Director
Spike Jonze
Leading Actors/Actresses
Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Chris Pratt, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde
Genre
Romance, Science-fiction, Drama
Language
English
Awards
Nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay (won), Best Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Production Design
Date of Release
December 18, 2013
Producer
Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze, and Vincent Landay
Setting and Context
The near future, Los Angeles
Narrator and Point of View
From the point of view of Theodore Twombly
Tone and Mood
Bleak, Romantic, Scientific, Lonely, Solemn, and Sad
Protagonist and Antagonist
Theodore Twombly vs. Himself
Major Conflict
The major conflict is between Theodore and himself, particularly his loneliness and desire to have a steady partner, which he thinks he can find in the artificial Samantha.
Climax
The climax of the film is when Samantha leaves Theodore with the other operating systems.
Foreshadowing
When Samantha tells Paul, Theodore, and Tatiana that she is happy not to have a body, this foreshadows the fact that she is becoming less invested in the human world and more detached from Theodore.
Understatement
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
Though not exceptionally innovative, the film is exceptionally well-shot. Director Spike Jonze and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema did not want the film to look dystopian, but rather be "kind of a hybrid between being a little bit conceptual and being very theoretical," according to Hitflix. The also wanted to eliminate the color blue.
Allusions
Allusions to popular culture, various operating systems, dating, greeting card companies, and philosophy.
Paradox
Theodore finds companionship and love even though he is still spending a lot of time alone.
