The timing of Up in the Air has been much talked about, coinciding perfectly with the global financial crisis and bringing an air of relevancy to what is essentially a human story.
The film tracks... Read more
George Clooney’s Ryan Bingham, an HR mercenary who travels the US, ‘letting people go’, a euphemism for both making people redundant and his attitude to personal relationships. Bingham has no close friends, is never happier than when in an airport lounge waiting for his next flight, and appears completely lost when he returns to his shoebox apartment for a fleeting visit.Then his world is upended by the introduction of two women into his life; Vera Farmiga as a female version of Bingham, and Anna Kendrick as a 24 year old upstart colleague whose life-plan includes a career, true love, family and everlasting happiness.
Farmiga’s character in particular opens Bingham’s eyes to the possibility of a genuine relationship, of a different life.
The financial crisis plays a large role in the film as we meet a number of recently redundant employees, both actors and real life, who are dealing with massive upheaval in their lives. But as relevant are two other inter-related themes: the dehumanizing impact of technology on our lives (Why do we need to talk to people in the flesh when we can maintain relationships via the computer or mobile phone?) and the importance of real relationships in allowing us to function as human beings.
Much has also been made of Clooney’s performance in this film and that he was a very strong contender for the Best Actor Oscar. His performance is undoubtedly strong and he brings an ease to it that may work in his favour. But the conventionality of the film may not have helped his cause; this is not a role to stir the senses, and he is essentially playing himself (or at least as an outsider may see him).
Farmiga, who is assured and se&y as the Clooney’s love interest, gives an outstanding performance, while Kendrick’s role grows on her, especially after one less than convincing scene when she receives some bad news.
Up in the Air is less deliberately comedic than director Jason Reitman’s previous films, Thank You for Smoking and Juno. It starts small but finds it feet and while the messages are undoubtedly important it is, for the most part, a human story about hope in these turbulent times that doesn’t resort to an obvious saccharine ending.