23/04/2012: Up In The Air [2009]

So after watching a surplus of horror movies the week before this I decided to mix it up, and put on something a little happier and more lighthearted. I still can't believe that Up In The Air acme out almost 3 years ago now, but I finally got around to seeing it, and it wasn't exactly what I was looking for when I chose it. It is however a strong movie that examines some strong issues.




I new of Up In The Air only through the name of George Clooney, and I tend to think nowadays that he directs most of his own movies. This isn't infact true and he has only directed 5. Up In The Air comes to us from the director of Juno, which I'm not the biggest fan of, but I do enjoy Thank You For Smoking and recently Young Adult. From that movie roster we can see that Jason Reitman likes to tackle very human issues with his movies, and Up In The Air is no different.

It was originally adapted from a novel, whose writer cameos in the movie, but the screenplay sat around for a couple of years. However with the fact the America's economy took a downturn, Up In The Air became all the more relevant. George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a downsizing expert, (he fires people for people who can't do it themselves), who is the best at what he does, or so we imagine. Mr. Bingham travels almost everyday of the air, constantly flying from city to city across the U.S.. He lives out of a single suitcase, racking up air miles with no goal other than to reach 10 million and becomes a super elite something or other member of American Airlines. His never used apartment is furnished like a hotel room, and he has no connections to anywhere, enjoying his solitary life, traveling through the air.

While unadvertised, this actually exists for those elite frequent flyers.

So, a man who enjoys traveling 356 days a year, with no connections and no roots. It sounds lonely, but it is clear that Bingham enjoys his lifestyle, and has no wish to change. He has met another frequent flyer who is the casual relationship of his dreams and is about to give a seminar on his lifestyle philosophy. So when he is suddenly grounded due to the introduction of video chat into his business things turn upside down for Bingham.

One of the big issues that Up In The Air addresses is of course, the business of firing people. In an economic slump, that business is booming, but UITA looks at how getting fired affects people, describing it as their most vulnerable time. Interestingly, a significant number of the actual firing scenes feature real people who had been recently let off, making their reactions entirely real. Unfortunate as the issue may be, it is not one that effects us all in such a national way, unlike the current American climate.

This man should cameo in everything!

The other half to this drama is the romantic part, because of course, a happily solitary man can't truly be happy can he? Not in the eyes of society. So while Clooney's character goes though some major life changing revelations, Up In The Air still handles the entire romantic component in a rather unorthodox manner. I won't ruin anything, but I will say that there is a certain scene in Chicago that is as crushing as a sledgehammer, and in the end, the movie leaves you with a very large bag of mixed feelings and ideas without a comforting wrap-up to make everything better. Not exactly something I was expecting.

The cast of course is well done, if the key characters consist of only 3. George Clooney, isn't famous for nothing and Vera Farmiga was nominated for an Academy Award for her role. Anna Kendrick, when not surrounded by the _________ (I'll let you mad-lib whatever derogatory descriptive word you wish) that is Twilight is a great and rising actress, although I'm not sure where exactly she is going. I picture her in comedies but that isn't exactly where she is going. Overall all three are great, and there is a steady supply of other great actors in smaller roles.

There is a lot of one red object in this movie. That chair, a suitcase, maybe that was all.

So Up In The Air really packed a punch that I was in no way expecting, but it was certainly an outstanding movie. George Clooney plays his role as a smooth talking man in a completely different way than usual, and while I wasn't exactly caught up in the economic troubles of the U.S. I did find the problems of Bingham himself to be exceptionally powerful, and unfortunately completely crushing. Up In The Air is definitely one hell of an artful and important movie, although its significance will vary. Either way it is still worth the watch.

Link:
Up In The Air IMDb