Up in the Air Review
Thursday, February 18, 2010
, Posted by Should I See It at 9:39 PM
Film: Up in the Air
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick and Jason Bateman
Plot: With a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.
Please be advised: Up In the Air was the cinematic experience that inspired The Guide to Cinema Etiquette. So my attention was not necessarily on the film. This review was written with great difficulty because of the horrendous behaviour of my fellow cinema patrons.
Up In the Air is another solid cinematic entry from director Jason Reitman, following the surprise box office success of Juno (2007) and the critical success of Thank You for Smoking (2005).
Up In the Air is a socially aware film, quite obviously making a comment on today’s society, but one that seems appropriate given the Global Financial Crisis.
Up In the Air is a socially aware film, quite obviously making a comment on today’s society, but one that seems appropriate given the Global Financial Crisis.
The opening scenes of men and women wondering what their future will hold now they are out of work are open, honest and a little confronting. Sure, it’s not an easy way to open a film, but it’s one of the film’s best parts. Mostly because those people in the opening and closing scenes are not actors, but people who have been recently laid off. They come with such a raw honesty that you would have to have a heart of stone not to feel for them.
Despite all this business about firing people, Up In the Air is not really about the Global Financial Crisis. That only provides the background for a story about the importance of having someone, anyone, to come home to.
The journey of Ryan Bingham (corporate sacker, motivational speaker that motivates people to rid their lives of personal connections) from a man who loves to be on the road to realising that how empty it is to be alone is expertly done. It is even evident cinematically: compare the efficiency and energy of the airport scenes at the beginning of the film, with the resigned way Ryan approaches he departures board at the films end.
In a story about the importance of human connection, it is not surprising that technology takes a beating, as does Generation Y for their insistence on using it. The scene where Natalie (Anna Kendrick) is dumped via text message is both heartbreakingly and hilariously ironic.
The only scene that feels awkward is the celebration of Ryan’s 10 million mile mark mid air.
Performances are solid (as you would expect, since all three leads are nominated for Academy Awards). George Clooney is very good. Ryan Bingham is just and ‘ordinary’ guy. There’s nothing wrong with him, he’s not crazy, not on drugs, not a criminal master mind, not fighting in a war, not dealing with the death of anyone. He just has a fear of commitment. And maybe that’s the hardest thing to do….act normal.
The only scene that feels awkward is the celebration of Ryan’s 10 million mile mark mid air.
Performances are solid (as you would expect, since all three leads are nominated for Academy Awards). George Clooney is very good. Ryan Bingham is just and ‘ordinary’ guy. There’s nothing wrong with him, he’s not crazy, not on drugs, not a criminal master mind, not fighting in a war, not dealing with the death of anyone. He just has a fear of commitment. And maybe that’s the hardest thing to do….act normal.
Vera Farmiga is the performance I am the most ambivalent about. I don’t think it’s really award worthy, she really didn’t have anything to do. Anna Kendrick was better….
Up in the Air was slated as the favourite to win the Academy Award for Best Picture before Avatar and The Hurt Locker snuck in. I have to say that Up in the Air is a probably a more appropriate choice than a bunch of CGI creatures and the war in Iraq.
Up in the Air is a good film and, apart from a few swear words, is relatively inoffensive. And it’s reflection of the times makes it better- or perhaps better received- that it otherwise would be.
Up in the Air was slated as the favourite to win the Academy Award for Best Picture before Avatar and The Hurt Locker snuck in. I have to say that Up in the Air is a probably a more appropriate choice than a bunch of CGI creatures and the war in Iraq.
Up in the Air is a good film and, apart from a few swear words, is relatively inoffensive. And it’s reflection of the times makes it better- or perhaps better received- that it otherwise would be.
Should I See It?
Sure! An enjoyable, well made film.
Up In the Air Official Site here.
I didn't really see why it was nominated for Best Picture, to be honest. Sure, it's laudable that the film was socially aware, but the content of the film itself never felt like it had a contention. It had no point. It was a pointless movie, and although the scenario (guy that fires people for a living) is inventive, the plot - what actually happens in the movie - went nowhere, and did not serve to promote a message, or shed light on any social injustices, or whatever it was meant to do.
It was okay, but nothing really happened and it was boring.
And halfway through, the camera suddenly reverted to a hand-held style which was really distracting. Again, something that didn't really have any point to it. And George Clooney's love interest. Did that storyline, no, that character, have any point? No.
I also find it ironic that the official site for this movie is all about facebook and twitter. So much for human connection!
Okay I'll stop writing now.