Up In The Air [15]

If you´re looking for a film with some meaning, don´t expect too much from this (maybe give in and go see Avatar in 3D!)

Having some respect for Clooney as an actor and being a regular business traveller I was hoping to connect with this film, but failed miserably.

The commentary on recesionary USA is dumbed down so as not to overwhelm Bingham´s [George Clooney's character -Ed.] journey of self discovery. The way in which Bingham connects with the world is so far fetched its dificult to respect the character (eg. a corporate high flyer who has fooled himself to believe that reaching 5 million mileage points is an important life goal).

Ross Hill (Unverified), 13/02/10

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Cliched, trying to be indie but failing, long and meandering and failing to engage. Sorry but this is a little lame and middle of the road.

bloodclot (Unverified), 25/01/10

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It's supposed to be a comedy with tragic undertones. Trouble is - it's not funny enough and I didn't care enough about the main character to be troubled by his tragedy.

An old-fashioned film in many ways - sort of 40s/50s in its character led plot. Adult in content (though not in a sleazy way). Can't see it appealing to anyone under 40.

Larsy (DI User), 21/01/10

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Watching timely films can be immensely reassuring: it's like looking at yourself in a mirror and seeing someone who is simultaneously better and worse off than you. This is how I felt about Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney, in Up In The Air. Here's a man living in the same world as we do, who's navigating this epoch in exactly the way he chooses - with perks and privileges many of us will only dream of - and yet he finds himself longing for the one thing most of us already have.

What might have seemed a plausible premise for a novel in 2001 has mutated and matured into an extremely relevant, post-9/11, mid-recession movie for 2010. Ryan, the expert you hire when you've people to fire, justifies his solitary existence by taking pride in the number of terminals he flies between and the 'personal touch' he offers to those whose career paths he terminates along the way. He measures his physical worth by his executive club cards; the metaphysical by the loyalty he shows to the brands that bestow them. 'Make no mistake - moving is living,' he preaches to those who attend his seminar-sermons on no-strings cabin baggage life. But that life is about to be challenged by his deepening relationships with two women: one professional, one personal.

If Ryan Bingham was played by anyone other than George Clooney, you would hate him - but the charm and conviction with which he explains and embodies his philosophy makes it difficult not to sympathise with his suffering as he becomes aware of his irrelevance to those he loves. Meanwhile, Vera Farmiga is devastatingly effective as Alex, fellow traveller and hospitality junkie with whom Ryan starts a relationship, and Anna Kendrick hits just the right spot as Natalie, the strong-willed, over-enthusiastic graduate determined to make an impression at Ryan's expense.

But for me, the star of the show is the Lord Kitchener-esque airline poster seen at pertinent points throughout the film. Its message, 'We Value Your Loyalty', may well read as a typical call-to-arms to the corporate road warrior, but the context of each appearance reveals far more: not only about Bingham's changing emotional state, but the much-changed time and place he inhabits. And whilst this to me is still the film's greatest strength (that and some killer one-liners), being so of its time may, ironically, ultimately prevent it from becoming a classic. Although I found it immensely enjoyable to watch, it did feel rather like a letter of complaint to Generation X from a grown-up Generation Y. I suspect Generation Z will be watching Avatar instead.

Jamie Huddlestone (Unverified), 18/01/10

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