Up in the Air (2009)

Adapted and updated (to suit the present economic situation) from Walter Kirn’s 2001 novel of the same name, Up in the Air follows a man named Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) whose job consists of him traveling to cities all over the United States and firing people for bosses who are too scared to do it themselves. He then supplies them with a packet that will supposedly get them back on track to finding new career opportunities. This job has him traveling so often that he sacrifices his home life and even his relationship with his family. A sacrifice he makes gladly. In fact, he even gives motivational seminars discussing the benefits of living a life that is detached from the usual things that way one down (homes, possessions, friends, family and all the baggage that goes along with it). At the company he works for a young new employee is hired that comes up with a more modern and cost-efficient method of doing his job over the internet via a program like skype. Since this will all but annihilate his lifestyle, he resists the idea and is then assigned taking her under his wing and showing her how he does his job while the company prepares to convert their business into the newer method.

To begin, George Clooney plays the role that was meant for him as it fully utilizes his star persona. He’s charming, independent, and in control of everything around him. He fits so well into this role that everything he does on screen feels genuine. This is especially true on some of the scenes where things don’t go as he planned or hoped. There’s never really a big breakdown or anything too exaggerated for the character. Instead what happens is that you can see the sadness in his face; the kind of sadness that comes from sheer disappointment. All the acting in this film is notable; Vera Farmiga as Alex Goran, who is basically Ryan in a woman’s body, is likable and plays off Clooney really well. Anna Kendrick, who plays Natalie Keener, is particularly good as the young and inexperienced new employee. Her interactions with Ryan are often humorous and she never comes of as too much or even too condescending and this again has to do with George Clooney’s performance. The way he handles or brushes off a lot of harsh criticisms from Natalie keep her from becoming annoying. This, combined with her being a fleshed out character, makes for a memorable performance. There are also some great small parts featuring strong performances from actors like Zack Galifianakis, Jason Bateman, Danny McBride, J.K. Simmons, and Sam Elliot; each of these actors only adds to their respective scenes.

The idea that this film is a time capsule for today’s current economic situation is pretty obvious from the start. Due to Ryan’s job, we are given a look at much of the United States during the current recession. Ryan and Alex’s obsession with high status and elite privileges contrast pretty sharply with the miserable and crying faces of the people who they have to fire. The way Ryan attempts to justify his position may well be the only way he can live like he does. The montages of people being fired bookend this film and much of the tone is affected by it. Even though the film is often funny and Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner’s script is really well written, the tone throughout the film has a consistent hint of sadness. Ryan’s views of the world and the way he lives in it are a bit shaken as the plot unfolds, but never to the point where Natalie, who often clashes with him on his way of living, somehow enlightens him or even that he learns some big answer to a major question by the end. It’s much more ambiguous than that and leaves you thinking, not only about the character, but about your own life. Up in the Air is the best film so far from director Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You for Smoking), and one that should be seen not only for it’s relevance, but because its one of the best films of 2009.