There's so much good about Up In The Air that I just don't know where to begin.
Jason Reitman's follow up to Juno is both timeless and timely. It greets this
wonderful economic downturn we've encountered head on, while presenting a
classic tale of a man thinking he knows his place in the world, when it's all
just smoke and mirrors. It's definitely one of the best movies of the year, and
it deserves every award it will eventually be nominated for.
Up In The Air tells features a terrific Clooney performance. He plays Ryan
Bingham, a man with a job nobody wants. He travels across the country and is
hired by firms who need to inform their employees of downsizing. He has to fire
each individual and assure them it's not the end of the world, while making the
fallout to the employer minimal. Ryan is very good at his job, and in a country
where the economy is collapsing before our very eyes and unemployment rates are
at their highest.... Well, to steal a quote from another movie this year,
"Cousin, business is a boomin!".
What keeps Ryan going amongst all his depressing settings is his love of air
travel. He loves the frequent flier miles program. He loves the environment of
the airports he travels to. He impresses fellow air warrior Alex (Vera Farmiga,
in a role that requires far more than it initially seems) with his bevy of
membership cards. Ryan has a small apartment in Omaha, but his life is neatly
packed up into his suitcase, ready to go wherever he is needed with the greatest
of ease. He's even created a personal philosophy about his travel habits that he
applies to his life and others in motivational seminars he provides. Ryan is a
man who lives on the move, baggage just gets in the way.
Eventually Ryan is faced with the challenge of new technology. Fresh out of
Cornell, young Natalie (Anna Kendrick, who I'm told is in the Twilight movies in
some regard) has created a method to fire employees that is more cost-efficient
than sending representatives across the country for three quarters of the year.
Her plan: Video conferencing. Bingham, afraid of losing his life of airport
nirvana, takes Natalie under his wing.
George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham perfectly. He doesn't overplay him, and yes,
while it is a role Clooney is born to play (Swinging bachelor with not a lot of
attachment or baggage) he plays it so well you don't even notice it's Clooney
after awhile. He has the perfect blend of charm and humanity to pull this off.
He never comes off as preachy, and he certainly understands that there are
others in the world who do not share his beliefs. It's an understated
performance that's almost too subtle to be recognized as brilliant. Of the two
ladies, Kendrick has the showier part, and she excels at holding her own against
the seasoned pro that is Clooney, while bringing an unexpected depth to her
character. And Farmiga is just damn sexy and lovable in this role. Again,
perfectly cast, perfectly performed.
