" "He knows the secret of life, is being alone, but never being lonely "

Rating: 8/10 (28 November 2010)

In America, with corporations losing their ability to believe in tomorrow, they have discovered, that it is much easier to discharge employees, then to keep them. In this movie called " Up in the Air " we have Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) a corporate executive who's job it is to fire people whom their employer has decided they don't need. Ryan has become so skilled, he has lost most of his ability to sympathize with the people he puts on the unemployment line. His position is nearly tenured, until he meets up with Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) who convinces the top executive, that she has discovered a more efficient and impersonal way of doing it. However, she lacks the necessary ambivalent, detachment and is therefore in need of further training which thereafter become Ryan's role. The movie, written and directed by Jason Reitman,is a cross section of America's economic woes and Clooney is superb as a high flying loner who has convinced himself that a man with no friends, attachments, home or responsibilities is much better off, That is until he meet Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) a nearly mirror image of himself. With a whole litany of employees being canned, a few do stand out like J.K. Simmons (From Spiderman) who plays Bob and Sam Elliot who plays the Chief Airline Pilot. The film is a great vehicle for Clooney and one wonders how effortless he made this character his. An interesting, but fun offering. Recommended. ****