A Cocktail of Romance, Drama and Comedy - Perfectly Blended.

Rating: 8/10 (9 January 2010)

Why did I like this film? I'm trying to get my head around what exactly made this film so lovable. Was it the romance, the drama or the comedy?
An intriguing characteristic of this movie is that it doesn't seem to really find itself in any specific category of film. It's neither a romcom nor a drama....it's just a story. However to simplify this film is failing to do it justice, especially to a film packed with complex moral undertones and nuances of ever-growing characters, both which create a solid foundation for Clooney's brilliant performance. The characters are all flawed thus relatable and the story is told with such flair and pace that one never seems bored.
I offer perhaps a biased view when it comes to George Clooney – as I tend not to take him wholly seriously, and, for this reason was somewhat dumbfounded by the way he showed he does indeed possess an all-round acting talent – I guess reaffirming that what he achieved in Michael Clayton was not a total fluke! Clooney begins 'Up in the Air' showcasing his typical brand of performance that we have grown to associate him with, contributing to the first 25 minutes resembling an extended version of his recent 'Nespresso' adverts – of course once you watch the film, you'll see that there is nothing wrong with this as it fits the bill of Ryan Bingham rather well. As the story progresses you witness an incredible transformation in the acting; with Clooney slipping from the perfect man to a lost soul in the most subtlest of ways, subtle in a way that makes it believable.
Finally the supporting cast is much more than supporting and there's no surprise that Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick have been nominated for Golden Globes in this category. Neither is it any coincidence that all the best/memorable scenes involve the character of Natalie Keener – who, ultimately gives 'Up in the Air' the necessary X-Factor to be Oscar-worthy.
8.4/10