Reviewed by Kate Rodger
There is a tonne of awards season buzz around this film as it enjoys the view from the top of 'Best of 2009' lists all over the shop. The plaudits are no surprise, Up in the Air is a classy piece of work, and it’s not hard to see the appeal.
Director Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking and Juno) is a rare voice in Hollywood these days and he picks his subjects with flair and insight. Intelligent and original, clever without the smug factor and always entertaining, his messages are subtle and his films are delivered in style.
They’re also timely and relevant, and none more than this latest outing.
Up in the Air is powered by George Clooney’s character Ryan Bingham, a man intent on gathering as many frequent flier points as he can, as he flies around America firing people for a living. He spends more time in transit than he does in his empty apartment and that’s just the way he likes it.
He then meets his doppelganger in feminine form, Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga). She’s as intent on gathering mileage points and remaining as emotionally unavailable as he is, and things start to get interesting. While he likes to claim he can fit his life into a backpack, it’s his emotional baggage that gets charged excess.
Along for the ride is young Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick). This bright young thing is recruited by Bingham’s boss, intent on streamlining his business, and bringing his frequent flier lifestyle to a screaming halt. She joins him on the road, getting a reality check along with her boarding pass.
It’s in the detail where this film flies high. Tasty dialogue treats, insightful engaging grown-up characters, guilt-free laughter and thought-provoking story developments. Reitman uses real people who have recently lost their jobs to populate the backbone of his story, and it adds enormous impact.
The rest of the cast delivers as well, Clooney is excellent and he has a great support crew too. Watch out for another lovely little outing from kiwi Melanie Lynskey as Bingham’s sister Julie.
It was always going to be a challenge for Reitman to match his previous efforts with me, Juno and Thank You for Smoking are hard to top and two of my favourite films of the last decade. But no question Up in the Air is a very good film, and a nourishing very worthy 4-star watch.
Whip It
:: Director: Jason Reitman
:: Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick
:: Running Time: 109 mins
:: Rating: M
:: Release Date: Out now
::
Trailer: Click
here
