Up in the Air (2009/I)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Jason Reitman

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

25 December 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Arriving this December

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:

Based On Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

George Clooney	...	Ryan Bingham
Vera Farmiga	...	Alex
Anna Kendrick	...	Natalie
Jason Bateman	...	Craig Gregory
Danny McBride	...	Jim
Melanie Lynskey	...	Julie Bingham
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Anthony	...	The Businessman
Steve Eastin	...	Samuels
Dave Engfer	...	Software Dude
Doug Fesler	...	Business Traveler
Tamala Jones
Andrew Kruczynski	...	Sergeant Perez
Chris Lowell	...	Kevin
Adam Rose	...	David
Lauren Mae Shafer	...	Hertz Sales Rep.

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:109 min | 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)

Filming Locations:

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Michigan, USA

Company:

Cold Spring Pictures

Quotes:

Ryan Bingham: How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life... you start with the little things. The shelves, the drawers, the knickknacks, then you start adding larger stuff. Clothes, tabletop appliances, lamps, your TV...

George Clooney + Jason Reitman = classic rom-com hit

I attended the World Premiere of "Up in the Air" at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Co-written (with Sheldon Turner), directed, and produced by Academy Award-nominee Jason Reitman from a Walter Kim novel, the film features an all-star cast including George Clooney, Jason Bateman, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, and Melanie Lynskey.

Ryan Bingham (Clooney) spends most of his life in hotels, airports, and on planes -- "up in the air." When companies need to downsize but don't have the cojones to send in their own people to do it, he's the one they're hiring to do the firing -- hatchet man at-large. It's not a life that lends itself to love -- trees need ground in which to grow. It's a classic rom-com premise that has all the makings of a hit.

The film is primarily a vehicle for George Clooney and he's easily up to the task. There's quite a bit of sadness, though, which was unexpected. But a tour de force for Clooney and a clever script make it memorable. Co-star Anna Kendrick is a star to be reckoned with.

"Up in the Air" is clearly Reitman's vision and he's assembled a team that executes it perfectly. There are no bells and whistles here -- visuals take a back seat to the performers, and Eric Steelberg's cinematography is observant but not intrusive. Dana E. Glauberman's editing is efficient and economical.

This film is so incredibly mass appeal that I can't imagine anyone not enjoying it. The audience was rolling in the aisles. Jason Reitman does it again with a true crowd pleaser.