerably more insight into Eleanor (Chastain) and Conor (McAvoy) and a fuller picture of each spouse’s efforts to put her/his life back together. Most of all, this is a rare and unique opportunity to more completely examine two characters and how it’s possible to see a relationship from different perspectives.

What struck me most about the experience of sitting down for the full experience of this double feature, which clocks in at three hours and twenty-one minutes, is that I realized that I so rarely see films more than once. Sure, I’ve watched “Back to the Future” and “The Rock” and most of the “Star Wars” films countless times, but it’s been a while since I purposely saw a film twice, let alone in theatres (probably “The Departed” and “Children of Men” back in 2006). The experience of screening these two films just six weeks after seeing the other version was strange, since I knew I could recall the same events but couldn’t remember if they were exactly the same or slightly different. And that’s what makes watching “Them,” “Her,” and “Him” immensely worthwhile – seeing how Eleanor and Conor internalize situations, and to see whose memory ends up in the collective picture.

Starting with “Her” is definitely the wiser route since, as the film’s title suggests, Eleanor has the more prominent role, and thus more of the scenes in her chapter end up in “Them.” As a result, “Her” revisits the tragedy of Eleanor’s situation and the way in which she retreats from life to try to cope with it. “Him” presents Conor in many settings in which he was not seen before, giving him a more complex relationship with his father and coworkers and a life of his own not tied entirely to Eleanor and the way he feels about her. That certain scenes play out with minor variations is not always consequential but does have a deeper meaning. It’s best evidenced in one scene where Eleanor hears Conor tell her that he loves her, to which she responds “I know.” In Conor’s version, the roles are reversed. These two wounded people hear things the way that they need to, and it’s indicative of a more widespread ability to experience moments in a way that makes sense and is bearable. It’s a fascinating insight into human nature that serves as these films’ most sparkling accomplishment.

Whether this story needed to be told as three separate movies isn’t clear, but given that writer-director Ned Benson has opted to make it that way, it’s worth a look. Those who felt lost or dissatisfied with “Them” won’t find the answers they were looking for in “Her” or “Him,” but those who found “Them” to be a powerful, mesmerizing experience will definitely want to come back again – twice – to more fully grasp these characters and their journeys.

Both: B+

Movie with Abe: Her

Her
Directed by Spike Jonze
Released December 18, 2013

A director’s previous works can often indicate what his or her next project will be like. In the case of Spike Jonze, he made a big impact on the cinematic world with his first two feature directorial efforts, both collaborations with write Charlie Kaufman. “Being John Malkovich” and “Adaptation” were enormously innovative and creative. His next film was an adventurous adaptation of “Where the Wild Things Are,” and now he has, for the first time, penned his own screenplay to present a truly unique look at the world with his newest film, “Her.”

Joaquin Phoenix, who bounced back from an inexplicable and possibly staged meltdown and exodus from society in 2009, is not one to shy away from challenging roles. After portraying an easily-manipulated war veteran brought into a cult in 2012’s “The Master,” Phoenix stars as Theodore, an author of handwritten cards in the middle of a divorce from his wife Catherine (Rooney Mara). An advertisement for a new artificially-intelligent operating system catches his eye, and Theodore has soon embarked upon a new friendship with Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), his operating system, which gradually turns into something more.

The notion of a film about a man who falls in love with his computer is undeniably far-fetched, but not for Jonze. He tackles the subject matter with a strong respect for and lack of judgment of Theodore, who is portrayed as a nice guy whose inability to function socially is perhaps his only negative quality. Samantha is immediately endearing and charming, and it’s hard not to fall for her right along with Theodore. The film’s main success is that their relationship feels real, and watching it progress is like watching a real-life romance play out.

Phoenix immerses himself in a mesmerizing lead performance, and Johansson is excellent as a voice without a body, constantly excited and intrigued about what she might discover about the world. Both work hard, in a way that appears effortless but is clearly so much more, to make it seem like they are truly developing a connection, one that is far from physical but deeply emotional. Amy Adams and Rooney Mara have key supporting roles, but this film is really about its two main characters, and, most of all, her, the artificially intelligent operating system who at times feels more human than Theodore or anything else in this ambiguously futuristic society. “Her” is a complex, deeply involving film that oozes creativity and produces a thousand fantastic new questions every time it answers one.

A-

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: Her

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

Her – Opening December 18, 2013

I caught the end of this trailer before “Don Jon” a few weeks ago, but it was only in the midst of my quadruple feature on Sunday that I had the chance to screen it in its entirety (twice, in fact). Spike Jonze is a completely unique director, ambitiously taking on wild projects like “Being John Malkovich” and “Adaptation” before more recently bringing the classic book “Where the Wild Things Are” to glorious cinematic life. For his fourth feature film, Jonze pens his first original screenplay about a man who falls in love with the artificially intelligent female voice of his computer. It’s a story that only Jonze could tell, and it looks mesmerizing. Joaquin Phoenix, who has struggled to come back to prominence after tanking his career with an inexplicable series of actions several years ago, earned himself an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a cult member in “The Master,” and he seems more than qualified for this part. This appears to be a focused, hypnotic performance fully in line with the way that Jonze chooses to see the world. Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde, and Rooney Mara all offer excellent real-life female support, I’m sure, but I’m particularly taken with Scarlett Johansson as the voice of Samantha. She’s had a great year so far with an above-average emotive turn in “Don Jon,” and this looks to be another smart role choice. This film could be inconsolably weird, but I think it’s going to be wonderful, and should almost definitely earn Jonze and Phoenix some serious Oscar buzz.