Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’ Will Close The NYFF

It looks like now we know why Spike Jonze decided to release the trailer for the film Her yesterday. It’s being reported that the film is set to close the NYFF in October. That’s a pretty great spot, but, then again, one look at the trailer and it’s easy to see why. With the director going back to his roots, and a performance that looks to be unmatched by Joaquin Phoenix, this film definitely may deserve the top-notch spot in the New York Film Festival line-up.

Her stars Joaquin Phoenix as a man who just went through a hard time in his life. Feeling alone and disconnected from his surroundings, he decides to engage with his new computer, who is an artificial intelligent assistant. Slowly he starts becoming attached to the voice known as Samantha (Scarlett Johannson) and quickly finds out that love can exist in many forms.

It’s a pretty brilliant way to flip a common theme on its head, but we wouldn’t put it past Spike Jonze. Just from the trailer the film really looks fantastic, and a lot more like the director’s earlier work. Her also stars Rooney Mara, Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde, and Scarlett Johansson as the voice of Samantha.

NYFF Director of Programming and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said of his decision to close out the festival with Her:

“To discuss even a little bit of the plot—let’s just say that it’s about lonely people and artificial intelligence—is to deprive first-time viewers of the opportunity of discovering it themselves. The tone is magical, the freedom of the narrative is breathtaking….”

The New York Film Festival is set to take place from September 27 to October 13.

Opening the festival is Captain Philips which stars Tom Hanks and is directed by Paul Greengrass.