Robert Tanitch reviews the latest DVDs
Her (Entertainment in Video). Artificial Intelligence takes over. Spike Jonze’s stylish and futuristic film is about Internet dating. A sad dude (Joaquin Phoenix) about to divorce and who can’t handle human relationships, starts a relationship with his computer. Yes, he starts dating software. She (“Samantha”) turns him on and they fall in love. But will she be faithful? The invisible Scarlett Johansson is perfect casting for the programmed seductive voice of “Samantha” and she and Phoenix act out the fantasy relationship for real, even though we all know it’s just a lonely tussle with himself.
Exhibition (Artificial Eye). Moving house is one of the most traumatic experiences of our lives. A middle-aged couple, both creative artists, have lived in a modernist house for the last 18 years. He wants to sell it. She does not. They are also at loggerheads sexually and intellectually. She doesn’t want to discuss her work and prefers to indulge her fantasies on her own. The house is the star of Joanna Hogg’s film. An art house movie may appeal to architects. Nothing much happens. The dialogue feels improvised. Many people are going to be bored stiff.
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