Reitman's latest film, 'Up in the Air,' soars above the rest
By: Tatiana Craine, Arts Editor
Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: The Arts
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) loves his life. He flies around the country and relishes in the airport experience. He even makes going through security look like a walk in the park. He travels 322 days a year. And each of those days, he's firing people to pay his own bills.
Ryan works as a corporate downsizer waiting to attain a jumbo-jet amount of frequent flier miles. He breezes through life alone and independent, but happy. But when his company hires an up and coming graduate named Natalie (Anna Kendrick) with new ideas about making the downsizing process more streamlined by digitizing everything, Ryan finds himself grounded and stir crazy.
On a trip, Ryan finds a fellow frequent flier companion, Alex (Vera Farmiga), who delights in the sex-factor that nearly ten million frequent flier miles gives a person. Meanwhile, Ryan tries to prove the importance of downsizing in person to his boss (Jason Bateman) by taking Natalie on a few stops to experience firing employees for herself. Soon, the three learn that about the implications of their loneliness and lack of human connection.
"Up in the Air," originally a 2001 novel by Walter Kirn, has been adapted for the screen nearly a decade later by director Jason Reitman. The film loosely follows the book, focusing on Ryan and his relationships as fleeting as the passersby in an airport.
Clooney turns in an outstanding performance, comfortable as ever in Ryan's airport-proof shoes. His disarming smirk graces his well-aged features, enchanting characters and audience members alike. However, Clooney manages to balance charisma with emotion and vulnerability. His romantic counterpart, Farmiga, keeps up with Clooney-their passion and zeal never cliché or old.
The film addresses tender topics in today's economic climate as people lose their jobs and are left to pick up the pieces with the support of family and friends. Far from preachy, "Up in the Air" breaks away from melodrama and presents an entertaining and touching story about a man trying to harmonize his independence and his need for others.
Ryan works as a corporate downsizer waiting to attain a jumbo-jet amount of frequent flier miles. He breezes through life alone and independent, but happy. But when his company hires an up and coming graduate named Natalie (Anna Kendrick) with new ideas about making the downsizing process more streamlined by digitizing everything, Ryan finds himself grounded and stir crazy.
On a trip, Ryan finds a fellow frequent flier companion, Alex (Vera Farmiga), who delights in the sex-factor that nearly ten million frequent flier miles gives a person. Meanwhile, Ryan tries to prove the importance of downsizing in person to his boss (Jason Bateman) by taking Natalie on a few stops to experience firing employees for herself. Soon, the three learn that about the implications of their loneliness and lack of human connection.
"Up in the Air," originally a 2001 novel by Walter Kirn, has been adapted for the screen nearly a decade later by director Jason Reitman. The film loosely follows the book, focusing on Ryan and his relationships as fleeting as the passersby in an airport.
Clooney turns in an outstanding performance, comfortable as ever in Ryan's airport-proof shoes. His disarming smirk graces his well-aged features, enchanting characters and audience members alike. However, Clooney manages to balance charisma with emotion and vulnerability. His romantic counterpart, Farmiga, keeps up with Clooney-their passion and zeal never cliché or old.
The film addresses tender topics in today's economic climate as people lose their jobs and are left to pick up the pieces with the support of family and friends. Far from preachy, "Up in the Air" breaks away from melodrama and presents an entertaining and touching story about a man trying to harmonize his independence and his need for others.
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