Up in the Air (2009/I)

Director:

Jason Reitman

Writers (WGA):

Jason Reitman (screenplay) and
Sheldon Turner (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 December 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The story of a man ready to make a connection.

Plot:

With a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.

Plot Keywords:

Suitcase | Downsizing | Business | Travel | Airport

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 44 wins & 53 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

George Clooney	...	Ryan Bingham
Vera Farmiga	...	Alex Goran
Anna Kendrick	...	Natalie Keener
Jason Bateman	...	Craig Gregory
Amy Morton	...	Kara Bingham
Melanie Lynskey	...	Julie Bingham
J.K. Simmons	...	Bob
Sam Elliott	...	Maynard Finch
Danny McBride	...	Jim Miller
Zach Galifianakis	...	Steve
Chris Lowell	...	Kevin
Steve Eastin	...	Samuels
Marvin Young	...	Himself (as Young MC)
Lucas MacFadden	...	Conference DJ (as Cut Chemist)
Adrienne Lamping	...	Tammy

Also Known As:

"Mileage, My Life" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

Canada:108 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #45561) | New Zealand:M | Ireland:15A | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Japan:G | Canada:G (Quebec) | Singapore:PG | Finland:S | Australia:M | Finland:K-3 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:AL | South Africa:13L | Sweden:Btl | Brazil:12 | Mexico:B | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:IIA | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) (Blu-ray rating)

Filming Locations:

Affton High School, Affton, Missouri, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

When the character Bob, played by J.K. Simmons, shows Ryan a photo of his two children, it is a photo of Simmons' real children.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The shuttle bus for the Miami Airport Hilton does not cross any bridges (in this case MacArthur Causeway) going from the airport to the hotel. Hotel only provides complimentary shuttle to/from airport, not nearby destinations

Quotes:

Kara Bingham:You're awfully isolated the way you live.
Ryan Bingham:Isolated? I'm surrounded.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Late Show with David Letterman: Episode #17.53" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Angel in the Snow

A Decent Satire

We are drawn in by interesting, unique storyline and smart satirizations. About a man whose unique job is to fly around the country to inform people that they are fired. He meets a young ambitious woman that joins his company and who wants to change the system. Her ideas clash with his personal lifestyle choices.

What the movie really is about is lifestyle choices, and relationship choices, choosing independence and freedom versus commitment and well established interpersonal relationships. By taking a definitive stance the movie provides interesting commentary on those that for whatever reason (not necessarily for work) don't stay put.

A Monotone mood is established, that gave a bland aspect as though nothing substantial was happening. Part of the story took a dull meandering at times, however there were unconventional plot twists that made something that was seemingly Hollywood predictable not that way at all. And it was still interesting and entertaining to watch the contemporary witticisms.

The two main characters, although not the most true to life characters ever created, were brilliant satires of people we all know. We are all too familiar with the fiercely independent, non-committal, cockily at ease bachelor and we have also come across the, sharp, type A, ivy league know it all yet with an obvious naivety especially shown with her declaration of the specific laundry list of traits that her partner must have.

There were also some smart satirical illustrations of contemporary times in business, relationships, how people interact and the recession. For example the use of the smart phones in the new techno/relationship world is not simply put in as a momentum mechanism but is used as a symbol to satirize contemporary society.

It is not so much Clooney's acting that is a marvel as the casting, which was perfect. By being so spot on by choosing someone on the cusp of getting a little older yet with plenty of playful, youthful vigor we sense the conflict and the melancholy.