Operator

I'm a sucker for truly original stories and also am a fan of Mae Whitman, so I was happy I found this gem of a movie. It's a story about change and the challenges it brings, the gray area that's often found between need and love, and addiction.

The main characters are the young married couple, Joe and Emily. Both have careers, routines, friends, and a seemingly solid relationship with one another. But when Emily agrees to be the voice for an AI system Joe is programming for a healthcare client, he becomes addicted to his creation and eventually replaces his wife with it. (Of course, the movie does a much better job showing this progression than I just have.)

If I were writing a paper about it for a film or English class, I'd have a heyday discussing what all this symbolizes-all the tasks and distractions and technologies that are easily accessible and can lead us on paths that take us further away from What Really Matters.

With Joe, we get to know a character who is plagued by panic attacks and he needs Emily to help him. Emily is that voice of reason, that whoosh of calm, that warm embrace I think everybody needs. I found myself wanting (someone like) her in my life, and I got angry at Joe for letting her go-Does he not realize how truly amazing she is!?!

Not only is the story creative and relatable, the acting and cinematography are fantastic. I loved the graphs that would pop up from time to time, and the music was spot-on. I really enjoyed it.