"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.
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