A pitch perfect film

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2009)

A chiaroscuro just-this-minute much-more-than-a-comedy that sparkles with smart dialogue, uncanny timing (watch for the subtle nuances of rolling-suitcase speeds), and a cast headed brilliantly by George Clooney that rises and rises to the occasion in every scene. My brain's neon crawlers just kept repeating: "SMART, smart, smart!" Although the darkness of our culture constantly leaks into the text and subtext, there is--yes, there is!--great consolation in the return of smart (filmmaking, cinematography, titles for god's sake!)that permeates this compelling and thought-provoking film. Up in the Air looks inside the pains of the heartland and the heart in ways that will surprise you hours and days after you've left the theater. You NEED to see this movie soon.