Up in the Air

"I can't believe that Hollywood is going real." This is a direct quote from an elderly woman leaving the theater with me this afternoon and I could not have put the movie into better words myself.

The film includes an impeccable cast with a mix of Hollywood legends (George Clooney) and Hollywood women to look out for which include actresses Vera Farmiga from The Departed (2006) and Anna Kendrick, Twilight (2008). Clooney plays character Ryan Bingham who has built a career on ending the careers of others. The movie opens with Ryan (Clooney) introducing us to his life "Up in the Air". Due to his occupation, he lives the majority of his day to day life in an airport and he loves every minute of it....so it seems anyway. He has built a life free of any human connection, free of any desire to settle down, have children, or build any "real" relationships. It is jarring to see initially because Clooney is so damn convincing. Ryan actually does appear to be incredibly comfortable in his airport/hotel traveling home environment. However, as an audience member, there is something that still forces you to ask, "What is he running from? Something is missing with this guy but I just can't put my finger on it...."

This film comes from the same person that brought you Juno a couple of years back. If you like Juno, Up In The Air is a slightly more grown up, concrete version of the film. Farmiga, playing sexually liberated Alex, has pretty good chemistry with Clooney. Onscreen, the two work well together. It is comfortable and easy to watch. Natalie, played by Kendrick has come a long way since the teenage, annoying, insecure character she plays in 2008's Twilight. She shines in this film and I think we can expect to see quite a lot more of her. The film comes with a fast paced, quick-witted script, and very real characters that lack the Hollywood, superficial glamour that so many films today rely on for their success. This film goes deeper than that. It takes a very real look into the everyday lives of real people. It cuts out all the BS and tells the stories of actual people and actual occurrences that are relevant to today's American society. To top it all off, the film does not end in the typical, cliche way you might think it would. The film is in a word, "refreshing."

Til next time...