Spike Jonze's free web film features robot love, vodka, long wait times

We wanted to tell you what Spike Jonze's new web film I'm Here is all about, we really did, and not just because it reportedly has robots in it -- though that was certainly a major factor in the decision. But after we crossed the virtual street to the virtual box office, we were informed that there were no seats left in the virtual theater. Imagine that. So instead of providing our impressions here, we'll just give you the facts. I'm Here is sponsored by Absolut Vodka; I'm Here is a 30-minute love story about humanoids living in Los Angeles. I'm Here can be viewed alongside Facebook friends; I'm Here can only be seen by 5,000 viewers a day. I'm Here promises a "striking online cinema experience," and we were struck by just how lifelike waiting for tickets could be. And if you, too, can't get "in" to see it, I'm Here can satiate you slightly with a one-minute trailer after the break.

[Jurai Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:01PM]

protip, it's on youtube here
http://www.youtube.com/user/AmberLamps404

[abedinthehouse Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:13PM]

@Jurai
Next show in 2 hours and 23 Min.

Be there or be Square!

[jedidove Posted Mar 19th 2010 11:21PM]

@abedinthehouse

It's ironic because this is exactly why they did it this way. Now people won't shut up about it.

[andthemaniam Posted Mar 20th 2010 10:43AM]

@Jurai

thanks so much for the link, I didn't feel like waiting to watch it :D Bless you Amber Lamps!

[jstraw Posted Mar 20th 2010 12:21PM]

@Jurai

Thank you very much!

[HurricaneDC Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:03PM]

5K viewers a day? To hell with that just torrent it.

[HurricaneDC Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:05PM]

@HurricaneDC and i just tried viewing it on the Absolut site... apparently even though I'm over 18 and it says you have to be over 18 to watch it, the site won't let me in.

Congrats, they just lost any ad revenue they woulda gotten from me.

[MarcO Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:23PM]

@HurricaneDC

Year goes in the first field !

[Brent1700 Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:36PM]

@HurricaneDC They really do shoot themselves in the foot. And they wonder why people pirate things...

[Ucvbn Bjfyuvs Posted Mar 19th 2010 11:05PM]

@HurricaneDC
Might I suggest Ciroc, or perhaps Belvedere. Either, a much better choice in fine Vodka than that rotgut Absolute sells.

[ericisthename Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:07PM]

watched this earlier in the day... the chick robot reminded me of the chick ape in the remake of planet of the apes.

[retoor Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:08PM]

Saw it (without waiting!). It wasn't anything special.

Here's a summary:
Lonely guy finds "quirky" girl, falls in love. Girl does dumb shit, guy tries to help her. Girl takes everything and gives back nothing. Guy gets hosed.

Other than the nice visuals its a story of how stupid guys can be when they think they're falling in "love" with a female. Apparently robot guys also think with their penises too.

[MarcO Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:22PM]

@retoor

Thanks for the jaded commentary about your experience with love, and above all, thanks for the spoilers. I didn't know a thing about the story, and was looking forward to just going wit the storytelling. Awesome.

[chrisaroz Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:36PM]

@MarcO You probably should have stopped reading when he posted: "Here's a summary:"
I mean, it's pretty obvious what comes next.

[mattcoz Posted Mar 20th 2010 1:27AM]

@retoor "Apparently robot guys also think with their penises too."

Which makes the ending so ironic.

[RatioTitle Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:10PM]

I was amazed that I was too lazy to go see a movie showing on the internet. The wait time was 4 hours unfortunately, which is far too long to expect someone on the internet to wait...or maybe it's just me :-/

[abedinthehouse Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:28PM]

The plot is actually very rich in nature if you take the time to analyze it. There is obviously a deeper story/theme within that you guys are missing if you think this is "nothing special."

[trunksy Posted Mar 20th 2010 2:11AM]

@abedinthehouse Here's the background on the movie short:

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/absolut-spike-jonze-movie-i-am-here-sundance

Besides the movie using a completely heteronormative analogy, I'm not sure I would agree with the central question of the movie. Would you give yourself up for a little creativity in your life? That's such a false analogy to think of life as either boring (irony of being a machine) or fun (but reckless). At some point, the hipsters have to grow up and realize that there's so much more to life than just a crappy job or friends and partying.

One particular hipster comes to mind that is making that transition. It's actually been kinda' interesting for me to watch Facebook co-founder, Chris Hughes go from co-founding the 'cool' social website that's overtaken Google Search in the number of web hits to heading up the online portion of then, presidential hopeful, Obama's campaign and now starting Jumo.com, that's hoping to connect individuals with ways and organizations to help the world. Apparently, there's room for the power of social networks that idealist.org hasn't tapped into that Jumo.com can bring to the table.

[rudiger Posted Mar 20th 2010 9:09PM]

@trunksy Them is be big words you is using.

[porthoss Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:38PM]

Hey I know that theatre!..check it out..

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=coral+gables,+FL&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=40.953203,92.724609&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Coral+Gables,+Miami-Dade,+Florida&layer=c&cbll=25.749426,-80.260318&panoid=XkzYA8lVdLuo8PvfzT-66g&cbp=12,180.88,,0,-0.37&ll=25.751845,-80.260427&spn=0,359.990644&z=17

[abedinthehouse Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:40PM]

@porthoss
Hey their playing the wrong movie!

Therefore it Cant be the right theater.

[Massive Poop Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:41PM]

Just watch Days of Our Lifea with your grandma...same story line

[collindow Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:42PM]

I don't see what that had to do with Vodka. It was neat, yeah, but still no idea where Absolut comes in.

[ericisthename Posted Mar 19th 2010 10:49PM]

@collindow its better with the vodka

[collindow Posted Mar 19th 2010 11:40PM]

@ericisthename
I see now! If you drink a fifth while watching it won't be so depressing!

[SaintSizzle Posted Mar 20th 2010 7:00PM]

@collindow it only had to do with Absolut in that Spike started making this a long time ago and ran out of funding for the project. Some time went by and Absolut stepped in and financed the rest of it.

That's really it. (no facts checked, just something I read somewhere and it made sense.)

[enex Posted Mar 19th 2010 11:28PM]

the movie can be summed up, what if hipsters were robots?

[aeiluindae Posted Mar 19th 2010 11:40PM]

It was an interesting film. I just lied about my age, to be safe. Yes, hipster robots. Strange thought, robots being ironic.

[Philip Han Posted Mar 20th 2010 1:09AM]

I just watched it!
Awesome short-film.

I love the cinematography. Hoping to see a "Behind the Scenes" soon.

[Philip Han Posted Mar 20th 2010 1:11AM]

Oh, also...

ANYBODY

AND

EVERBODY

WHO

TORRENTS

OR

CHEATS

THEIR

WAY

INTO

WATCHING

THIS

IS

LAME.


Sorry, the truth hurts.

[Gordonator Posted Mar 20th 2010 6:12AM]

@Philip Han

I'm pretty sure that would have had the same effect without the precarious line breaks.

[maddman420 Posted Mar 20th 2010 9:45AM]

Wow, this picture is taken of an actors playhouse in my town, Coral Gables, FL right outside of Miami

[jamo Posted Mar 20th 2010 11:24AM]

Just watched, loved it...

[martymankins Posted Mar 20th 2010 3:17PM]

I saw this film at Sundance 2010 in January. It was part of the Shorts I program.

I really enjoyed it a lot, of course, I like most things that Spike Jonze does. It reminded me a lot of the Shel Silverstein story "The Giving Tree" done robot and with a mix of creative characters.

Good to know it's online now for viewing.

[edude05 Posted Mar 20th 2010 3:46PM]

Anyone know how to grab the FLV? I want to watch it but I'll have to do it offline.

[colinet Posted Mar 20th 2010 5:30PM]

It's wonderful. It's totally irrelevant that the storyline is corny - aren't they all? It's beautifully done.

[Ezye1313 Posted Mar 20th 2010 6:47PM]

I'd say that was weird.

[rudiger Posted Mar 20th 2010 9:07PM]

Daft Punk already made this movie.

[Ichinisan Posted Mar 21st 2010 10:17AM]

I never reserve tickets or use any special ordering services. I've probably seen 100 movies at the theater in the last 10 years...and I believe only once or twice did I have to wait for another showing. Even then, it was the next showing.