Up in the Air Reviews

‘Up In The Air’ is a great movie. The film stars George Clooney as corporate downsizer Ryan Bingham, who meets people when travelling and makes connections. The film features some funny intelligent plotting, some great connections and great acting by Clooney and his fellow co-stars Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick and Jason Bateman. Jason Reitman (director of ‘Juno’) directs this masterpiece smoothly, like he did with ‘Juno’. The cinematography is also brilliant!

The Loneliness of the hero touches you. The hero all the time airborn, never getting close and with a goal of his own. Great acting of Cloony.

I had already seen this movie, in fact, I even saw it in the movie theater when it was released, but since it was almost 10 years ago, I was really eager to check it out again. First of all, I have noticed that the last 3 movies directed by Jason Reitman (‘Men, Women & Children’, ‘Labor Day’ and ‘Young Adult’) were rather poorly received and this flick was the last one he made which was actually really successful. Well, to be honest, I thought it was not as good as 'Thank you for smoking' which should get much more credit but, in my opinion, it was still much better than 'Juno'. Indeed, even though 'Juno' was a huge critical success, as far as I was concerned, it was actually rather overrated. Anyway, at the time, Jason Reitman was definitely continuing his winning streak, that's for sure. Indeed, I thought it was just a great and compelling story and George Clooney was at the top of his game back in those days. What more do you need ? The greatest thing about this flick is that even though they showed a guy with one of the most worthless jobs ever, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for this man anyway. Contrary to ‘Juno’ which felt rather artificial and even slightly pretentious, this tale was much more convincing and really timely, especially in this time of economic crisis. To be honest, I have to admit that it was not so impressed the 2nd time around but, even so, I still think it is easily one of the best movies delivered by Jason Reitman so far. Anyway, to conclude, I enjoyed this movie a lot, it was one of the best movies released in 2009 and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

The consensus that UP IN THE AIR is, among other things, a particularly timely film becomes clear during its first few minutes, which depict reactions from several people who have just been fired from their jobs. It takes a while before we find out who it is that's doing the firing, but we soon discover that it's none other than George Clooney, who's sort of developed a reputation as the "cool, nice guy" of Hollywood over the last few years. That's far from what we can say of his Ryan Bingham, though. It's not just that this guy is the one in charge of firing people whose employers are too cowardly to give the news themselves. Ryan actually relishes the fact that, thanks to this job, he gets to travel constantly, never having to spend that much time in his hometown with his family, all the while working towards his goal of having traveled 10 million miles with American Airlines. But the reason why he wants to get all those miles isn't because he hopes to travel somewhere fun and exotic for free. He just likes the fact that so few people have accomplished that goal, and he looks forward to being part of that elite group. A wrench is thrown into Ryan's plans when his employer hires recent Cornell grad Natalie (Anna Kendrick), who proposes a new system that will allow them to fire people over a webcam chat. This means they won't have to travel to fire people anymore, which is great for the company in terms of reducing costs, but not so great in terms of preserving what is brilliantly described as Ryan's "cocoon of self-banishment."

More than being timely in terms of depicting the horrible effects that the economy has had in terms of the loss of jobs, UP IN THE AIR is a frequently brilliant character study. Nothing is as it may initially seem. As much as Ryan seems to be surrounded by people all the time, the truth is that what he does renders him incapable of ever making connections with people, as Natalie points out. When we first meet her, Natalie comes across as cold-hearted and over-educated, but we soon discover how incredibly sensitive she is, as she observes the way that Ryan carries himself. The only person that Ryan seems to have a shot at connecting with is Alex (Vera Farmiga), a fellow frequent traveler, who tells him to "just think of me as yourself with a vagina," and she's definitely not kidding. However, as we eventually discover, things aren't exactly what they seem with Alex either.

The strength of UP IN THE AIR comes from the fact that it succeeds both in terms of having great one-liners (including a magnificent play on words when a stewardess asks Ryan if he wants to keep a can), and also in terms of having solid scenes that feature long conversations. The best scene in UP IN THE AIR takes place when the film's three main characters are all together in the same place for the first time. Ryan just listens intently, while Natalie vents her apprehensions about the future while Alex gives her an "older" woman's perspective. The exchange that the two women have in which they list their "requirements" for what they look for in a guy is wonderful and expertly delivered. They both concur that "a nice smile" is easily the most important of the requirements. I happen to agree with that. :)

Ryan's argument for wallowing in his "cocoon of self-banishment" is that he never wants to get married or have kids, because he just doesn't see the value in it. Natalie tries to counterargue by asking him how he'd feel about dying alone, to which Ryan responds that "we all die alone" no matter what. UP IN THE AIR delivers the message that, true as Ryan's response to Natalie's question may be, what counts most are obviously the moments BEFORE we die, and that there is no doubt that these moments are better spent in the company of others: "Try to think of the happiest moments in your life. I bet that all of them involved other people being present."

This film is also wise enough to point out a severe flaw of modern society that is contributing more and more to this problem of people being unable to make human connections: technology. Clearly, the most obvious example is Natalie's proposal of doing something as horrible as firing someone over a webcam chat... but (perhaps because of karma) she feels the sting of technology and its impersonal nature a little later in the movie, when her boyfriend breaks up with her over a text message (which leads to a fantastic scene that manages to be both funny and heart-breaking during which Natalie loudly breaks down at the airport). It makes no sense that something that is supposed to promote advancement in the field of human communication is actually creating a regression in terms of people's ability to express things to one another, but that is exactly what is happening, and UP IN THE AIR is wholly unafraid to criticize this.

Despite all the praising I've done, I have to confess that, while watching this film, I was occasionally assaulted by a feeling that the potential of this premise wasn't quite being fulfilled to its absolute maximum. UP IN THE AIR could've very easily been a masterpiece of a dramedy. Unfortunately, the film isn't without missteps. A set of scenes involving Ryan taking Alex to his old high school doesn't quite deliver the level of nostalgia that it should. A later sequence involving a supporting character who gets "cold feet" right before a wedding doesn't exert the emotional punch that it should, and its conclusive line ("Welcome home") feels like something taken out of a conventional, feel-good mainstream movie (or even Lifetime fare) rather than what we get from most of the other scenes in this film.

However, I think the main quibble that I have with the film is that it didn't focus even MORE than it did on the character of Natalie. If this film had worked as a character study of BOTH Ryan and Natalie, it would've been absolute bliss for me. It's probably because, no matter what people say about George Clooney's performance, my opinion is that Anna Kendrick is the star of this movie. She blindsides us by initially coming across as cold and calculating, yet eventually unveils her warmth and insecurities, and it's just impossible not to adore her. It's a shame that the subplot of her boyfriend dumping her wasn't given more development and that she didn't have any other love interests later in the film. While Clooney's performance is certainly excellent, I have to take objection to those who are calling it the best of his career, because it would almost seem like they're forgetting his equally brilliant leading turn in MICHAEL CLAYTON. As usual, Vera Farmiga lights up the screen, and I'm very glad that it doesn't look like she's going to be snubbed here like she was for THE DEPARTED. While I have my reservations about the "twist" that comes about at the end in terms of the Alex character, I can't be anything but pleased with Farmiga's performance.

This is the third film from Jason Reitman, a young director who's been on a roll since 2005. His two previous efforts, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING and JUNO, are both amazing films. I gave an 8/10 to both, and they were on my top 10 lists for their respective years. The latter one was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar in 2007, and Reitman scored a directing nomination. What I find ironic is that rumor has it that UP IN THE AIR has a good shot at winning the 2009 Best Picture Oscar. I don't say it because I don't think the film is very good. It is. I say it because I think it's Reitman's "least good" movie (if that means anything). It lacks the biting satire of THANK YOU FOR SMOKING and the constantly creative dialogue of JUNO. But it's impossible to deny that its observations about human nature are anything short of extraordinary. While it may not be MY favorite film of 2009, it still has a chance at being in my top 10 list (depending on the movies I've yet to see), and there's no doubt that the film has three noteworthy performances, with Kendrick being the most impressive.

If UP IN THE AIR has the effect of getting at least a few people to re-evaluate how much they're actually relishing their connections with others, then its message has certainly been transmitted effectively. As the script wisely points out, the thing that we should consider when we undertake ANYTHING (whether it's getting married or starting a new job or whatever) isn't the fact that this will all eventually end and that we're gonna die anyway. What we need to appreciate is everything that comes before it ends. As Ryan and so many others would mistakenly believe, it's NOT about the final destination. Experiences like watching a film of UP IN THE AIR's caliber do nothing but reinforce that philosophy, which I think people should try to adopt as a mantra for their lives. The film's final, hopeful note is appropriate. If someone like Ryan can accomplish this, there's no reason why the rest of us can't do it as well.

I was very excited to see this movie, and what it had to offer. To my surprise, I ended up loving it. What I liked most, is that we see a very different side of George Clooney. He seemed vulnerable. His performance, in my opinion, could easily be the best of his career. In addition, I found the dialogue to be superb. The performances of the other actors & actresses are well done, and, as I mentioned previously, George Clooney's best. Anna Kendrick, an actress that I admire, put in a performance that really suprised me. She was fantastic in this film, and definately deserved being a nominee for best supporting actress. Vera Famiga, another actress in this movie,was good, but I dont think she was Oscar-worthy. To sum it up, I feel this movie is excellent, the storyline interesting, dialogue is well executed, the performances are top-notch, and it left me feeling good when it was over. Highly recommended. 8/10

Ryan Bingham: If you think about it, your favorite memories, the most important moments in your life... were you alone? Life's better with company.

Ryan Bingham is the one guy as a worker you never want to meet, because it means your life is about to go down the drain. Bingham is the guy that gets hired to tell people they are out of a job. Bingham is good at what he does and likes what he does. He is not interested in settling down and raising a family, he likes being on the road. He meets Alex who seems to be interested in the same things he is, so they hit it off and begin to fall for one another. All the while Ryan must train newcomer Natalie Keener who has a new philosophy that will keep them grounded. She is trying to introduce a new idea about letting people go via video conference.

Ryan Bingham: All the things you probably hate about travelling -the recycled air, the artificial lighting, the digital juice dispensers, the cheap sushi- are warm reminders that I'm home

Ryan Bingham likes his disconnection from society. He likes that he isn’t tied down and he likes that his life constantly has him on the go. All that changes for him when he meets Alex. She is the first person that understands his way of life, who does not want him to be someone other than who he really is. Alex and Ryan really begin to connect and they actually begin to like each other, and he even invites her to his younger sisters wedding. Ryan begins to genuinely care for Alex she isn’t just someone he wants to have in his life on a part time basis. The love story that blooms is honest and real. Farmiga and Clooney have such awesome chemistry and that is what makes this film so real. Despite the negativity that surrounds the character of Ryan Bingham the times he shares with Alex have this upbeat feel to them, much more then you get from watching the trailer. The trailer only shows you little glimpses of how Farmiga and Clooney are perfect when on screen together.

Anan Kendrick is so awesome in this film; she sheds the image she built herself when she starred in the Twilight films. This is Anna Kendrick, she is fiery full of passion and energy and she will do awesome things in the future. I would not be surprised to hear her name called within the next 5 years at the academy awards. She brilliantly played her character and keeping up with Farmiga and Clooney is no easy task.

This film was ultimately a commentary on society. How the corporate downsizing has affected America, and I liked Reitman’s touch on having real people in front of the camera and allowing them to express their views on losing their jobs. Reitman is a fantastic filmmaker; he is also a brilliant screenwriter, who makes films that don’t dwell on things that have already happened but things that are still happening things we as a society need to see as prominent issues.

I like that this film was just an everyday film and Bingham’s life does not change or nothing out of the ordinary takes place. He doesn’t get wrapped up in some major conspiracy; he just goes about his everyday life and wonders about the future of his industry. Reitman does bring a surprise ending into the picture, one that plays to the tune of the depressing atmosphere which is created in the firing scenes. Reitman wonderfully moulds a film that’s ending is somewhere out of the ordinary from the beginning. This is probably the best film I have seen that keeps these people’s lives ordinary. These people are all enjoying their lives as they currently are, which is good to see the struggle of these characters as things around them seem to be changing. Especially Ryan as he finally begins to let someone into his life. Alex was the only characters whose everyday life seemed a bit of a blur right up until the end and there is a reason why Reitman keeps it this way. Nathalie and Ryan are the two characters affected most by the events that transpired in this film.

I really felt connected to these characters and that is the best thing about a Jason Reitman film. Clooney just seemed so natural, Farmiga was great and this film made me a fan of Anna Kendrick. Good role for Jason Bateman as well, I will forever like that guy because of Arrested Development. I am excited for future Jason Reitman projects which may have Jason Bateman in them.

Em “Up in the Air”(2009), George Clooney é um executivo em uma consultora terceirizada que fornece seus serviços quando empresas enfrentam demissões em massa. Clooney é quem faz o tête-à-tête com os funcionários e lhes anuncia suas demissões sob a circunstância eufemista de “conselheiro” em um período de “transição de carreiras”. Passa 322 dias do ano l0nge de seu apartamento alugado e sucinto como tantos quartos de hotel em que passa. Família, ressentimentos e relacionamentos são alguns itens a serem despejados da mochila que carregamos diariamente, numa analogia que embasa suas palestras motivadoras; pouca bagagem é seu ideal.

Quantos filmes não vimos em que o charmoso e heremita protagonista em algum ponto é forçado a julgar que o sucesso, fama, dinheiro, ou no caso, milhões em milhas, não é nada se não temos com quem compartilhar ? Para cumprir essa premissa entram em sua vida Alex, sua versão feminina (“Pense em mim como a si mesmo com uma vagina”), com quem inicia o relacionamento perfeito de encontros casuais, e Natalie, jovem contratada da empresa acompanhando os métodos de trabalho do protagonista. Em atuações que não justificam as indicações que Vera Farmiga (de e O Menino do pijama Listrado(2009), Quid Pro Quo(2008) e Os Infiltrados(2006), apesar dos méritos na formação de uma sólida carreira) e a mediana atriz da franquia “Crepúsculo”( já diz tudo) Anna Kendrick receberam.

“Amor Sem Escalas” é,de fato, um bom filme, ágil, cativante e com excelente cinematografia, belíssima composição visual nos créditos iniciais; há boa química entre os protagonistas numa sofisticada comédia romântica, ainda que não seja uma comédia romântica. O fator que integra a fita diz respeito a abordagem espirituosa (assim como fez em Juno(2007) e Thanks for Smoking (2005)) e reducionista de Jason Reitman tratando do tema das demissões em massa.

Alguns europeus, o francês Ressources Humaines(1999) por exemplo, já haviam trazido esse amargo resultado do corporativismo capitalista em tempos de recessão, mas Jason roterizou o romance homônimo de Walter Kirn em um blockbuster americano. O ponto alto no enredo da crise econômica está na sempre magnética presença de JK Simmons (Burn After Reading (2008) e Juno) está entre os demitidos, que inclusive figuram um epílogo relatando algumas otimistas experiências que podem ser extraidas em uma “transição de carreira”: seis indicações ao maior prêmio do cinema americano: condescendência.

Up in the Air is a very good, almost great, film. With George Clooney playing a variation of the public persona he has built up, not to be confused with the real person, it offers him a chance to act as charming and roguish as one could possibly wish. He never fails to deliver, even if his performance requires no real “heavy lifting” scenes, he manages to find the layers in this man. And he keeps those complicated and messy emotions always swimming underneath the surface, never wanting to crack the surface with a hint of tension or deep thought. Here is the story of a man who has isolated himself from real relationships being forced to look at his life, for once. He is a man who is married to his job, and not much else occurs in his life.

This is where Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga, so perfect in their totally opposite roles but never ringing a false note. Kendrick plays a young upstart at the company Clooney works for who comes along and decides to update and shake up the system. No longer will Clooney be the road warrior, he will become the man who fires you over Skype. Upgrade? Downgrade? I’m not quite sure. But she’s perky, smart and slightly adrift in her life. (I related to her the most.) Meanwhile, Vera Farmiga is Clooney’s fellow frequent flyer, with whom he has a casual sexual relationship. She is warm, intelligent and utterly deceptive. That she plays her blossoming romance scenes with such conviction only makes the big reveal that much more heartbreaking.

Jason Reitman has yet to make a film that I haven’t liked, but this, to me, might just be his film that entertained me the least. The fierce intelligence of Juno and the blackest of black humor of Thank You for Smoking were more enthralling. I felt my attention waning at times during Up in the Air. One more trip through the editing room could have made that easy to fix. But it’s slightly complicated. Unlike with Dr. Parnassus, I cannot pinpoint exact spots where the movie felt long and like it needed to be tightened up. I just know that when I walked out that was my one grievance.

And for the record, I liked the ending.

"How much does your life weigh?"

While a great deal of "topical" motion pictures invariably arrive too late, 2009's Up in the Air is a flawlessly timed evocation of this modern age of corporate instability, a shaky global economy, and a general aura of uncertainty and discomfort. Of course, a film is not catapulted to greatness on account of its timeliness alone. Jason Reitman visibly understands this principal - he has created not just a relevant film with Up in the Air, but a tour de force on several additional levels. Reitman's prior directorial outings, Thank You for Smoking and Juno, were both assured comedies, but the 32-year-old director has taken an enormous leap forward with Up in the Air, toggling between comedy and drama, romance and social observation, and satire and sorrow with absolute confidence. Up in the Air is a reminder of a reality that movies prefer to gloss over - it's an achingly poignant film that manages to do a commendable job of both entertaining you and reminding you of how problematical and painful life can be.

George Clooney plays corporate downsizing expert Ryan Bingham. When the CEO of a company doesn't have the cajones to fire an employee themselves, they hire a professional like Ryan to fly in and deliver the news instead. In these bad economic times, Ryan's business is booming; he's perpetually flying all around the country, leaving people unemployed wherever he goes. Ryan lives his life in hotels, airplanes and airports, but it's a life he prefers - it allows him to ignore the responsibilities and attachments often associated with growing up. This is threatened when Ryan's boss hires an arrogant young hotshot named Natalie (Kendrick), who suggests the use of teleconference technology to allow remote layoffs. Objecting to the impersonal nature of virtual dismissal, but more concerned his cherished way of life will end, Ryan takes the naïve Natalie on one of his cross-country firing expeditions.

Thus, part of the film's dynamic is the experienced veteran who shows a determined newbie the ropes, which in this case involves the proper etiquette of dealing with distraught employees, the benefits of four-wheeled suitcases, and the preferred people to get in line behind at the airport. More comprehensively than any movie this reviewer has ever seen, Up in the Air masterfully evokes the essence of the airport experience as well.

Based on Walter Kirn's novel that was adapted for the screen by Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air is a rare cinematic animal: an unclassifiable story with a prime focus on people. It contains equal parts comedy and tragedy, romance and heartbreak. From time to time, it possesses the look and feel of a romantic comedy, but this is misleading. Ryan does develop a relationship with a woman he meets at the airport named Alex (Farmiga), but this is a secondary plot - a way to illustrate further facets of Ryan's life, and to provide tightly-scripted dialogue. Added to this, Reitman's picture is one of the best movies to tackle the inhumanity of the way corporations fire employees. The lampooning is razor-sharp and resolute; each target is singularly nailed before each point is driven home with unyielding force.

Up in the Air can be a tough film to stomach. As the proceedings continue to unfold and a viewer eases into the comfortable aura of escapism, Reitman continues to hit us with harsh reminders that life is unexpectedly cruel. The filmmakers masterfully used real recently-unemployed people (save for a few notable famous faces) for the scenes of dismissal; their genuine pain and heartache affords the film with an unsettling realism. The movie only truly missteps in the third act, at the point where the focus shifts away from hotels and airports to instead concentrate on Ryan's personal life to allow for Capra-esque redemption. Despite said redemption being inevitable for the character, this particular portion feels the most forced and the least natural. Additionally, the film's constant stream of sophisticated humour aside, there are a few easy jokes here that don't always gel with the recurrent scenes of workers having their lives shattered.

Ryan Bingham represents a fascinating specimen - a member of the modern world whose goal is the exact opposite of the American Dream: he doesn't want the house, the wife or the children, and his relationships consist of one-night stands in airport hotels. Eschewing human baggage, Ryan has developed a philosophy of personal disconnect and stark individuality which is shared with others throughout professional seminars. The title of Ryan's talk, "What's in your Backpack?", acts as a metaphor for how materialistic possessions and human relationships weigh us down. With a perpetually empty backpack, Bingham adores his solitary existence and cherishes the experience of avoiding the concerns of reality as he soars through the clouds from one rental car depot and airport hotel to the next. George Clooney is perfect for this role. More than virtually any other of this generation's actors, Clooney capably combines the old-world style and charm of classic Hollywood stars with the skilful malleability of the world's best character actors. Even though the character of Ryan Bingham thrives on the misery of others, Clooney's performance allows a viewer to sympathise with him. Thanks to Clooney's top-notch work, Ryan's lifestyle also seems bizarrely desirable until the curtain is finally peeled back to reveal the chilly loneliness residing within Ryan's cupboard.

Clooney was exceptionally paired with Vera Farmiga. The two stars generate white-hot sparks and irresistible romantic chemistry playing the anonymous lovers bonding over a mutual awareness of travel tips and hotel room seclusion. No less impressive is Anna Kendrick, whose perfectly assured and nuanced performance as Natalie may allow us to forgive her for tarnishing her résumé with the Twilight series. In those films she's generic and easily dismissed, but here she displays ownership of terrific acting chops, and that, given a proper outlet, she knows how to use them. Several other actors of note (J.K. Simmons, Sam Elliot, Danny McBride) were used sparingly but effectively. Zack Galifianakis, who shot to immediate stardom thanks to 2009's surprise hit The Hangover, is particularly note-worthy; his screen-time is hysterical.

Up in the Air is ultimately about realisation, breaking free from the corporate system, celebrating the freedom to act spontaneously, and daring to reach out to others. The naturalistic flow of the dialogue which unfolds in real-world rhythms, as well as the sharp comedy and heartfelt drama establishes Reitman as one of the finest filmmaking talents of his generation. It's a movie made for grown-ups by grown-ups, and let's hope for all our sakes there's still an audience for that kind of thing.

9.2/10

I was looking forward to seeing this film ever since I heard it was a close Oscar favourite. Also, I really like Jason Reitman as well. When I saw it at the cinema, I thought it was an absolute masterpiece!! It is a film that is full of laughs but it has its moments of emotional drama that does get depressing as it goes on. What I loved the most about this film is it felt like the viewers of the film are like travelling with Ryan in the film and we understand how he is feeling. Also, it is a beautiful film that I find is a life-teaching lesson for us all. As far as awards are concerned, I feel that Up In The Air as well as Inglourious Basterds and even Avatar deserves Best Picture instead of The Hurt Locker.


George Clooney delivers a performance that surprised me more than expected despite the awards he has been nominated for. Ryan is a man who makes a living by travelling to workplaces all around America who job is to fire employees. When Ryan meets both Alex and Anna, his life changes around completely and he starts to think about whether he wants to change things around in his life. George has always had that talent of playing a humorous character with a charming nature. I was never really a big fan of George Clooney before I saw Up In The Air but I like him more as an actor now. He is my pick for Best Leading Actor this year. Anna Kendrick's performance as Natalie Keener was absolutely amazing!! Natalie is a young and ambitious co-worker of Ryan's. The chemistry is something that could be possible love between the two. I think she rightly deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination if not a win this year. Vera Farmiga has delivered great performances over the years such as The Departed and The Boy In The Striped Pajamas. Her performance in Up In The Air is her best role of her career so far. Alex is a frequent flyer just like Ryan and when they meet they begin a casual relationship. Both actresses deserve Oscar nominations but Anna delivers the best performance of the two. Just like Doubt, this is the one film of the year where the entire cast delivers Oscar worthy performances.


Jason Reitman is a director who I am really getting into now! First he gave us Juno which was nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture back in 2007. Reitman has now created another masterpiece that is once again an Oscar favourite. He did more work on this one this time because he also co-wrote the script and produced it as well as directed it. Reitman is only 32 years old and he is probably the most talented young director of this generation. Reitman rightly deserves Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay which I'm sure he'll get anyway. The script was written beautifully! Definitely the winner for Best Adapted Screenplay for me!


Overall, Up In The Air is definitely one of the best films of 2009 that I would pick for Best Picture over favourite The Hurt Locker. It is both a film that should be taken seriously with top-notch acting, directing, writing etc but also a piece of entertainment that would be good on a weekend.