Her

My number one made it to the top based on my love for science fiction. Honestly, all of my top four are amazing films; nearly half this list are 10s!

Her (2013) is a quirky love story by Spike Jonze.

Impressions
Theodore Twombly works as a letter writer for handwrittenletters.com. He has recently gone through a divorce and is struggling to find love. After a bizarre phone sex experience, Theodore hears about the new OS1 and decides to purchase it. He installs it and decides that it should be female. The new OS and he hit it off immediately. She names herself Samantha.

Now, to be fair, I'll start off with some potentially objectionable scenes. There are three awkward scenes. The first is a phone sex scene that gets really weird. The second is the infamous 'black scene.' Two people actually walked out during this scene when I saw it! I find this funny because it really is least offensive of the three. The final one is the most uncomfortable and also the most brilliant solution to Samantha lacking a body. It is a genuine surprise that I don't want to spoil though it isn't for everyone. Anyway, as with all the other films, the ensemble cast, even the minor roles of Olivia Wilde and Rooney Mara, blends perfectly.

Our Hero
Theodore Twombly is a man who has difficulty relating to others. His life has fallen apart and he spends his time alone playing video games or surfing the net. Theodore may not be a likeable or relatable protagonist, but he is at least sympathetic. His journey is about coming out of his shell with the help of several women in his life. Joaquin Phoenix is remarkable in this role; he really captures the sad loner who spends much of his time alone.

Female Observers
Amy is a college friend of Theodore's whose marriage is not in the best shape. She also develops a relation ship with one of the AI, but it is a friendship rather than a romance.This mirrors her friendship with Theodore to some extent and really drives home how the AIs aren't all alike. Amy Adams delivers her second Man-of-Steel-redeeming performance of the year.

Samantha is Theodore's AI. For those who would like to simply discount her as a computer, I ask: "Have you seen the film?" Samantha is noteworthy for how real she acts. She has more character in her than most characters on screen nowadays. Scarlett Johansson proves that she's not just a pretty face!

Near-Future Atmosphere
The music by Arcade Fire fit so well with the retro future they're going for. Bottom line: Best Original Score. Speaking of retro future, the blend of apple sheik ans seventies fashion creates a surprisingly believable future. The kind of palpable future that I haven't seen since Gattaca. Thus, I'm also rooting for Best Production Design.

In the End
A bittersweet end to a bittersweet film.

Overall
The story deserves Best Original Screenplay. Her is a film that works on many levels. It could be about a lonely man talking to himself for three hour; an interpretation that many seem to take even though I find it the most boring. On another hand, he could actually be interacting with a real person without a body. This non-physical relationship, along with how Theodore and Sam deal with it, are the most interesting portions of the film. This film is classic sci-fi in its purest sense with technology completely impacting the film's world. See it if you long for a return to classic science fiction or want a great bittersweet romantic comedy(and can handle one of the lovers being a computer).
10/10

So, how'd I stack up?

Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave [CORRECT!]
Best Actor: Ciwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) [Woo!]
Best Actress: Judy Dench (Philomena) Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Best Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) [Woo!]
Best Supporting Actress: June Squibb (Nebraska) Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) [Woo!]
Best Cinematography: Nebraska Gravity [Okay...]
Best Costume: 12 Years a Slave The Great Gatsby
Best Directing: Alexander Payne (Nebraska) Alfonso Cuaron [Boo!]
Best Editing: Dallas Buyers Club Gravity [Okay...]
Best Makeup: Dallas Buyers Club [CORRECT!]
Best Original Score: Her Gravity [Okay...]
Best Production Design: Her The Great Gatsby
Best Visual Effects: Gravity [CORRECT, but... Gravity, again, really?]
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) [CORRECT!]
Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze (Her) [CORRECT!]

5/15: Not prescient yet!

Next Time: Post Oscar Snubs?

Silver Linings Playbook

Well, I promised a non-nine, but this isn't the movie I was thinking of...

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) is a dysfunctional romantic comedy that has just the right amount of quirk to get the Academy's attention.

Impressions
Pat is a bipolar guy, recently released from a mental institution, who has two goals: get his emotions under control and get his wife back. He was committed after beating the man he found having sex with his wife in the shower. Pat moves back in with his parents, but has a long way to go before he turns his life around. To try and help, his friend and the friend's wife introduce Pat to her sister, Tiffany. Tiffany recently lost her husband and suffers from severe depression. Can they overcome their issues together?

This film begins with Pat's life a the mental institution and takes a while before it even gives the flashback about why he's there. Little point of view things, like this wouldn't, be a problem if they remained tightly focused on him. However; Tiffany isn't even introduced until about a quarter of the way into the movie and her problems become equally as big an issue at Pat's. I think this movie might have benefited from a more equal portrayal of their lives.

Our Tragic Heroes
Pat is a slave to his emotions and cannot handle the stress that his expectation bring him. That said, unlike several movies that portray mentally unbalanced protagonists, he is actually a likeable guy who seems capable of growing beyond his numerous flaws. The fact that this movie centers not only on his romance with Tiffany, but his relationships with his father, mother and older brother, really help to fully realize the character and the reasons behind his problems. We get about two scenes with the ex-wife and she's not a major character, which really helps the audience focus on him and his perception of her.

Tiffany has serious issues with her depression that lead her into short shallow physical relationships to fill the void in her life. She quickly latches onto Pat as he is not out to use her like many others in her life. She has a passion for dancing and needs a serious partner to accomplish her goals.The build-up and obvious instability, yet desire to get something right is primarily portrayed through looks and simple actions, though when she explodes, things get messy. This performance is certainly worthy of the Oscar that is seems likely to land actress Jennifer Lawrence.

Crazy Observers
Pat's family is almost as crazy as he is. His father has lost the family restaurant and taken to bookmaking to keep things afloat. His mother is overly protective and unwilling to see how unhinged much of their lives have become. Pat's brother just seems to want to keep his head low and get through things. The relationship with his father is what brings in the sports part of the film. His father is an Eagles fan and feels that watching the game with his son is good luck.So, when Tiffany threatens to drag them apart, conflict ensues. Fortunately, this plot moves beyond that stupid setup into something much more fun and inventive.

Pat's friends are almost much lost causes as he is. Danny is a mental patient with a propensity for trying to escape the institution. He ends up becoming more of a strange wise man, but brings a lot of fun and humor into this darker rom-com. This is also a surprisingly restrained performance by Chris Tucker, I didn't even recognize him for about half the move. Pat's other friend Ronnie is in a struggling marriage with Tiffany's sister. Both these characters allow Pat to get away from the drama and show us that he really is a nice guy at heart.

Suburban Atmosphere
The true genius of this film lies in how crazy it makes the everyday. Almost everyone in this has something wrong with them. The fact that most of this film is set in suburban houses, diners and bars bring it home even more. We're all crazy, some of us more than others. I also like the idea of trying to feel and realize other people's pain. Empathy is an emotion that really needs to be brought back into the forefront of our society.

In the End
The end slips back into more typical rom-com fluffiness, but it remains hard to knock it. This film takes so many other routes at subverting the genre. This is the modern equivalent of a screwball comedy where the screwiness actually is a mental disorder, but I think I just upset some people by even mentioning that. Suffice it to say, I laughed, I didn't quite cry, but I definitely enjoyed it.


Overall
Is this the date movie that will finally bring together sports lovers and Dancing with the Stars fans? Actually, it just might, and manages the whole thing effortlessly. I can't quite call it great, but it was very charming and amusing. The ensemble cast brought out the best in each other and the material. See it with someone you love.
8.5/10

Tomorrow, (also known as when I wake up since I'm back dating these) I dive into one of my favorite genres.