LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Awards season is upon us! If there was a Most Awkward Interview award that existed, Spike Jonze would surely win for his most recent chat with BBC Newsnight anchor Emily Maitlis.
Interviewing from Los Angeles on Friday, the director and writer of Oscars-nominated Her was irked with Maitlis' comment that Her was about "falling in love with your software." Apparently, that was just enough to push Jonze over the edge and make him turn from the interviewee to the testy interviewer.
"Have you seen the movie, Emily?" Jonze said. "I'm just curious what your reaction was to the movie or what you felt when watching it because the lead-in was all about falling in love with software, which really the movie isn't about. It's more of a love story and a relationship story, but I was just wondering what you felt when watching it."
Maitlis then replied with a zing: "Well, I was just curious as to whether the man has found the ideal woman who just works for him as his P.A."
Jonze, who says most people find his film (starring Joaquin Phoenix about a man who falls in love with his operating system) to be "emotional," repeatedly asked Emily if she was "moved" by Her. She tried to skirt around his question and he said, "Emily, don't try to avoid this question."
Well, Maitlis kept it real after the segment aired on TV and tweeted how she really felt about the movie. So, to answer Jonze's question: no, not so moved:
Ok .now I can tell you what I thought of #her. Sad, male fetish fantasy of disembodied female who does his bidding..#newsnight
— emily m (@maitlis) February 14, 2014
Like lost in translation for mood but nowhere near as good..#newsnight #her
— emily m (@maitlis) February 14, 2014
But beautifully acted and indeed voiced #her #newsnight .
— emily m (@maitlis) February 14, 2014
Would I go and see it? Yes I would actually. Is it simplistic to call it " just a love story". Yes, hugely. #her #newsnight
— emily m (@maitlis) February 14, 2014
Related:
Spike Jonze's Dystopic Vision of Los Angeles in 'Her'
Listen: Full Track List For Spike Jonze's 'Her' Includes Arcade Fire, Breeders