Review of Up in the Air (2009) by Kimberly Faith P — 13 Nov 2011

Up In the Air is the third film that I have seen from the young director, Jason Reitman (those others being the underseen Thank You for Smoking and the over-praised [but still very good] Juno), and it is his best film.

Glossy and sophisticated -- modern and relevant -- fervent and waggish, Up In the Air has more layers than the atmosphere and it soars amongst the clouds. George Clooney plays "a corporate hatchet man" who pretty-much lives in the sky onboard airplanes traveling from city to city going company to company downsizing the staff of nameless businesses from coast-to-coast.

He lives a solitary life and this is exactly how he wants it. He has two sisters he doesn't see much at all (the younger is getting married and is played by Heavenly Creature's Melanie Lynskey who should have a larger role), nothing that ties him to a permanent address, and a relationship with his female equivilant in the skies (Vera Farmiga, who is FINALLY going to score a long overdue Oscar nomination for this film).

Jason Bateman (I don't like his character here, but Bateman continues to keep getting cooler as his impressive resume gets longer and longer) plays Clooney's boss who has brought-in a new hot shot college grad (the already mentioned Kendrick who'll also score an Oscar nod) who plans on revolutionizing their business.

Her big idea is firing everyone via a computer screen to save the company billions in travel expenses. Fearing that his life as he knows it (and LOVES it) will be over, he gets to take Kendrick under his wing to prove to her that "fiiring" needs to be done in person -- he believes a human element must be part of the already humiliating, life-changing and demoralizing act.

Kendrick matures while on the road while Clooney grows a heart, learns how to feel and develops a sense of belonging. Up In the Air is a lofty and beautiful film. There is nothing flashy or explosive here and it is a top-notch personal drama (with some comedy) with three exceptional performances.

I have read of some confusion and distaste regarding the film's ending; but I think the ending was perfect as it is left open for our interpretation of what is important. I think people can see this and think: "okay .

.. and?" but that is what helps raise the film to a higher altitude.