Writer: Ezekiel Lee Zhiang Yang

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects: NA
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: "Thank You For Smoking”, “Perhaps Love”, “Juno”

Commitment-phobia never looked sexier than when skirt-chasing extraordinaire George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, the cocksure, jet-setting elitist who spends all his time flying, as the movie title suggests. For a drama with many depressive elements, "Up In The Air" is surprisingly as uplifting as it sounds, as "Thank You For Not Smoking" and "Juno" director Jason Reitman predictably followed up those two thematically similar films with this one. No surprise then that it's in the running for Best Picture at the 82nd Oscars.

Adapted off the 2001 Walter Kirn novel of the same name, we follow the globe-trotting Mr Bingham as he travels from city to city to fire people as a specialist consultant hired by bosses too gutless to drop the axe face-to-face when downsizing companies. He may call it 'career transition counselling' but make no mistake, it's a dirty job of having to tell people they've lost their jobs. The story is enriched with his chance meeting with an equally self-centred traveller who becomes his romantic interest (Alex Goran played by a delectable Vera Farmiga, "The Departed") and also the introduction of a young, overly-idealistic, go-getting colleague (Natalie Keener played by Anna Kendrick, Jessica in the "Twilight" movies) who has persuaded the boss (Jason Bateman, TV's "Arrested Development) to try out a new semi-confrontational video conferencing method of firing people.

"Up In The Air" has such a refreshing, cynical take on our name brand society, it's only natural that Americans in particular warm up to this picture all too easily. While it isn't a morally punishing film, it is one with clear and sharp ideas on lifestyle choices and their corresponding consequences, with some very interesting scenes that play on a more sociological wide angle rather than a private behavioural breakdown. Following the character arc of the very dislikeable Ryan Bingham is an engrossing prospect, as his values are tested and he even has the option of redemption.

The film finishes strong and leaves you as a rather intimate, though wordy movie that entertains and rewards audiences nevertheless. Very strong performances by the main cast will go some way to make this a worthy Best Picture contender.

Cinema Online, 05 February 2010