Up in the Air (2009)

Director: Jason Reitman
Screenplay: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner (based on the book by Walter Kirn)
Cast: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick 
Music: Rolfe Kent
Time: 109 minutes
Bottom-line: Soars high! 

Natalie: How can you not think about that? How does it not even cross your mind that you might want a future with someone?
Ryan: It's simple; you know that moment when you look into somebody's eyes and you can feel them staring into your soul and the whole world goes quiet... just for a second?
Natalie: Yes!
Ryan: Right, well I don't.

Clooney as Ryan

Meet Ryan Bingham (Clooney), a man working for Career Transition Corporation, a firm that helps in termination assistance (which means he goes around firing people on behalf of their employers). Ryan loves flying, and his aim is to become the seventh person in the world to reach the ten million frequent flyer mile mark. His philosophy – on which he delivers motivational speeches too – is that one must live without any attachments... literally, live off a suitcase! In one of his trips, Ryan meets another traveller, Alex (Farmiga), and the two of them start a casual relationship. Ryan is unexpectedly called back home when his firm decides to use the idea of a new employee, Natalie (Kendrick) – to conduct layoffs via video conferencing, thereby “grounding” Ryan, which irritates him. How Ryan’s lifestyle now changes, and what the consequences are, is what Up in the Air is about.

Farmiga as Alex

The stars will wheel forth from their daytime hiding places... and one of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over. 
The story deals with various themes – Ryan’s job of firing people, his viewpoint of “moving is living”, his aim of reaching the 10 million mark, and his relationships with Natalie and Alex. All of them are tied by a fine thread: Ryan (described as a suave, smartly dressed businessman in his 40s) wants to lead a life without having any commitments; not even a proper house. He even says: 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. This attitude makes him oblivious to the pain faced by the fired employees, who often talk about how their family would react (“Done it so many times that I’ve forgotten what it is like to hire someone” he says), which is why he is probably so good at his job of firing them! Later in the story, he realises the flaw in his policy and by the time he attempts to start a new life it is already too late.

A minor theme that is also discussed is the use of technology. From firing people "over the internet" to breaking up over a text message, "where are people's manners?" (as Ryan's boss says). We are moving towards a time where all contact between humans is going to be electronic; how will that be? Is face-to-face conversation going to become a thing of the past?

The part of the story dealing with the 10 million mile mark is probably to show how obsessed one can become with something others consider trivial – Natalie’s belief that one must find a life partner is mocked at by Ryan, while Ryan’s yet-to-reach milestone is mocked at by her. Up in the Air makes you question whether or not one needs to have attachments. Yes, Ryan seems “happier than most married people”, but then he himself asks, “In all your best moments, were you alone?”

Kendrick as Natalie

George Clooney’s acting is simply stunning. He’s funny, charming, condescending and of course, he carries with him his finesse and panache that no other actor is capable of bringing on screen. The female leads played out their roles superbly too. This is Anna Kendrick’s first major film, and the manner in which she plays the newly joined employee is excellent. She is new to travelling (much to Ryan’s irritation!), has her own ideas of life – contrasting those of Ryan’s in every way – bold enough to question Ryan’s doctrines, and smart enough to get others’ attention. Look out for the scene where she confronts Ryan about marriage; the debate they have gives you a lot to think about.

Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air is a new type of drama, which proves to be funny, influential, thought-provoking and entertaining all at once. It does not stand out exceedingly well in any category in particular, but the overall presentation and charm is something you should not miss! Join Ryan Bingham in his journey up in the air!

My Rating: 4.5/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 91%