![]() ![]() ![]() But Jonze’s contributions to 2013 reach far beyond that critical hit. Praising Jonze for his achievement in Her might sound as obvious as congratulating any of the other flavor of the month filmmakers who released a high profile well-received project during the Oscar season. Given the film’s absurd slim premise (in short: sad man meets iPad, falls in love), it is a testament to his knack for sensitive and thoughtful conversation that the relationship between Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) and Samantha (Scarlett Johannson) digs deep or sustains any credibility whatsoever. Jonze’s dialogue in Her is exemplary in a year of strong screenwriting, and worth a read on its own. It's a skill of his that's never been so pronounced prior to Her. This is no doubt a result of Jonze’s intimate approach to filmmaking, and, particularly, the delicate and gentle touch he brings to his writing. What's most striking is how deeply personal the project feels. In addition to writing and directing, Jonze also co-produced Her, and supplied the voice of "Alien Child". Her marks Jonze’s first single screenwriting credit, after having co-written Where the Wild Things Are and directing the screenplays of Charlie Kaufman on both Malkovich and Adaptation. Rather than pursue a work schedule along the lines of the prolific Steven Soderbergh, Jonze has released only three films since that impressive debut in 1999. After all, his first feature length film, B eing John Malkovich, was a touchstone of one of Hollywood’s most audacious years. The deep impact Jonze achieves with a project as ambitious and heart-wrenching as Her should be no surprise. Spike Jonze may still not quite be a household name in 2013. This all-around talent has worn multiple hats this year in film and music, some of them unsung. Overlooked thus far is 2013’s quintessential utility man in pop culture-the equivalent of Chone Figgins (versatile infielder/outfielder who finished 17th in American League MVP balloting in 2005). From Miley twerking, to Kanye’s limitless ability to stimulate conversation, to Sandra's space solo, and so on, they've all had their moments. As we sign off on the final moments of 2013, the same names have repeatedly been uttered as defining this year in entertainment. ![]()
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