Not Settling...

Rating: 10/10 (13 December 2009)

In "Up in the Air" George Clooney as corporate downsizing specialist Ryan Bingham asks laid off employee Bob (reliably great J.K. Simmons), "Why do kids like professional athletes?" Indignant Bob replies it's because they get to have sex with Victoria Secret models. Ryan reminds him that is why "we" like athletes. Ryan tells Bob, "Kids like athletes, because they follow their dreams." Ryan points out to Bob, that he sold out his dream of being a chef, to take his job. Now he has a chance to follow his dreams, and inspire his kids. Clooney is amazing. He possesses deadly deft charm that always underlies a sense of humanity. His Ryan Bingham is a self-sentenced loner in pursuit of the elite 10 million mile frequent flier status—more at home on the plane, than at home. Training in tow is idealistic Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), who envisions revolutionizing Ryan's business by terminating employees over the internet and teleconferencing. Thus, eliminating Ryan's need for travel and dashing his 10 million miles dreams. Solid Jason Bateman is boss Craig, who forces the road trip training jaunt.
Anna Kendrick is awesome, and like Clooney is Oscar worthy. Her Natalie is exceedingly bright, void of experience, and strung way too tight. As she unravels Kendrick is funny, and very human. In a great scene Kendrick silently sits outside after she fires an employee that has unexpected consequences. Clooney walks over and consoles her, saying that it is their job to make the horrendous "tolerable". That compelling chemistry in concert with Writer/ Director Jason Reitman's ("Juno") narrative mastery make "Up in the Air" one of the best movies of the year. Reitman with Sheldon Turner wrote the screenplay from the novel by Walter Kirn. Kirn's story has been updated to the current economic upheaval and the personal turmoil in the widespread unemployment in the U.S. Reitman filmed real people, who have been laid off and must contend with paying a mortgage and feeding their families. He never dismisses the gravity of it all.
Reitman balances paradoxical humor and the tragedy and impact of being laid off. This is revealed in the narrative thread for Clooney's Ryan himself. Self exiled loner Ryan is captivated by fellow business traveler Alex (smart and smoldering Vera Farmiga). Alex reminds Ryan that she is like him only with a vagina. Ryan actually considers altering his status, also at the urging of Natalie, who points out that he is so full of it. He even asks Alex to come to his estranged niece's wedding in Omaha. Perhaps, there may be more to life than just flying solo? However, Ryan's karma may dictate a particular outcome.
"Up in the Air" concludes not perfunctorily, but eloquently. However, particularly with Ryan and Natalie it is about following your dreams in the context of them sometimes being dashed; rather it is just that life happens. Touching Farmiga's Alex tells Kendrick, after Natalie describes the man she wants to marry: it is not about settling. As one gets older, our dreams themselves evolve, and we all have to make peace with that. "Up in the Air" really gets it right in one of the year's best movies.