Movie Review: Up in the Air

Up in the Air is a film that taps into the unexplored realms of middle-class America during this particular economic crisis. Jason Reitman's sensitive expose is unflinching in terms of showcasing the disintegration of the common American worker. He uses his camera to create a searing portrait of loss and personal hardship, incorporating real people into the film to emphasize the metaphorical significance of the character of Ryan Bingham (played by George Clooney). Using Bingham as a vessel to elicit sympathy for the downtrodden American laborer, Up in the Air provides testimony to the enduring power of relationships and how sometimes we need the comfort of loved ones to overcome the devastating burdens of professional deterioration. As a parallel, the film also comments on the destructive capabilities of isolation; how separating ourselves from the ones we love often leaves us feeling misguided and confused. We humans are built to love; we are meant to feel compassion for others and must adhere to the rules and responsibilities of our moral convictions. What Reitman shows us with the character of Ryan Bingham is the antithesis of that. Bingham flies cross-country on a regular basis, firing people because their bosses don't have the guts to do it themselves. He uses comfort as a tactic to become the best at what he does. And for the first three quarters of the film, Bingham is like an unfeeling shadow passing through without any kind of emotional nuances. He shuns himself from feeling any remorse, pushing himself away from family and friends in favor of joining the exclusive 10 million mile club. To him, the club is more important than generating lifelong bonds and preserving a legacy in the hearts of loved ones. Bingham is obviously a flawed character and Reitman uses the film as a canvas to illuminate his possible salvation. In the end, Reitman shows how Bingham's hope remains buried underneath the crusted soil of a flagellating economy and a misconceived notion of happiness through loneliness.

But by no means does Up in the Air rely strictly on its dramatic prowess to highlight the complexities of Bingham's wandering soul. It uses the perfect blend of comedy to illustrate fascinating character traits throughout the course of the film. This leads to the development of relationships and forces Bingham's philosophies to twist on their axles. Such transitions occur in Bingham's encounters with Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. With the latter, the audience is meant to understand the difference between old-school traditions and new-wave ambitions within the job market. The escalating rise in technology, combined with the impeccable resumes of the Ivy League intelligentsia, invalidate the fundamental principles of loyalty and convention that come with employment. Companies hire those who project an image of success through appearance. Potential employees highlight their qualifications with a sassy outfit and sharp insight into the future. In showcasing the vivacity of an exuberant young college girl, Kendrick masters the part with a quiet confidence and grace. She is vibrant, energetic, and a refreshing source of comic relief that plays off Clooney's tranquil sense of levelheadedness. The crisp dialogue between the two not only provides a witty analysis of the introspective dichotomies between a man and a woman, but also seeks to expose and delineate the hypocrisy of Ryan Bingham. Kendrick's Natalie believes in the heartfelt potential of relationships to the point where she takes a job just to be closer to her boyfriend. For her, success is measured on the basis of hard-working professionalism and strict devotion to her relationship. She falls for the naivete of living happily-ever-after and projects genuine heartbreak when her visions of love are compromised. While Kendrick's Natalie is the comedic heart of Up in the Air, she is also the voice of reason and a beacon of sentimentalism for Bingham. The quick cut of her moving along the escalator towards the end of the film illustrates how important she was to him as a friend. She provides him with a chance to view the goodness within himself; an opportunity to cast aside the chains of limitation and shine a light on the darkest corners of his incorrigible heart.

Bingham opens himself to the dynamic personality of Alex Goran (played by Vera Farmiga). She is another frequent flyer who at first is nothing but a romantic entanglement for Bingham. They meet in various cities for erotic trysts the likes of which are meant to induce a temporary escapism from their daily routines. There are no attachments in this relationship. There are only impermanent moments of passion minus the nagging complications of falling in love. Yet the irony that remains hidden from both characters is that they are perfect for each other. And therein lies the catalyst for Bingham to develop a connection with another human being. Farmiga is perfectly cast as Alex, bringing together an equal level of sexiness and intelligence to the role. The high-angle shot of Clooney that comes right after she walks to the bed illustrates how Bingham has been hooked like a fish. His desire to want to keep seeing her is not only a cultivation of lust, but also a product of subdued emotional undercurrents involved in caring about another person. Their relationship develops onscreen through intimate close-ups and sparkling conversations. Both Bingham and Alex discover they have plenty of things in common, with Clooney and Farmiga playing it as smooth as Bogart and Bacall. The key moment in the entire film is when Bingham and Alex assign themselves to comfort the broken-hearted Natalie after her boyfriend dumps her via text message, which is a cardinal sin when it comes to ending relationships. Farmiga's acting in this particular scene is brilliant to say the least from her subtle delivery of lines to her unobtrusive bodily shifts and facial movements. It provides excellent substance for the emotional punch that occurs near the end of the film, when Clooney shows up at Farmiga's doorstep. He stands there hoping to encounter the definitive happy moment in his life. The chemistry between Clooney and Farmiga is so effective and so natural that by the time the audience reaches this moment, we have become totally invested in the lives of these two characters. As a result, the audience hopes to witness the redemption of Ryan Bingham and yearns to watch George Clooney ultimately end up with the girl of his dreams.

Yet Up in the Air is so much more than a romantic comedy dependent on redemption. This is due in large part to the nimbleness of its screenplay. Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner have crafted a superior adaptation of Walter Kirn's novel, plunging directly into the seams of these characters and examining their places in a fluctuating corporate society. Reitman's sensitive direction of the material, combined with his astute commitment to detail, have allowed Up in the Air to transcend the limits of its genre. As a result, it emerges as a tragi-comedy centered around a serene performance by George Clooney. There are moments when his imperturbable delivery of lines and genuine awareness of comedic timing serve him well, particularly in his encounters with Farmiga and Kendrick. Yet it is in the moments of isolation, where Bingham is forced to re-examine himself as a person, that the performance takes on a whole new level. When Reitman turns the camera loose on Clooney's face, there are moments of thoughtful poignancy and extraordinary depth that truly add insight to the character of Ryan Bingham. Clooney is fearless and unafraid to establish a transition between Bingham's ignorant playfulness at the beginning of the film and his austere trepidation towards the end of the film. Clooney's performance is layered to the point where we see Bingham emerging as a different person by the end of the film. The final shot becomes a metaphor not only for the fear and uncertainty of the unemployed, but also for the fear and uncertainty hidden within Bingham's heart. In the end, Up in the Air soars to breathtaking heights five miles above the earth, encouraging us to remember the important things in our lives and to always cherish the relationships we have created for ourselves. For people living in angst and confusion, Up in the Air is a triumph.

Lenny's Grade: A