Movie: Up in the Air

Ryan Bingham(George Clooney) works as a consultant for a firm which offers specialized services in laying off employees. As part of his job, Ryan is always on the move hopping from one city to another on a plane and stays in hotels. His employer is based in Omaha. Although he has an apartment in the city, he seldom lives in it as he is always travelling. He also leads a secluded life with little interaction with his two sisters.

While staying at a hotel for one of his assignment, he meets Alex(Vera Farmiga) in the bar. Like Ryan, Alex is also frequent flyer. Ryan and Alex start talking to each other on topics like car rental agencies and preferred cards. Soon, they find common interests and they get attracted to each other. They begin a casual relationship.

Meanwhile, Ryan’s boss Craig Gregory(Jason Bateman) orders all his specialists back to their office in Omaha. At the staff meeting, Craig introduces Natalie Keener(Anna Kendrick). Natalie is fresh out of college and has a revolutionary idea to bring down the costs associated with their operations. She wants to train the consultants to do their work from their desks in Omaha over the internet.

Ryan opposes this idea and demonstrates to Natalie the flaws in her new approach. Craig orders Ryan to mentor Natalie for which Ryan reluctantly agrees. Now, Ryan and Natalie goes across the country hopping between cities where the former teaches the latter on how the industry works. The rest of movie revolves around what change happens in Ryan’s life due to the two new women.

Jason Reitman directs this movie that is loosely based on the eponymous novel by Walter Kim. It is difficult to empathize with lead character’s job! Yet, the director has succeeded in making the audience watch and wanting to know more about it. Jason uses humor to tell a story of a middle aged executive trying to find purpose of life. Jason places the camera very close to the actors limiting the viewer’s field of vision whereby the viewer concentrate on the performances.

George Clooney uses his charm and not the acting skills to portray Ryan Bingham. The lines he mouths are so interesting that we overlook his acting. Anna Kendrick impresses despite her character being an extension of the geeky girl she portrays in Twilight series. The cameos by Zach Galifianakis, J K Simmons and Sam Elliot helps are pleasant.

Go for it! This is a simple movie yet entertaining!

Language: English

Genre: Drama

Rating: ****

Tags: Movies,George Clooney,Vera Farmiga,Jason Bateman,Anna Kendrick,Jason Reitman,Drama

Comments

  1. Who bothers about the rest of the cast, story line, locales, music blah blah blah when George Clooney is there?I don't see anything except him.

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  2. Watched this when I was up in the air, on the Etihad in flight entertainment ;) When Geroge Clooney is there the movie obviously acquired a watchable tag. Nice one :)

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  3. @Aparna - :) There is no logic that will work that line of reasoning!

    @ScorpioGenius - Ivan Reitman(the director) takes up interesting subjects - Juno, Thank you for smoking! Clooney helps the movie to be accepted by a wider audience!

    @Blunt Edges - :)

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