Dir. Jason Reitman
"Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed loves, monogamous swans. We are not swans...we are sharks."
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a businessman, whose business is letting people go. It's not an ideal job, but it is not only one he handles flawlessly, but one that allows him constant travel. Where one person might not appreciate the kind of life on display here, Ryan is a rogue who believes in not being tied down and connected, and travels with very light luggage (thematically, metaphorically and quite literally). His way of life is threatened when he meets two women, Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) a potential love interest and Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) who's a bright young start at his company who through the use of technology is making Ryan irrelevant.
The brilliance of Up in the Air, and there's a lot of it to go around, comes from the characters. Sure, there is a lot to be said for the thematic complexity and depth to the plot (if one actually tries to look for it, it tackles technology, human connections and several other rich and intriguing subjects, and quite exquisitely at that), but ultimately the biggest draw to this film is the characters. In the last few reviews I've written I have expressed how much I have loved certain characters, but with the exception of Amelie (which is even referenced in this film), I have not cared about them nearly as much as I do here. One of the best things you can say about a film is that it leaves you wanting more without feeling cheap, and I feel this has always been said and I hold it true, personally, when I watch movies. I wish Up in the Air could've kept going, I wanted to see what these characters were doing after the credits. I wanted to see how these relationships continue to evolve.
Yes, the characters are that fully realized and played. George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick all deserve attention for their acting and character work here. If you've ever wondered to yourself what exactly good acting is, then do yourself a favor and watch Up in the Air.
I've touched upon the great script and characters, but the cinematography is also quite brilliant (it's easily the best shot/looking film Jason Reitman has put out [previously Juno and Thank You For Smoking]). There's a simplistic, sleek, and stylistic beauty to the way his shots are set up, and the plane-view interstitials were brilliant. The soundtrack too is a high note, and is something Jason Reitman has proven he has a knack for with all his films.
I honestly can't recommend Up in the Air enough. It's one of those movies that is just so good, I couldn't see why people wouldn't like it. It's funny, smart, sharply-written, and superbly acted. It has deserved all the attention it has received during the award season, and deserves even more, if you ask my humble opinion. As it stands Up in the Air might be my favorite Reitman film and quite possibly the best, but I think that's left decided for repeat viewings. Please go see Up in the Air!
5 out of 5
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