Robin PottratzClooney, Reitman make "Up in the Air" Soar ***1/2 stars out of 4
January 2nd 2010 23:40
Here we thought it was Diablo Cody's over-stylized dialogue that made Juno a success, it turns out it was the man at the helm. Jason Reitman establishes himself as one of the new generation's best filmmakers with Up in the Air, a piercing dramedy that combines themes of the decline of Corporate America, over ambition, isolation, love...and finally finding yourself. It is quite an achievement...one that his accomplished primarily through the effortless performance of its leading man.
George Clooney in one of those roles that you can only imagine him playing stars as Ryan Bingham, a corporate down-sizer whose job is to fire employees for bosses who are too chicken to do the job themselves. Ryan's job puts him on the road 300 days a year and allows him to live an isolated, yet carefree and unattached lifestyle (hell, he even does speaking engagements where he talks about how his entire life can be fit in a backpack). All is well for Ryan until his company and his boss (slimy Jason Bateman) pull him off the road and decide that there is a better way to fire employees...online, an idea created by a young Cornell chipmunk in a business suit named Natalie (Anna Kendrick)
Wanting to protect his way of life as well as the dignity of which he carries out his duties Ryan decides to take Natalie on the road with him to show her how its done.
This is the plot of Up in the Air, but no plot synopsis can accurately describe the depth and feeling that Jason Reitman pumps through the veins of this 21st century classic. During Ryan's travels he meets Alex (firey Vera Farmiga) who is Ryan's female equal or as she puts it "I'm you with a vagina." Not to mention Ryan's quest to reach ten million frequent flyer miles.
However the heart of Up in the Air comes in the scenes of the actual firings. Jason Reitman invited actual laid off employees to come in and tell their stories for the film which breed a real authenticity that can't be denied. Even the fake firings featuring hilarious turns from Zach Galifianakis and JK Simmons are laced with true pain and make the process of firing palatable.
The most poignant firing scene comes when Natalie and Ryan go to an auto plant in Detroit where Natalie provides a demonstration of her new technological form of giving employees the ax on a 30 plus year auto plant employee. Its a hard scene to watch, as this old man breaks down into tears at the news that his life's work is being cut short. If there is any moment that can put a human face on our current economic failings...this is it.
What also gives Up in the Air its pop are the performances. All of the supporting players are solid. Vera Farmiga takes her breakthrough role and runs with it. Her verbal sparring with Clooney is classic and she oozes a sexual charisma that can be felt through the screen. Jason Bateman has a ball as a new definition of sleaze...and the most acclaimed supporting performance Anna Kendrick as Natalie is a tad overrated...but she does play her motormouthed overly ambitious note very well...even as her life comes unraveled when her fiance dumps her via text message.
Above all, this is George Clooney's show. It would be easy to dismiss this performance as simply Clooney being Clooney, but this is exactly what the film calls for. Ryan's world is changing in every possible way...from being forced to take Natalie on the road, to his connection with Alex, to his way of life being taken from him...Clooney remains his charming and debonair self which is what makes this acting of the highest caliber.
Clooney does take a break from the movie star persona when he takes Alex to Wisconsin for his sister's wedding and makes us forget the hypocrisy of his words when he convinces his sister's scared fiance (Danny McBride) that life is better with someone to share it with...despite his personal devotion to isolation. The fact that he is able to convince us of his sincerity just goes to show how good he really is.
The gold medal goes of course to Jason Reitman who isn't afraid to defy convention in order to make his points. The audience leaves the theatre without the classic Hollywood ending which we are all the better for. What we do leave with however is a greater understanding of current America which is difficult to achieve while still being so much fun. Its amazing what can be done with a little sharp writing and directing...oh and George Clooney doesn't hurt either. Those three elements make Up in the Air, not only one of the year's best...but in time perhaps a new classic.
George Clooney and Vera Farmiga in "Up in the Air"
George Clooney in one of those roles that you can only imagine him playing stars as Ryan Bingham, a corporate down-sizer whose job is to fire employees for bosses who are too chicken to do the job themselves. Ryan's job puts him on the road 300 days a year and allows him to live an isolated, yet carefree and unattached lifestyle (hell, he even does speaking engagements where he talks about how his entire life can be fit in a backpack). All is well for Ryan until his company and his boss (slimy Jason Bateman) pull him off the road and decide that there is a better way to fire employees...online, an idea created by a young Cornell chipmunk in a business suit named Natalie (Anna Kendrick)
Wanting to protect his way of life as well as the dignity of which he carries out his duties Ryan decides to take Natalie on the road with him to show her how its done.
This is the plot of Up in the Air, but no plot synopsis can accurately describe the depth and feeling that Jason Reitman pumps through the veins of this 21st century classic. During Ryan's travels he meets Alex (firey Vera Farmiga) who is Ryan's female equal or as she puts it "I'm you with a vagina." Not to mention Ryan's quest to reach ten million frequent flyer miles.
However the heart of Up in the Air comes in the scenes of the actual firings. Jason Reitman invited actual laid off employees to come in and tell their stories for the film which breed a real authenticity that can't be denied. Even the fake firings featuring hilarious turns from Zach Galifianakis and JK Simmons are laced with true pain and make the process of firing palatable.
The most poignant firing scene comes when Natalie and Ryan go to an auto plant in Detroit where Natalie provides a demonstration of her new technological form of giving employees the ax on a 30 plus year auto plant employee. Its a hard scene to watch, as this old man breaks down into tears at the news that his life's work is being cut short. If there is any moment that can put a human face on our current economic failings...this is it.
What also gives Up in the Air its pop are the performances. All of the supporting players are solid. Vera Farmiga takes her breakthrough role and runs with it. Her verbal sparring with Clooney is classic and she oozes a sexual charisma that can be felt through the screen. Jason Bateman has a ball as a new definition of sleaze...and the most acclaimed supporting performance Anna Kendrick as Natalie is a tad overrated...but she does play her motormouthed overly ambitious note very well...even as her life comes unraveled when her fiance dumps her via text message.
Above all, this is George Clooney's show. It would be easy to dismiss this performance as simply Clooney being Clooney, but this is exactly what the film calls for. Ryan's world is changing in every possible way...from being forced to take Natalie on the road, to his connection with Alex, to his way of life being taken from him...Clooney remains his charming and debonair self which is what makes this acting of the highest caliber.
Clooney does take a break from the movie star persona when he takes Alex to Wisconsin for his sister's wedding and makes us forget the hypocrisy of his words when he convinces his sister's scared fiance (Danny McBride) that life is better with someone to share it with...despite his personal devotion to isolation. The fact that he is able to convince us of his sincerity just goes to show how good he really is.
The gold medal goes of course to Jason Reitman who isn't afraid to defy convention in order to make his points. The audience leaves the theatre without the classic Hollywood ending which we are all the better for. What we do leave with however is a greater understanding of current America which is difficult to achieve while still being so much fun. Its amazing what can be done with a little sharp writing and directing...oh and George Clooney doesn't hurt either. Those three elements make Up in the Air, not only one of the year's best...but in time perhaps a new classic.
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