Lost in flight

Rating: 6/10 (3 May 2020)

Up in the Air is a drama, comedy, and romance all packed into one. Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney, fires people for a living. His coworker, Natalie, played by Anna Kendrick, comes up with the idea to fire people remotely to limit the amount of traveling for Ryan. Ryan decided to take Natalie with him, to show her how important it is to be face to face with the person you're firing. While helping Natalie, Ryan begins hooking up with Alex, played by Vera Farmiga, who is also always traveling for work. He later realizes the connections he's lost with his family and how it's has made him view things. This film sheds light on the theme of struggles of work travel and the personal connections Ryan has because of it. Similar to the idea of On the Road (2012), this film shows the unknown of what will come to Ryan as he travels, like maybe a plus one?!
The close up shots of Ryan later on in the movie on the plane bring out the sadness he feels for barely having connection with his sister that is about to get married. Long shots are used to show the lack of personal connections Ryan has with his family. They show how far away he's really been from them. In opposition to that, close ups are used to show the emotions Ryan has when he feels connected with his family vs. when he doesn't.
Lighting also helps portray Ryan's mood. In the beginning of the film, like when he met Alex, most places he goes are dark. By the end, most places are bright, like at his sisters wedding when he's dancing and having a good time with Alex. This seems to show the progress he's made, just by being with his family for a short period of time.
I believe this film is trying to show the viewers that traveling all the time for a job can be difficult and it can diminish many relationships, but at the end of the day, it is still possible to be close with family and have healthy relationships, if you put in the effort.