Movie Review: Up in the Air

Every so often a film comes around that restores my faith in movie making. All year I am subjected to many terrible films that make me question the motivation of Hollywood directors and producers. On a Sunday afternoon, just over two weeks ago, I was treated to a surprise screening of director Jason Reitman’s new film Up In The Air. Presented as a secret mystery screening at the Starz Denver Film Festival, Up In The Air was introduced by actor J.K Simmons, who while only having a small role in the film, was a key player in Reitman’s two previous films, Thank You for Smoking and Juno. In his third film, Reitman has created, to put it simply, a character study. Where Juno was hip and trendy, and Thank You for Smoking was pure satire, Up in the Air is focused on one man’s journey to self discovery.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a frequent flyer who has the job of traveling to large corporations and informing staff members that their employment has ended. He does so in a way that surprisingly still makes him a likable character. His message to those he fires is delivered in a calm reassuring manner. Bingham speaks to those he fires with a sense of encouragement, optimism, and motivation. He moonlights as a motivational speaker who talks about what it is like to live out of a suitcase. Clooney is perfect in the role of Ryan Bingham, a man who spends over 300 days a year traveling, and because of this way of life enjoys the most of the experience of living from his suitcase. He has a member card for everything, so his lifestyle remains convenient and his travel is hassle free. He doesn’t have to wait in long lines at the airport, he passes by those waiting at the rental car counter, and his ultimate goal in his career is to fly 10 million miles – which means yet another special membership card of the elite. These perks are fulfilling to a man who has no roots, yet how far can a plastic card, a hotel bar, and a first class airline ticket take you in life? In travel terms it may be a goal to achieve, but in the real world, these are simply perks and nothing more. This is where the road to self discovery begins: When Ryan Bingham is grounded.

As in any journey of self discovery there has to be a moment of clarity. That moment begins when Ryan Bingham is brought back to his home office in Omaha, Nebraska where he is informed that his job will be changing drastically. A young hot shot named Natalie (Anna Kendrick) has developed a system that allows Bingham’s company to fire people via the Internet. Using a video conferencing screen, individuals can be let go without the expense of travel and the hassle of having to conduct these meetings in person. Of course, Bingham objects to the technology that makes the act of firing another even more impersonal than it already is. This is the first moment of clarity for Bingham who begins to realize that the lifestyle he has grown accustomed to may be slipping away from him.

The second moment of clarity is after he meets Alex (Vera Farmiga), an attractive professional who, just like he does, constantly travels. They converse for hours over their travel stories and even compare who has more convenience cards. They end up forming a relationship that involves hooking up in various locations via their travels. Over the course of time Ryan begins to fall for Alex as he realizes that, although he loves his lifestyle, he spends all his time alone.

Leading man George Clooney takes on a character that, similar to his role in Michael Clayton, takes care of problems that nobody else wants to. Clooney delivers subtlety perfectly. He creates performances that are so real and authentic that we forget we are watching a character on screen. Look for Clooney to receive much well deserved attention come nomination time. Starring opposite Clooney is Anna Kendrick who plays Natalie, a young hot shot who thinks she has her entire life planned out, until she realizes that life doesn’t always flow the way we expect it to. When Ryan takes Natalie on a trip to show her what it is he does, it becomes clear she has never experienced the real world. An average movie would have created a love story between Ryan and Natalie as they are polar opposites, and audiences seem to enjoy movies about totally different people falling for each other. Up in the Air is too smart for that type of gimmick and that is what makes this movie so much better, so different, original, funny,and thought provoking.

Jason Reitman could have directed a typical romantic comedy that just happens to take place with an airport as its background. Instead he utilized the world of travel and the effects that it can have on a relationship. He doesn’t create situations but instead characters who take part in situations. There are no cheap gags, or for that matter cheap characters. The people in this film are complex individuals with a story to tell. Even those who are losing their jobs play an important part in the choices and decisions the characters make over time. Reitman never lets his material overtake him. He is in complete control and that is evident from start to finish. His film never preaches about economic crisis, job loss, or the downward spiral of our country. It doesn’t need to because it respects its audience to know that those watching are aware of the state of the world. This is not a film with a broad message. This is a story about redemption, friendship, love, family, and the choices we make on our journey through life. The travel that takes place in Up In the Air is a metaphor for the travel we all take part in. As Ryan Bingham states during a motivational speech, “The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living.”

Up in the Air shows us the aspirations we all hope to reach, the relationships we form along the way, and the choices we decide ultimately make us who we are.

Fanboyz Grade: A