"A striking look at how relationships and humanity is affected in our world's current economic situation."
- Rated R For language and some sexual content.
- Who's going to like it: People who enjoy closely crafted character drama.
- Who's going to like it: People who enjoy closely crafted character drama.
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) fires people for a job. In a time of economic recession, he finds himself busier than ever before. He traverses the country delivering the bad news to unsuspecting employees that react to losing their jobs in a variety of different ways. Some cry, others curse, and others even mention suicide. Ryan is there to console them. To help them “transition” to the next step in their life. He’s hired by companies too chicken to fire their own employees. He’s there to sugarcoat their departure and to actually put a bright spin on it all.
Bingham spends most of the year on the road, flying from city to city. He’s at home in airports and hotels. His “home,” in Omaha, Nebraska is a one bedroom dump that he rarely stays at. He loves traveling. It’s what keeps him going. He’s shooting to gather more flyer miles than most people could ever dream of acquiring. He’s happy.
Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) graduated top of her class, and is ready to change the way Bingham’s company works. When she proposes an idea of firing people by webcam, Bingham feels his world slipping away from him. He’s at home in the air, what will he do if he has to sit in his Omaha office all day firing people electronically?
Firing people can be a tricky business. It requires a smooth talking individual to calm the people being fired. Bingham takes Keener on a few trips to show her the ropes. Show her that firing people isn’t just telling them that “They’ve been let go.” It takes a human touch.
As Bingham travels from airport to airport and hotel to hotel, only a few things matter to him. When he meets another road warrior named Alex, they hit it off and end up comparing rewards cards (rental car rewards, hotel rewards, flying rewards, ect.) like little kids counting the candy haul they’ve gotten on Halloween. As you watch you can’t help but think how meaningless Bingham’s life is. He has no interest in marriage or children. His only goal in life is to reach that ever elusive flyer mile account balance. He doesn’t want to use them, he just wants to have them.
Bingham has spent so much time in the air, he’s failed to create any lasting relationships on the ground. He’s estranged from his family, and he meets Alex occasionally for a quick get together. He fools himself into thinking that the only things in life that matter are gold zone reward cards, and memberships at the Admiral’s Club. He’s a sad man, and watching what he does for a living is even sadder. That we live in a world where people’s sole job is to fire people is unbelievable.
“Up in the Air” never takes time to come out and explain what it’s trying to tell you, you just have to figure it out on your own. Director Jason Reitman, who also helmed the smash hit “Juno,” has a style of direction that gently leads you along the path of the story. His quick and witty banter is matched by the heart and character development within.
“Up in the Air,” is one of those films that you don’t feel so much that you’re just watch as you are observing. Can we see our work taking over our lives? Do work related activities obscure our view of what’s really important in life? Do we hide behind our cubicles instead of going out and seeing what the world has to offer?
Bingham spends most of the year on the road, flying from city to city. He’s at home in airports and hotels. His “home,” in Omaha, Nebraska is a one bedroom dump that he rarely stays at. He loves traveling. It’s what keeps him going. He’s shooting to gather more flyer miles than most people could ever dream of acquiring. He’s happy.
Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) graduated top of her class, and is ready to change the way Bingham’s company works. When she proposes an idea of firing people by webcam, Bingham feels his world slipping away from him. He’s at home in the air, what will he do if he has to sit in his Omaha office all day firing people electronically?
Firing people can be a tricky business. It requires a smooth talking individual to calm the people being fired. Bingham takes Keener on a few trips to show her the ropes. Show her that firing people isn’t just telling them that “They’ve been let go.” It takes a human touch.
As Bingham travels from airport to airport and hotel to hotel, only a few things matter to him. When he meets another road warrior named Alex, they hit it off and end up comparing rewards cards (rental car rewards, hotel rewards, flying rewards, ect.) like little kids counting the candy haul they’ve gotten on Halloween. As you watch you can’t help but think how meaningless Bingham’s life is. He has no interest in marriage or children. His only goal in life is to reach that ever elusive flyer mile account balance. He doesn’t want to use them, he just wants to have them.
Bingham has spent so much time in the air, he’s failed to create any lasting relationships on the ground. He’s estranged from his family, and he meets Alex occasionally for a quick get together. He fools himself into thinking that the only things in life that matter are gold zone reward cards, and memberships at the Admiral’s Club. He’s a sad man, and watching what he does for a living is even sadder. That we live in a world where people’s sole job is to fire people is unbelievable.
“Up in the Air” never takes time to come out and explain what it’s trying to tell you, you just have to figure it out on your own. Director Jason Reitman, who also helmed the smash hit “Juno,” has a style of direction that gently leads you along the path of the story. His quick and witty banter is matched by the heart and character development within.
“Up in the Air,” is one of those films that you don’t feel so much that you’re just watch as you are observing. Can we see our work taking over our lives? Do work related activities obscure our view of what’s really important in life? Do we hide behind our cubicles instead of going out and seeing what the world has to offer?
(5 out of 5)
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