‘Up in the Air’: The year’s best
I’ve been touting “Up in the Air” as the year’s best film since I saw it in Toronto in September – and I still haven’t seen anything that has changed my mind.
With this deft, witty, smart and soulful film, writer-director Jason Reitman establishes himself as one of the most sure-handed purveyors of a certain kind of comedy, a tradition that marks him as a modern purveyor of the same cinematic tradition as Frank Capra and Preston Sturges.
“Up in the Air” is Reitman’s third feature (following 2005’s “Thank You for Smoking” and 2007’s “Juno”) and his most fully realized to date. His reworking of Walter Kirn’s very different novel captures the sensibility that Kirn plugged into – the subculture of the constant traveler, in pursuit of frequent-flyer miles, upgrades, perks that accrue to the loyal and regular customer.
Given the lead time on putting together a studio movie in Hollywood – and putting one together around George Clooney’s busy schedule – it is mere chance that this film arrives in the wake of a massive economic downturn that still has people shivering under very thin 401Ks – if they have jobs at all. But Reitman has written the perfect character for these times: a courtly and affable grim reaper named Ryan Bingham, embodied by the immaculate Clooney in what could easily be an Oscar-winning performance.
Bingham works for a consulting group in Omaha, which hires itself to companies that need to lay off groups of employees in one time-managed swoop. So Ryan Bingham becomes the face of downsizing, the one who explains the situation, thanks them for their work and wishes them well on their future endeavors. And no one at the company that’s actually taking a reduction in force has to actually get his or her hands dirty.
It’s a brutal process, yet Ryan has it down to an art. He is the voice of reason, the cool fresh-pair-of-eyes who can help you look at the very uncertain future with, perhaps, a bit more optimism. He has learned to give the process the kind of dignity it deserves, to try to keep emotions in check or at least moving in a less negative direction.
He seems to spend weeks on the road at a time, returning home to main office and a bare-bones apartment to change up his stuff. He is really most at home in the airport, on the airplane, in the Admiral’s Lounge, at a hotel, in a rented car – on the road, in other words.
He slips away from his executioner’s life on occasion to deliver motivational speeches, which are titled, “What’s in your backpack?” The intention is to get people to throw away a lot of the baggage they carry around that’s slowing them down in their life and career – but it might as well be a primer about what’s important to Ryan Bingham, which is to be left alone and to travel without distraction or interruption.
His goal is to join the elite ten-million-miles club, which he is rapidly approaching. But his whole way of life is threatened when his boss (Jason Bateman) brings in a young consultant bearing the next wave: video-conferenced firing sessions, removing the need for people like Ryan to fly anywhere.
Her name is Natalie (Anna Kendrick) and she’s convinced that she’s the wave of the future. But Ryan objects to his smooth boss Craig (Jason Bateman), saying that eliminating the face-to-face element is, in essence, cutting their own throat – that his in-person approach is what keeps the job relevant, necessary and bearable.
So he takes Natalie with him on one of his purge tours of America, letting her sit in on his sessions, then letting her try it on her own – and then watching as she takes over and handles one of the video-conferenced lay-offs as well.
The best part of Reitman’s film is its consistent sense of surprise: This frequently feels like a Hollywood product, with precharted plot paths that seem obvious in their direction. And yet every time you think you know where the movie is taking you, it detours into something else, leading you unsuspecting to a finale that is both emotionally crushing and moving.
Reitman’s point is that there is value in the connections we so casually shed in order to maintain our cruising altitude. As he examines his life from a slightly altered angle, Ryan discovers that his protective coating of self-imposed solitude may have trapped him inside, rather than protecting him from those outside. That’s particularly true when he shows up unexpectedly for the wedding of a younger sister in Wisconsin – and finds that the family he long ago shed still means something to him.
Clooney is perfect in this role: disciplined, under control, funny, smooth and seemingly invulnerable. But this is a movie about a man surprised to discover that he is, in fact, vulnerable to all the things he’s avoided for most of his professional life. And Clooney touches the viewer’s heart every time that vulnerability peeks through, every time his shield is pierced.
He’s got the perfect foil in Anna Kendrick as the self-assured Natalie, whose confidence and youth are like blinders that Ryan gradually removes. And Clooney finds the ideal erotic playmate in Vera Farmiga, as a fellow traveler who rubs up against Ryan and becomes a sometime companion when their schedules align. Farmiga is at once seductive and similarly shielded from her feelings. Or perhaps compartmentalized is more accurate, a trait that Ryan can’t quite imagine her having until it’s too late.
Reitman’s film manages to make important comments about the nature of and need for meaningful work in our lives, without being preachy or obvious about it. The firing scenes are alternately wrenching and funny – but humorous in a painful way, for what they say about what so many people are facing in the aftermath of the Bush debacle.
Ultimately, however, “Up in the Air” works because it is too smart to pound its points home. While it has a lot to say, it’s not about to give you a list of bullet points. Instead, it takes you for an engulfing and entertaining journey – and leaves it to you to realize that there was a lot more going on here than its seemingly simple tale of one man’s pursuit of frequent-flyer miles.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I have to say that I agree. Just say it on a preview and there is a lot that this movie says without weighing you dangerously down with it’s content, which is actually quite heavy when you think about it. The crowd laughed a lot and got very somber at appropriate times. The movie hit so close to home on so many levels that it takes you on a whirlwind of a ride. I agree, 5 stars would barely give it justice.
December 13th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I was enjoying your review until I read the last sentence in the second to last paragraph. Why do you feel the need to take a political shot at Bush? Why the need to interject your political bent into a movie review? Isn’t it time to move on? Wipe the tears from your eyes and get some counciling for whatever it is that precludes you from getting past the Bush era. Just because you control the forum doesn’t mean your readers want your political opinion. Go fly a kite.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
How do we go from a movie review about a man who has issues about commitment to a cheap shot at President Bush? Why do you think any of us care about your, no doubt much more enlightened than ours, political views? I’ll bet your elitist friends all called you up and congratulated you on your clever and oh so subtle jab but you’ve also just lost any chance of credibility as far as I’m concerned. Not that you care but this will be the last Marshall Fine review I ever read.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I concur with CWMUND. Your jolt of Bush bashing throws the whole integrity of your review in doubt. Fortunately, I saw the movie last weekend and know first hand that it is indeed worthy of 6 stars.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
1. Can’t wait to see the movie.
2. Wonder if there is any end to Hollywood’s obsession with blaming everything from weather to present day poor business practices on George Bush. I’ll buy the kite you can go fly.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
I was enjoying your review and was even half convinced on seeing the movie despite my dislike of George Clooney(for his politics.) But after reading through your “Bush shot” I realized this was probably George himself writing the review. Too bad the hard facts indicate the liberal policies pushed on the banking industry through the racism card led to the “aftermath of the Bush debacle.” I wonder what you will call the aftermath of the BHO disaster? Never mind, here’s your koolaid.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
My goodness, I couldn’t agree more with CWMUND! I was really enjoying your review, and wham – blindsided by pointless sucker punch! What does Bush (and his alleged “debacle”) have to do with this movie? Please keep your political leanings to yourself. You are needlessly alienating people.
December 16th, 2009 at 5:08 am
I was carried away with this wonderful analysis and review of a movie that I really want to see, and then, BAM, I was blind sighted by a quick jab of “Bush bashing”. I guess liberals just can’t help themselves. Did you want me to see the movie, or for me to just boycott it because you are a liberal activist who endorsed it? When will you guy’s learn to leave your politics at the water cooler, and not constantly barrage every ear with your political opinions. I thought this was a movie review, not an activist rally. Jeez!
December 16th, 2009 at 5:24 am
I agree with CWMUND. It’s disconcerting to be reading an intelligent, unpretentious, heartfelt review about a movie and then come upon a pot shot aimed at a president who actually tried to stop this debacle many times during his 2 terms but was stymied by DEMOCRATS. Educate yourself instead of being spoon-fed pablum by people with an agenda. You might find the names Barney Frank and Barrack Obama, the organization ACORN, and descriptions of government intrusion that started decades ago pop up quite often in your researches. Then ask yourself this simple question next time the Obama Administration blames the Bush Administration in order to divert attention from its own incompetency: Why don’t they call for an investigation? If you hate Bush for his policies and beliefs, that’s fine. If you love Obama for his policies and beliefs, thats fine. Just know what those policies and beliefs are in the first place. BTW, it goes against established protocol for a presiding president to disrespect, blame, or otherwise diminish the president that came before. The ball is in Obama’s court now, he’s the one who’s supposed to be dealing with it. Blaming Bush doesn’t inspire much confidence he up to job.
December 17th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I too, was enjoying the review until I got to the snide Bush comment. That just revealed to me that anything published by this person is not worth my time. I won’t read anything else by Marshall Fine.
December 22nd, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Ditto!!!!! Susan said it all. What a self rightous nut case. Won’t waste my time with the film.
December 22nd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Please don’t ruin any more of your fine reviews with irrelevant political commentary. George Bush is gone, let him rest in peace.
December 23rd, 2009 at 5:44 am
The review was interesting – until the Bush bashing. Grow up already. Not the place to do this.
December 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
And they sit around, smoke their pot, and wonder why we get so damn angry at the constant poking & gloating. I will look for Mr. Fine’s use of debacle after the current presidency.
It amazes me how Mr. Fine and Co. refuse to hold THEIR man responsible for the promises he made to THEM for the nomination. It is easy to promise pie in the sky, but actually delivering it has found Mr. Obama wanting. He has failed on all counts with a house and senate in HIS CORNER.
Change is gonna come. Sooner than you and yours are ready for it. The pendulum swings.
I googled this movie hoping to find an articulate review, read this, and 15 minutes of my life are gone, and Ill never get em back.
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Wonderful and insightful review but I agree that the Bush comment was not needed. I am amazed that such a knowledgable and insightful reviewer of films, literature and life can be so wrong about the cause of the current American economy. More than grow up, perhaps the statement should be, wise up. Still I love the reviews!
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I have read other reviews about this movie and so pretty much knew that it was a good one. What a disappointment to come to the “Bush debacle” comment. Totally gratuitous and alienating. My review of this review – 2, based on the childish, unnecessary political interjection of the reviewer.
December 24th, 2009 at 6:28 am
For those, like me, put off by the gratuitous and uninformed Bush-bashing, look up the recent column by George Will also heaping praise on Up in the Air.
December 27th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Great review. Time for the reviewers of the review to knock off the bashing of the Bush-bashing. I don’t care for it either, but, geez, I heard it the first 50 times.
January 12th, 2010 at 12:23 am
Great review, thanks! I think that history will prove that the 8 year reign of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and their band of Merry Men was the tipping point that caused (or almost caused) the demise of a great democracy and a powerful force in the world, economically, culturally and politically.
Is it appropriate to include a reference to the damage and pain caused by immoral, illegal and improper decisions made during the Reign of Malevolence?
I’ll leave that to the historians.
Meanwhile, I think the Bush reference adds some “color” to the review, and I applaud and appreciate the addition.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Hey, Marshall, George Bush protected all you sad liberals and your socialist hollywood friends. God Bless the Bush years.
February 7th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Hmm, I got an idea, let’s blame everything on Bush… That Obama is doing such a great job!
Let’s concentrate on reviewing movies and leave your ignorant liberal views out of your great movie reviews!
July 10th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
SCREW ALL YOU REPUBLICAN BUSH-LOVERS. This is Fine’s blog and he can say whatever the hell he wants, ESPECIALLY when what he said is TRUE. Bush completely destroyed this country, and did not protect us AT ALL on 9/11!! Republicans are all freaking idiots!!