The most (in)famous moment in “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s second movie is also the funniest. At the end of the day, what else matters? -Michael Nordine 16. “You feel real to me,” Theodore tells her before they start. The screen goes dark as his descriptions get more detailed and graphic, leaving us to imagine the scenario just as they are. The scene in question consists of little more than him telling her what he’d do to her if they were actually, truly together, but it’s preceded by so much tension and connection that it feels no less real than the kind of racy scene that requires a closed set. Like nearly everything else in “Her,” Theodore and Samantha’s first “physical” encounter could easily have been laughable were it not carried out by Jonze, Joaquin Phoenix, and Scarlett Johansson. Spike Jonze’s virtual love story is one of the most affecting in years not despite its digital component but because of it - no other movie this side of “ The Social Network” captures modern-day yearning with such vivid precision. It was only a matter of time before we were offered a memorable sex scene featuring no physical contact. But that first encounter, the one we never see, is the movie’s most important. It is only later on that we are treated to the sticky stomach hair, or the measured exhales of a first-time act, each rendered with artful eroticism.
The interpersonal dynamics are clear the cruder details made more intimate by their absence. Someone hesitated to take his shirt off, someone else has a “thing” for armpits.
Through Russell’s coy recounting and Glen’s cheeky prodding, the new lovers write their shared memory of that first night together. As Glen (Chris New) cajoles Russell (Tom Cullen) into recounting the details into his tape recorder, we learn that Russell is quite shy about sex. Haigh artfully captures the unique thrill of an unexpected connection with a stranger, and the singular pleasure of the first hookup with a person you might actually like. Andrew Haigh’s intimate and finely tuned debut includes at least two sumptuous sex scenes, but it’s the one we don’t see that kicks off its two-day liaison, taking us along for the ride.
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