Isolated in the Friendly Skies

"Up in the Air", the third feature-length film from writer-director Jason Reitman, is the defining film of our times. Here is a movie that is sure to stand the test of time, a wonderful, breezy, effortlessly entertaining masterpiece that perfectly captures the complexities of recession-era America. In the decades to come, people will look back at this Capra-esque gem with great fondness and nostalgia. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new classic.

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"Up in the Air" tells the story of Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a man who makes a living out of firing people. When a company needs to let go of employees, they hire Mr. Bingham to do the job that the company's executives are too cowardly to do themselves. Thus, Ryan Bingham literally lives up in the air, flying 270 days a year across the country to inform devastated workers of their unfortunate fate. Bingham, afraid of commitment and without a steady home, loves his lifestyle. He carries on his life with a suave, carefree demeanor, detached from his family who view him as an absent outsider. When a young, confident Cornell graduate (Anna Kendrick) starts to question the ethics of their profession, she starts to get Bingham pondering the true meaning of his life. He is in the midst of a casual romantic tryst with a fellow frequent flyer (Vera Farmiga), but is that enough to bring him long-term happiness? Is he living a life of isolation? Should he become more attached to his family?

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The aforementioned questions, in a lesser film, would have been answered with cliches. But "Up in the Air" is brilliant in the way it tackles these weighty issues. There is a refreshing maturity to the way this film plays out. The conclusion is bittersweet and real. Jason Reitman's direction is a sublime exercise in versatility. This film is funny when it needs to be, sad when it needs to be, romantic when it needs to be, as Reitman masterfully strikes a perfect balance in tone. Fresh off the heels of "Thank You for Smoking" and "Juno", Reitman has cemented his status as one of the world's best filmmakers.

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It is a joy to watch such beautiful acting. George Clooney gives the best performance of his accomplished career in the lead role. Clooney is the epitome of a perfect movie star in the classic sense of the term, a flawless actor who graces the screen with the charm of Cary Grant and the bravura of Marlon Brando. With "Out of Sight", "Good Night and Good Luck", "Syriana", "Michael Clayton", and "Up in the Air", Clooney is crafting a career for the ages. Clooney shares the screen here with two beautiful, wonderfully talented actresses, Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga. Kendrick gives a hilarious, enchanting performance as the perky, idealistic Cornell grad, while the criminally underrated Farmiga is outstanding as Ryan Bigham's lover. It is also a joy to watch Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Danny McBride, and Zach Galifianakis shine in small yet crucial supporting roles.

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"Up in the Air" is the favorite to win the Best Picture Oscar, and rightfully so. Very few movies manage to be both an urgent reflection of our anxious economic climate and a funny, moving character study. "Up in the Air" is an exercise in perfection. I love this movie.

The Power of Perseverance in the Face of Hardship

The mark of a great film is the ability to emotionally transport the viewer into the lives of its characters. "Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire" has that ability. It takes us inside the life of Precious Jones, a sixteen year-old, morbidly obese teenager who has had two children after being twice raped by her father. Precious fails at school, barely mutters a word, and is the victim of constant verbal and physical abuse from her drug-addicted mother. Living in 1987 Harlem, Precious lives a life of impoverished misery, keeping her spirits afloat by fantasizing herself as a beloved supermodel. These dream sequences are among the most powerful moments in the film.

"Precious" is unyielding in its depiction of hardship, and watching the movie is an emotionally draining experience. It is a testament to director Lee Daniels and the stunning ensemble cast that this film has such a profound emotional impact. Daniels' direction is sharply focused, and he infuses the fantasy sequences with bright color and effervescence. Daniels made his directorial debut in 2005 with the wildly uneven "Shadowboxer". With "Precious", he fully realizes his potential as a gifted filmmaker. The most impressive aspect of "Precious", however, is the incredible acting. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe makes one of the most astonishing first impressions of any actor in cinema history. The way in which Sidibe beautifully conveys the pain of Precious' life is heartbreaking. Sidibe deserves a golden statuette on Oscar night. Another actor who is likely to walk away with an Oscar is Mo'Nique. Known primarily in the United States for her work as a stand-up comedian, Mo'Nique delivers a fiercely powerful tour-de-force as an abusive mother who attacks Precious as a way to cope with some serious internal demons. The scenes between Sidibe and Mo'Nique crackle with scintillating energy. "Precious" also receives superb work from an unconventional supporting cast that includes Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Paula Patton, and Sherri Shepherd.

Ultimately, "Precious" ends on a note of uplift. The conclusion does not feel the slightest bit forced or sentimental, but rather life-affirming and profoundly moving. Here is a film that has a keen awareness of the ups and downs of life, a trait not as prevalent in cinema as one might expect. This is precisely what makes "Precious" a must-see.