'Up in the Air' Movie Review

George Clooney's never been better than he is in Up in the Air, the depressingly relevant third film from writer/director Jason Reitman, based on the novel by Walter Kirn. I've seen Up in the Air listed as a comedy and while there are laughs in it, I would never lump it in that genre. You don't expect a movie about people who fly around the United States firing strangers to be uplifting, and it's not, for the most part. What Up in the Air is is an absorbing, well-acted, and timely film that's likely to put off some audiences who've experienced - or are experiencing - company layoffs due to the struggling economy.

Reitman wisely includes interviews with real people who've been let go, allowing them to speak out about how finding themselves suddenly unemployed affected their self-esteem, as well as their ability to care for their families. The inclusion of these interviews is a smart move by Reitman, acknowledging the people who are truly suffering in this economy and letting a sampling of laid off workers their chance to say what they would have liked to have said to their former employers. Up in the Air doesn't take shortcuts in displaying the impact of losing a job, but it also doesn't dwell on just that topic. Reitman and co-writer Sheldon Turner make sure that Up in the Air isn't just a commentary on the state of the economy, but rather a skillfully crafted character-driven piece about a man who discovers late in life what he's been missing out on by never having allowed himself the opportunity to plant his feet firmly on the ground.

The Story

Clooney stars as Ryan Bingham, one of the senior members of the staff of a corporate downsizing firm. Ryan's also a star amongst frequent flyers, spending more time in airports than at his apartment. He's set a goal for himself of becoming a member of the exclusive 10 million frequent flier miles club, a club which only has six members. Ryan's got traveling down to a science, knows exactly how much of what he can carry on a plane, how to pack to make the most of a small space, what rental car companies are the easiest to deal with, and he owns club cards for every major hotel chain.

In his spare time Ryan delivers motivational speeches, encouraging attendees to get rid of all the extra stuff they carry around that only serves to weigh them down. Ryan believes if we rid ourselves of everything from knickknacks to relationships, we'll all be much better off. And Ryan practices what he preaches; he doesn't believe in relationships and has even separated himself from his family, only seeing his sisters when he's forced into acknowledging they exist.

He's handsome, always immaculately dressed (no wrinkles whatsoever-how does anyone accomplish that living out of a suitcase?), unencumbered, and happy. And as far as women go, there are plenty of ladies on the road who he can charm into one-night stands.

However, once he meets Alex (Vera Farmiga), a fellow traveler who can match his gold cards one for one and who shares the same attitude about the joys of business travel, Ryan finds himself actually thinking this might be more than just about casual sex. Although she tells him up front she's just like him and not after anything other than a good time in the sack and someone who can engage in intelligent conversation, for the first time ever Ryan thinks he may have found someone worth making a commitment to.

But then things at work change and his high-flying lifestyle is threatened by a fresh out of college, computer savvy co-worker who believes traveling around the country is an old-school way of handling their jobs. Teleconferencing is more economical and accomplishes the same results, according to business-minded efficiency expert, Natalie (Anna Kendrick).

With his lifestyle under attack, Ryan takes Natalie with him on the road to experience first-hand what it's like to have to deliver such life-altering news to strangers.

The Cast

Clooney's natural charm eases the audience into embracing this man who fires people for a living. We don't ever like what he does, but we respect the professional manner in which he goes about his work. Clooney's Ryan cares for these people, even though he's with them for literally just a matter of minutes. He sees them as individuals and that helps us later when we need to sympathize with Ryan, the person. Clooney's likely to be adding a few more trophies to his shelf with this extraordinary performance.

Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick are also convincing and compelling playing strong women at very different points in their lives. Farmiga's Alex is older, wiser, and much less taken in by the opposite sex. Kendrick's Natalie is still learning the ropes, emotionally vulnerable and easy to hurt. Co-writer/director Reitman turned to his wife for help in writing a scene in which Farmiga and Kendrick share what they look for in a man. The resulting scene is simple and effective. Seated opposite each other, they open up about their expectations for a partner. It's my favorite moment from Up in the Air because it's completely truthful. It's that youthful optimism that there's someone out there who'll match every one of your criteria for a mate vs the stark reality of life. It's one of the smartest, most revealing scenes from any film this year, and Kendrick and Farmiga are just terrific in it.

The Bottom Line

Silly me, I was actually taken aback by how dark this film gets, even after having read the synopsis. I don't know why I assumed it would be anything other than it is, given the fact it revolves around a man who fires people. Walking out of the theater I wasn't sure exactly what I thought of it. I knew I liked it, but it was so different from what I had expected. Up in the Air is a strange beast and one that I appreciate for being something different than anticipated, something that doesn't take short-cuts with a story or with character development, and one that doesn't cheapen its build-up by tacking on a feel-good Hollywood ending.

Reitman's responsible for two of my favorite films of the last couple of years - Juno and Thank You for Smoking - and with Up in the Air he continues to be an impressive filmmaker who can be counted on to serve up films that connect with the audience. Great cast, smart writing, and a timely but touchy storyline make Up in the Air a film you won't forget about the moment you leave the theater.

GRADE: A-

Up in the Air was directed by Jason Reitman and is rated R for language and some sexual content.

Theatrical Release: December 4, 2009 (Limited), December 25, 2009 (Wide)

_{Disclosure: This review is based on a screening provided by the studio. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.}