Timeless Treasure

Rating: 10/10 (26 June 2012)

Ryan Bingham's tricky job involves trimming any additional fat ('fat' here synonimizing employees) from companies; he spends nearly three-quarters of the year travelling via air, dropping off at various locations to occupy one of the two seats in an isolated room, the other being alternated by the unfortunate workers who are to be sacked. His skill involves handling the situation tactfully and ensuring that they get the booklet that supposedly will bring them hope. And he is certainly a pro at his job, oscillating between multiple offices and seminar rooms to deliver his trademark 'baggage' lecture. He believes in 'advancing' at all times, and therefore rejects the prospect of marriage and family. His sister bluntly tells him that he doesn't even exist to them (the family). But Ryan seems contented with his lifestyle, and can't help dishing out his philosophy to anyone he meets.
This egoistic ways of Ryan are punctuated by the arrival of two women who unconsciously bring a marked change in him. Natalie Keener is a young, sweet, confidant girl who has been recently absorbed into the company Ryan works in. She impresses the company's owner Craig Gregory with her cost-cutting idea of conducting the termination process via web-chat, something that irks Ryan for two reasons: (i) it seems crude and impractical and (ii) it would ground him to a place (of course, he doesn't disclose this personal reason to Craig). Craig instructs Ryan to take Natalie along with him and teach her the tricks of the trade. While journeying with the tyro, Ryan's initial animosity gradually depletes and it also acts as catalysis for his change. Natalie on the other hand is impresses with his convincing skills while rubbishes his bulls—t philosophy. The other woman is Alex Goran, a woman possibly in her thirties who indulges in sexual liaisons with Ryan and isn't squeamish about expressing her fervent hunger for lust. She can be called the female counterpart of Ryan as both seem to share not just similar opinions, but also similar gestures, facial expressions and movements. With Natalie's help, Ryan momentarily sees his life in a new light with Alex until his visit to her home.
Prior to seeing the film, one assumes it to be a love triangle between the three characters from a glance at the poster. After watching the movie, one is very impressed with the outcome of Ryan's character while is disgusted by Alex's selfish behavior. Only with subsequent viewings can people truly appraise the true wealth the film possesses. Roger Ebert says laconically: the movie is about our times. I would instead say the movie is timeless, just like those grey-white clouds that hover above us as life goes. The most crucial question it puts up is: 'What is the point?' and ventures to search for an answer. The deeply philosophical and metaphysical concepts that it alludes to gradually leads to no concrete answer but makes us clearer about the essence of existence. Up In the Air does this without compromising on its mainstream appeal, thus making it accessible to all audiences.
The movie is set up in the financial downturns in America due to the surplus lending by financial institutions. When the economy collapsed, a majority of the 'surplus' employees were given the pink slip. The affected had their families and fiscal burdens to worry about, and their unemployment aggravated their misery. These victims are one of the four important characters of the film. The second is Ryan himself, whose immaculate career record and self-perception is derailed by two ladies. The third is Natalie, whose burgeoning career and youthful confidence is affected by harsh realities she witnesses. The fourth is Alex, a highly misunderstood character who is being denounced as a b-tch by some viewers. I'll tackle Alex first: listening to her interactions, it seems her reaction at the climatic sequence was a form of snappy self-defense that was caused by the love she has for her kids. In a previous scene, she seems to discourse her opinion on ideal marriage with hint of sadness in her tone. This maybe because she felt happier with someone like Ryan but didn't have the courage to leave an unhappy marriage; rather than antagonizing her, I pitied her fragility. Vera Farmiga brings out these shades in her character effortlessly; she creates this flawed woman without making her last scene one-dimensional. The second one I'll take is Natalie. Look at her opening act itself and you'll see the put-on self confidence in her character as she effectively tries to convince her seniors. In the office scene with Ryan and Craig, she again tries to maintain her composure when Ryan questions her but then her anxiety gets the better of her. A wonderful performance from Anna Kendrick (sorry but just can't watch those Twilight series of yours) who retains the girlish charm (Never. Ever?) while molding the important aspect of the character as well (which is to show maturation). Clooney was absolutely tailor-made for the role; he can give us a poignant and memorable character even with his handsome face and mischievous eyes better than contemporaries like Brad Pitt. It's great that he manages to represent the movie as his character without letting his star-power consuming the movie's value.
The last here I'd speak about are the fired employees. Despite the initial shock, they have their families to fall back upon. If Ryan Bingham has a fall, he has nobody to support him while Alex lives a perilous life that could potentially destroy her once the skeletons tumble out to everyone. In this case, only Natalie has the strongest chance among the three to build a life that would keep her happy and financially secure. The montage of the fired employees towards the end suggest living a stable life, down on the ground. The movie says: it's your life. Would you be up in the air, above all, or down on the ground, with all?