Up in the Air

[4.0
stars] [IMDb Link]

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This was nominated for 6 Oscars: Best Picture, Director, Actor, two Supporting Actresses, and (derived) Screenplay. Didn't win any of 'em, but … still, that's pretty good.

It's the story of Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney. He works for a company that handles mass employee firings at other firms. (I'm not sure how the economics works: how many companies are in enough financial trouble to do mass firings, but still have enough money lying around to hire Clooney's company?) Bingham's job requires him to spend most of his life away from his nominal hometown, Omaha. The opening scenes of the movie establish exactly how well choreographed his routine is: he navigates airports, security checkpoints, hotels, and restaurants with breathtakingly precise efficiency. And Bingham is just fine with his life: no wife and kids, no personal commitments, no strings.

Bingham is also pretty good at his job. His task is to let people know it's time to clean out their desks, but he wants to inspire them to see that as a push to a life where they might actually capture their true life's ambition a little better. (Whether he's doing that to minimize unpleasant reactions, or a genuine desire to help, who knows?)

But two complications arrive, in the form of our two Supporting Actress nominees: Bingham meets beautiful Alex, also a road warrior, who seems to be a kindred spirit, dedicated to a rootless life. And Bingham's company hires young hard-charging Natalie, who's determined to minimize the travel on which Bingham thives; she proposes a plan by which all the firing will be done via Internet video conferencing from Omaha.

It's a swell movie, well outside the usual cookie-cutter romantic comedy formula. The dialog is clever and insightful. And Clooney manages to make his character sympathetic and interesting.


Last Modified 2024-01-30 3:53 PM EDT