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Up In The Air - Movie Review
Being a minor with not much responsibility other than taking the next test or completing a major homework assignment, I have not really been affected by the downturn of the economy. I can see how other people are affected by it, but I have not really felt what it is like to lose a job, losing a home, or having no money to my name.
Jason Reitman’s (director of Juno) explores the downturn of the economy through characters Ryan Bringham played by veteran George Clooney. Ryan is hired by other companies to fire workers simply because the managers do not have the “balls” to do so. Bringham experiences the fast life, traveling from city to city, only really exploring the airport and the monotonous lives of office buildings. During his ventures to airports, he meets fellow Alex Goran, Vera Farmiga, a fellow “fast-lifer” and goes into a “casual” relationship with her. Clooney is content with his life of little personal human communication until young Natalie Keener, Anna Kendrick (Twilight), tries to make Clooney’s company more “efficient,” threatening Clooney’s lifestyle. Clooney then spends most of the film taking Keener to fire people showing her that her “developments” will ruin the basis of the job.
Up In The Air is a commendable movie. Being a fan of Juno and other “hipster” films, I immediately fell in love with the artistic shots, indie music, and funny one-liners. But unlike Juno, Reitman’s film actually has meaning. It is a true representation of today’s economy, focusing and conveying the “lows” of our society. Up In The Air is not a “feel-good” movie as it portrays death, loss, and love, in a very negative way. But because of this, it establishes the purpose of the film, showing life is ugly.
The cast of the movie achieves a well-acted feat. George Clooney acts in his truly apathetic character to the point of realism. Although Clooney performs an Oscar-worthy performance, his character’s emotions are not consistent throughout the movie. Clooney’s character goes through an emotional change, that would seem to drastic for it to be possible. Clooney’s love interest, Vera Farmiga likewise plays her character to perfection without the flaws of an emotional change. Although actors Clooney and Farmiga make this film shine, Anna Kendrick’s performance is less than stellar. Kendrick, known for her roles in Twilight, doesn’t move beyond the teen acting she displays in the teen-vampire hit. Her character is important to the story, but I sometimes found her character to be both bothersome and somewhat annoying. Kendrick’s performance got her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the Golden Globes which in my opinion, is not deserved. The acting in Up In The Air is great, but it contains some minor flaws that can be overlooked.
Up In The Air is a movie that I recommend to most mature movie goers. Like Jason Reitman’s other directed films, it has a dark feel that leads to a good film. Young audiences will not appreciate this film, of course, due to a representation that will just “go over their heads.” The final song in the credits composed by an average citizen, sums this movie up, as it brings reality to the film from a true representative. Never has a film’s credits been so touching. Overall, Up In The Air is the movie that this recession will be represented by for generations to come. Grade: B+
