Young director Jason Reitman -- whose father, Ivan, famously directed 80's hits Ghostbusters and Stripes -- exploded on the scene in his late 20s/early 30s with the surprisingly successful trio of Thank You For Smoking, Juno and Up in the Air. While I'm definitely a big fan of both Thank You For Smoking (solid 8/10, breezy and entertaining) and Juno (closer to an 8.5 or 9, a more complete film), I believe that Up in the Air (9.5/10) is the crown jewel of Reitman's career to date.
Up in the Air takes us on a flight alongside Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a 50-something loner who fires people for a living. Ryan takes pride in his work and certainly appears content with the lifestyle he has created for himself, particularly the travel. His biggest goal in life is to become the 7th person to fly over 10 million miles on American Airlines.
But Ryan is forced to examine his ideals when two women -- Alex (Vera Farmiga), a sexy 34-year old traveling businesswoman whose life seems to mirror Ryan's, and Natalie (Anna Kendrick), an ambitious 23-year old co-worker who threatens Ryan's livelihood with a tech movement -- disrupt the equilibrium of his isolated world. He's invited Alex. Natalie? Not so much.
So why do I love this movie? Well, there are a number of reasons.
1. The screenplay. Reitman adapted it from Walter Kirn's novel, and did so beautifully by finding a delicate balance between humor and heartbreak. The source material was especially timely as America stood near the edge of the fiscal cliff, and specific firing scenes effectively depicted the trickle down effect to the family-oriented working class. Above all, though, are Reitman's musings on modern relationships. In particular the scene when Natalie and Alex discuss their ideal men as Ryan watches and listens, entertained but helpless, is spot-on. Natalie sounded an awful lot like the girls I knew at her age.
2. The performances. Clooney gets to play himself (as usual), but Ryan's subtle transformation in the third act is nicely handled. Clooney conveys a surprising amount of emotion with his eyes. This is pretty clearly the best work of his career (I found The Descendants to be watchable, but overrated).
Farmiga is sharp, salacious and appropriately mysterious. Her chemistry with Clooney has an engaging ease to it. Her's was certainly an Oscar-worthy turn.
This was rightfully Kendrick's breakout role as a dramatic performer. She plays Natalie with just the right amount of savvy mixed with naivety. She can be convincingly mature at times, and a heartbroken, sobbing teenager at others. It's a fun and lively performance. She goes toe-to-toe with Ryan in multiple philosophical debates and more often than not, emerges as the victor. So much for experience.
3. The intriguing missing pieces. What is Ryan's back story? Why has he made these specific "life choices," as he puts it? Why the isolation? Was he ever close to tying the knot? What about the stewardess who asks Ryan if he wants the can, sir (pronounced cancer)?
What exactly is Reitman trying to convey with the ending? I know we are supposed to see that Ryan is considering what married life would have been like, but does the resolution with Alex suggest that Reitman sees logic in Ryan's philosophy? Food for thought.
So why a 9.5 and not a 10? Honestly, the short, concluding monologue was a major disappointment for me. Such a nicely-paced and note-perfect screenplay ended with an artsy-poetic, somewhat preachy misfire. I was waiting for a big, poignant finish and was left with an annoyingly bad taste in my mouth.
Nevertheless, Up in the Air has excellent replay value for me and it is certainly one of the stronger films of this millennium.
** JOHNNY FRO'S RATING: 9.5 out of 10 **
