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George Clooney is probably the prefect salesman. He can sell me anything, he has that certain amount of charisma that will put everybody under his spell. He can even sell people the idea that them being fired is actually a good thing and is the first step into making their dreams come true and he demonstrates this skill to a great length and effect and even had me as a bystander thinking that he is right. The suave levels are hitting the ceiling here.
And so are the quality levels as Up In The Air is a movie that feels like a small independent film aside form the star power but deserves to be discovered by as wide an audience as possible since this is probably one of the finest pieces of film making I’ve seen this year. The movie balances itself perfectly between a romantic comedy and a drama and doesn’t go for the easy way out where one would expect it. It’s an intelligent written script about three people all on a crossroad in their lives where they have the choice to go straight on with the route they’re taking or to take it in a different direction. Crossroads like this always come unexpectedly.
Clooney is Ryan Bingham, who fires people for a living. Whenever companies have to cut back and don’t want to be the bringer of bad new Clooney is hired to be said messenger and he does this with such a flair and ease it’s not hard to imagine how these people accept their fate as the start of a new life. This job has him working all over the country and so he spends most of his time on planes and airports. When asked where he lives during a flight he simply responds: here. He lives his life without attachments. Has barely contact with his family and doesn’t believe in marriage. But when he meets a female counterpart they hit it off instantly and he slowly starts doubting his lifestyle.
Even without her his lifestyle is in danger as a young new girl in the office has introduced firing through a teleconference which means he will be grounded quite literally. His task is to take her along on his job and show her the ins and outs.
Jason Reitman is building quite a filmography here. He seems to have a knack for intelligent scripts that translate themselves to the screen seemingly flawless. The movie is smart, funny and at times emotionally involving. It’s a mashup of several genres and seems to master them all. Jason Reitman is one director I will keep my eye on.
