Movie Review - 'Up in the Air'

Up in the Air Starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick Directed by Jason Reitman Rated R

On the surface of the surface, Ryan Bingham's life appears to be exquisitely in order. He tells us during Up in the Air that he spent over 300 days on the road last year, making it back to his "home" and his office in Omaha for a little over 40 days. And he's not complaining; he loves things just the way they are. Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate downsizing specialist. That's not his official title, but it's a step up from Angel of Death, which is closer to the truth: Bingham fires people for a living, and he's very good at it. From his home office, Bingham gets flown around the country - Two days is Albuquerque, then a stop-over in Houston before spending the rest of the week (and weekend) in Miami. He travels light, he travels efficiently, and man, does he travel. Bingham racks up the frequent flyer miles and has been on board American Airlines so much, he's within shouting distance of 10 million miles. "More people have walked on the moan," Ryan crows about his accomplishment-in-waiting. Two things transpire and conspire against Bingham's life, which we begin to see is more of a pattern of behavior than a life, anyway. He meets a woman, Alex (Vera Farmiga), who asks Ryan to think of her as a female version of himself. She travels, too, living in airport hotels and dining in the finest captain's lounges this country has to offer. They hit it off in a glorious scene of one-upsmanship involving hotel and rental car rewards cards to see who really has the upper hand. "I wasn't sure these existed," marvels Alex at Ryan's American Airlines Concierge Key. And you know what happens next... That ongoing and oft-consumated flirtation, a kind of validation of Bingham's corporate Kerouac lifestyle, is bookended by the looming spectre of death. His boss (Jason Bateman) has assigned a crackerjack 23-year-old Cornell grad to streamline the operation. Rather than send the road warriors out for weeks at a time, the mass firings they execute so delicately in person will now be handled over the internet. Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) created this new system under a banner she calls "Glocal," as in make your global business local by cutting overhead and implementing cheaper methods of accomplishing the same goal. But what's missing in her approach is the personal touch, so Ryan is given the thankless task of traveling with the uninitiated Natalie to spots like Wichita, St. Louis, and Detroit, so she can see what goes into cooly crushing someone's life in a conference room. Needless to say, she may not be cut out for it. The scenes between Kendrick and Clooney, played out in a variety of locations with a greater variety of things at stake, are the best moments in a movie full of great ones. We see the two polar opposites of the central argument of the film, whether people (namely Ryan Bingham) is better off with or without a constant companion, a life partner, and great friends. Can you be self- sustaining? Though he has emerged as a front-runner for the Best Actor prize this year, Up in the Air is not Clooney's best work. He's ideal for the role if you know his own history as a once-married ladies man who is now a confirmed bachelor. When Bingham argues that we all die alone, no matter what comes before it, you know it's a conversation Clooney has probably had more than once. If you're throwing Clooney in a category, he truly is the closest thing we have to Cary Grant. And we need one of those. He shows more vulnerability than Grant, is more self-effacing about his age, perhaps, and is more flexible, as well. I preferred his work in Michael Clayton, but it's hard to imagine this movie without him. Of course, co-writer and director Jason Reitman has said that in his adaptation of the novel of the same name, he wrote Ryan Bingham with Clooney in mind. His performances are very natural, but that doesn't diminish the accomplishment. However, what you may remember most from Up in the Air is a rich, well-paced script, the soundtrack, and the how do you do by Anna Kendrick. I first saw her in an indie called Rocket Science, and I was one of the few. That one didn't do well. She's in the Twilight series, too, but doesn't contribute that much. Like Emily Blunt's turn in The Devil Wears Prada, Kendrick will be "the girl from Up in the Air" for a couple of years, and she should accept the compliment. She has to be everything Clooney is not. She isn't suave, she's her commitment phobia is not being in one, she's too smart for her own good, and she always shows every one of her cards. Up in the Air is not my favorite film of the year, though it has generated a world of talk in that regard. It's a keeper, and it's certainly very good, but I can't say it moved any mountains for me, and there are already a couple of films this year that did. But it's a tremendously satisfying movie that knows its characters and audience very well.

Comments

[Orinn]

Is it a limited release is that why you tease me. Its not showing in Phoenix. I'm certain I will still have to wait two more weeks for this.

[Get The Big Picture]

I was under the impression it did open in Phoenix this week. I wouldn't have published the review otherwise, because that's my official market. I guess that's what I get for trusting the word of the Phoenix Film Critics Society, then.

[MRPigg]

It is playing here, but only "exclusively" at the Scottsdale 101. I'm not sure when it is expanding.

Out of curiosity, which other film "moved mountains" for you this year besides The Hurt Locker, which was your last Five-Aper?

[Get The Big Picture]

Well, you'll just have to wait a week or so...

[Orinn]

Thankyou MRPigg for finding it my search was not diligent enough it seems.
The Scottsdale fashion square usually has these. I know because I saw Thankyou for Smoking there.
In the future I will check this theater as well. Will go see it tomorrow.

[SEAN]

This film was amazingly and surprisingly far better than I had anticipated...

Clooney shines in the role all be it, it might be a bit too close to home for him, given his history...

However, the script was brilliant. A lot of truthful touching moments in the script which were throughout the film.

Boy do I love Vera Farmiga she is just spectacular, beautiful, and elegant I had said a year or two ago she needed more work and now this Oscar buzz may have opened even more doors for her...

My only complaint was the predictability factor. But Clooney and the script made us sympathize with a guy who fires people for a living, I mean that is quite extraordinary right there all in itself....

The film had a lot of depth to it, it connected to a multiple range of issues & themes and the messeges were conveyed subtley and effectively...

I mean this was a great film definitly 1 of the top of the year and I really am surprised that it was so good...

Your review however kinda boggles me just for the fact I thought you would have offered much more praise for the film, I want to know what "moved mountains" for you as well????

[Jeanne]

The movie was wonderfully thought provoking and through contrast of the rookie 23 year old and the seasoned firing character played by Clooney, a realization & evaluation becomes the message of the movie to what is really important in life- you missed it--It is is super movie!

[Don Draper]

A solid film. I can identify with Ryan Bingham especially when he answers the phone & it is someone he doesn't really want to talk to, escpecially the way he silently drops an "F-bomb" which I do all the time. Jeff Bridges Will win Best Actor For "Crazy Heart" Goabourey Sidibe from "Precsious" for Best Actress Mo'Nique Best Supporting Actress & Christoph Waltz For Best Supporting Actor "UP" will take best Animated Feature I wish it would take the double with Best Animated Feature & Best Picture. Kathryn Bigelow Best Director Not James Cameron as much as I respect James Cameron Avatar quite honestly is a hodge podge of "Star Wars" "Fern Gully" "Aliens" & the characters from Whoville all on frape & viola you have a movie that satisfies & doesn't offend any demographic. I'd say "The Hurt Locker" for Best Picture, I would've enjoyed it more except for the D-Bag @ the theatre who decided to constantly text throughout the whole movie seriously shut up & turn off your cell phone for 2 & 1/2 hours please the world will not end I promise you that. OH yeah back to "Up In The Air" yeah it is a solid film I've seen it twice more enjoyable the 2nd time around I would love to see Reitman win @ least once.