Up in the Air

Release Year: 2009

Director: Jason Reitman

Review: With his third solid film, director Jason Reitman proves that he is a talented director here to stay.  In 'Up in the Air' Reitman goes back to where is he comfortable, making a film that spins the prospective on a person who may be considered evil, showing them in a different light.  In 'Thank you For Smoking' we got to inspect the character of a tobacco lobbyist, and in this film we get to witness the life of a person who fires people for a living.  A detestable job, but one that Ryan Bingham(George Clooney) excels at.  What makes this person tick? What fuels him to be able to do what he does?  These questions are what makes this film interesting.  It is an examination of an empty person.  One who spends so much time on the road, he has no real home, and yet he enjoys it.  This begs the question, is Ryan Bingham really empty, or can a person with his lifestyle lead a fulfilling life despite his lack of ties and despite his profession.

In a role that is tailor made for him, George Clooney drives the film.  Not that his performance is extraordinary, its not.  It is exactly what it needed to be, which is confident and charming.  Clooney has a voice that carries the film, one that makes you believe there is more to this person than his seemingly pallid lifestyle.  He has no close personal ties.  He has no nest to return to.  And yet he is happy.  This is the beauty of this film.  It never forces its stance onto you.  Clooney is challenged to change his lifestyle by everyone around him.  The people he fires, the women he meets and his own family.  I think most people watching this clearly see that he is missing out.  And yet, its left 'up in the air' (yes, I went there) whether or not Ryan actually gets swayed himself.  It doesn't matter.  The film makes a clear case for one lifestyle, but it never demonizes the counter-lifestyle.  Ryan is happy with the way he lives, so why should other peoples opinion on how he should be living, affect how he lives.  There is no doubt that he grows as a character, but there is room to grow without changing who he is fundamentally.  

The movie is a fantastic commentary on life which urges the viewer to contemplate what is important to them, all while withholding its judgment.  Beyond this, it is just a smart film.  It never gets carried away with itself, staying grounded instead of needlessly overreaching to get to an emotional level which is unattainable for this type of film.  Reitman has an uncanny ability to keep the pacing perfect, and balances humor and poignancy perfectly.  Its not a film that is going to blow you away, but one that is very nicely packaged and has very few faults.
Rating: 4.5/5

Award Consideration:  The three main actors are all garnering award talk.  George Clooney will probably be nominated, and probably won't, and shouldn't win.  He plays the role perfectly, there is no denying that.  But the role has a ceiling.  There isn't a lot of depth to it.  It's just not an award worthy character.

The two supporting women are also getting attention.  They both are fine in their roles, but I don't see what the fuss over them is about. Vera Farmiga played her role fine.  She was convincing, but not really award winning material, but probably more deserving than Anna Kendrick.  Anna was also fine in her role.  It did take awhile to warm up to her, and she came off awkward to begin with.  I'd support Farmiga's nomination, but question Kendrick's.  Then again the supporting woman category usually baffles me.

The spotlight is obviously on best picture.  Critics love this film, and so do audiences.  That is a good combination, and one that worked out well for 'Slumdog' last year.  There seems to be a swelling of support for this film, and it will certainly be nominated, and has a good shot at winning.  Its hard to find a fault in the film and that goes a long way.  I don't think that it propels it to the best picture however.  This was a very well rounded, solid, movie, but not the best of the year.