Up In The Air

Book your tickets now; this is one flight that you don’t want to miss. George Clooney is at his charming best in this timely, revealing look at the impersonal business of corporate downsizing, where loyal, hardworking people are cut adrift for no other reason than they have become a financial liability.

Up In The Air is the story of Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) who fires people for a living. He spends over 320 days a year in the air, so for him, an airport terminal or a hotel room is as comforting as a well-worn couch in front of the TV. Ryan Bingham has traveling down to a science. We admire him as he easily navigates through the check-in process with his efficiently packed carry-on and his slip-on shoes. He knows flights, routes, schedules, hotels and every rewards card program there is. If you want to know a good place to eat in town, Bingham is your man.

In today’s financial climate, Ryan’s company is thriving and he’s never been busier. But when corporate hires an enthusiastic young woman fresh out of college, she convinces them that they need to catch up with technology and start terminating people on-line through face to face conference calls, saving the company millions in travel expenses. Ryan is appalled. He may make a living by terminating others’, but he does it with respect, compassion and sensitivity. He adamantly points out that video conferencing is too impersonal and not adequate for the task. To prove his point, he is ordered to take this young lady on the road with him, giving her some first-hand experience into what he really does and goes through.

Up In The Air is insightful and poignant as it puts faces on the statistics our government calls the unemployed. These are real people with real needs. Hardworking people who were good at their jobs, but have become the victims of cooperate greed, mismanagement and a down economy. Their years of loyalty have been repaid with a severance package and a boot out the door. This film, let’s us in to one of the darkest days of their lives.

Although the subject matter is grim, don’t let that stop you from seeing this movie. There is a lot of humor in this film and it is witty, honest, revealing and extremely well written. Vera Farmiga (Orphan) plays a kindred soul that Clooney meets in the airport. They are perfect for each other and a friendship begins that you’ll find yourself routing for. Anna Kendrick (Twilight) is also effective as a young corporate climber who is trying to take Clooney and his like out of the air. This is the kind of film that years from now will be an example and testament of this era and time. Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You For Smoking) has given us a well-crafted film in every sense and it deserves to be seen. So treat yourself this Christmas and buy yourself a ticket. If you have a job you’ll be thankful that you do and if you don’t you’ll find that you are not alone, there are many people like you up in the air.

Rating: Must See A grounded film that will leave you uplifted