A Class Cynical Comedy!

Rating: Null/10 (1 March 2010)

Directed by Jason Reitman (the director of Thank You for Smoking), this movie is pretty much in the same genre as Thank You for Smoking. The name of the game here is Cynicism! Over the last few years, George Clooney has done movies that have been supreme in content and entertainment, but also provoking in terms of their ideology and political stand. Be it Syriana, or Michael Clayton or even Up In The Air - he seems to be giving audiences food for thought! In all the 2 of the above-mentioned movies, there's one string that stands out - Corporate Malfeasance! While Syriana spoke about the games the corporates and lobbyists play at the power stage to control the oil economy; Michael Clayton showed the ruthless face of selfish corporates! Up In The Air takes a lighter look at yet another corporate game and it couldn't have gotten more timely... It talks about mass-layoffs during the economically-vulnerable United States.
Clooney works for a third-party downsizing company, whose help is sought by spineless corporate "giants" for firing their employees. He, though enjoys his job as he is the one who believes that all the relationships are nothing but baggages that makes one's life heavy! He enjoys this job because it accords him the opportunity to get philosophical with the fired employees and make them see the light at the end of the tunnel. He also loves this job also because this allows him to fly relentlessly and get some "frequent flier points". However, he is in for a major shock when he learns that he and his fellow employees are on the verge of being "grounded" thanks to a new plan of "online firing via VC" which is being considered as a "cost-cutting initiative".
It is at this time, that he throws up the challenge to his new "I-wanna-revolutionize" colleague. He throws her an open challenge by saying "She Doesn't Understand My Business" and takes it upon himself to show her around and train her and make her aware of the complexities that lay in firing people.
A rather simple story, would you think! Not really! There are a couple of characters who shape Clooney's professional and personal characters arcs and beliefs... Vera Farmiga (The Departed) plays a gorgeous middle-aged woman to perfection. She plays the character who seeks a casual "relationship" with Clooney to find an escape from her boring life. Though what begins as an emotionally-detached relationship, slowly warms its way into the heart of George Clooney and leaves him at a stage where he just can't deliver "relationships are an unnecessary baggage" speech.
The other character is played by the young-cocky Anna who is Clooney's trainee. She provides a more complex and a more humane side to the entire proceedings. She is the perfect foil for Clooney's Ryan Bingham! Where he is steely and cold and methodical; she is restless, all-over-the-place and towards the end also moved by the results of her job! The movie, though stays funny throughout its stay, also plays beautifully with the fear of being fired from the job! The fear is a constant factor that is understated.
Another poetic aspect is the "Loyalty" factor. Where we see employees being fired for nothing in spite of staying loyal the company for years; George Clooney gets 10,00,000 free air miles as a reward for being a loyal flier.
Performances are outstanding and beautifully understated by all the players. George Clooney defines elegance and methodical perfection! He drops cynicism in every frame that he visits! Vera Farmiga is sexy and independent! Watch her striking a conversation with Clooney after their first sexual encounter - you'll know what I mean! Anna conveys her entire character trajectory in the scene at the airport where she pulls a heavy baggage for the travel! Fabulous is the word! The dialogues - true to what you expect from a Clooney movie. Top class and some of the finest one-liners! The dialogues are a jab at the capitalist structure of the U.S. Witness this line...
"These are worst times for America! This is our moment" Camera-work is constantly hand held and providing the movie with a certain unpredictability! Editing is fabulous... Jump cuts are methodical and at the same time a little unsettling! All in all - A Great Movie! My pick for the Oscars!