"How much does your life weigh?"

Rating: 8/10 (11 February 2010)

When I first mentioned my interest in seeing Jason Reitman's latest film, a friend swiftly dismissed it as "one of those intellectual movies." It isn't really. 'Up in the Air (2009)' is an affable, unpretentious look at life in today's fast-moving society, lighthearted for the most part, but pointedly dramatic when it counts. I must confess that I haven't seen 'Thank You for Smoking (2005)' or 'Juno (2007),' so I can't offer an auteurist perspective. However, the film's pleasantly- wistful approach reminded me of another good recent comedy/drama, 'Dan in Real Life (2007).' Both films explore the yearnings of an older man for an emotional connection in his life, though the screen personas of Steve Carell and George Clooney could hardly be farther apart. 'Up in the Air' displays Clooney at his most suave, gliding through a gleaming world of spotless airport terminals and glossy credit cards, a disconnected lifestyle of sterility and emotional emptiness.
Ryan Bingham (Clooney) has spent most of his life in the air. His daily routine involves flying endlessly across the United States, firing people who he's never met, and will never meet again. He thrives on single-serve friendships (if I may borrow from 'Fight Club (1999)'), and feels empty if he's grounded for more than a few days. Ryan is estranged from his family, and never engages in romantic relationships beyond the occasional sexual fling with fellow frequent-flyers like Alex (Vera Farmiga). We expect Reitman to thoroughly condemn this lifestyle, but his approach is double-edged. In modern society, particularly given Ryan's difficult occupation, there's something sincere about the city- hopping lifestyle. Even among those like Natalie (Anna Kendrick), who would prefer to remain permanently grounded, technology acts as a barrier to genuine human interaction: partners break up via SMS, employees are fired over the internet (even when sitting in the next room).