Up In The Air

Published on January 13, 2010 by Martyn Conterio · View Comments

There’s a moment of utter heartbreak midway through Jason Reitman’s third feature. George Clooney’s character, Ryan Bingham, asks his younger sister (Melanie Lynskey) if he can walk her down the aisle at her wedding. Touched by the sentiment, she tells him no, because the groom’s uncle (whose always been there for her) is taking the role traditionally assigned to the father (deceased). Nothing is said, but the look of hurt on Bingham’s “I’m as cool as a cumber” face is fleeting, but so profound, it shows Clooney portraying something he’s not quite done before: vulnerability. It is a moment in which misplaced sentiment is rebuked. The scene is cringeworthy and sad at the same time.

Has Up In The Air captured the zeitgeist? Yes; but it’s so much more. As a smooth-talking corporate down-sizer, Clooney is a revelation. It is a performance that slowly reveals itself in layers. Despite the soulless corporate America the character is apart of, he’s no smarmy bastard without feelings. Ryan Bingham is in love with his lifestyle. He wants to achieve 10 million air miles and get the special badge. There’s something almost childlike in his sense of wonder at the goal. He even creates a philosophy around it. Every once in a while he gives lectures at various hotels, entitled: What’s In Your Backpack?

Bingham’s carefully maintained environment is a micro-managed world of hotels, car rentals, first class airport lounges, cocktails and random sexual encounters. It is a world in which one is surrounded by people yet never achieving moments of intimacy. That is until he meets fellow corporate woman Alex (Vera Famiga), a woman who seems to thaw Bingham’s distanced lifestyle, but delivers a very harsh lesson. For an audience so used to seeing the smooth-talking, Italian designer suit-wearing, vaguely mocking Clooney persona, it is quite startling to see him dressed in his blandest attire since probably Out of Sight’s prison garb.

Joining Bingham on his country-crossing is potential rival and colleague, Natalie (Anna Kendrick). She’s a frosty character and a corporate machine until she thaws under his guidance. It’s the closest thing this man will ever get to a father-daughter relationship. Kendrick more than holds her own against Clooney and the mismatched pair provide some brilliant one-liners and exchanges. Their adventures from city to city develops into a strained bond, but finishes on a nice note. And that’s another element to point out: Up in the Air is often hilarious. It might be a serious film, but it’s got plenty of comedy.

There are minor quibbles. With a story focused on three individuals, the use of famous faces to provide cameos jolts with the rest of the piece. It doesn’t derail it at all, but could have been used less. Danny McBride delivers a brilliant monologue and Sam Elliot and JK Simmons hit their marks, but Jason Bateman and Zack Galifianakis don’t.

The style of the film is in keeping with Reitman’s previous features. There’s a great soundtrack, snazzy editing and use of graphic design. The use of tableaux shots is often beautiful, such as when Bingham is gazing up at the Departures board or sat in a hotel room as the camera zooms from outside to reveal his isolation. There is the sense he is more than just the son of a famous filmmaker, he could turn out to be a pretty important director in his own right. There’s a willingness to be honest with the material as well as providing barrels full of laughs.

Up in the Air is the story of one man’s journey into emotional territory, only for incidents to re-affirm his original convictions. The hype and publicity machine may be trying to convince us all this is a story about America in these troubled times. It is, but that doesn’t do it justice, not fully. Instead, it’s an ambigious tale of one man shutting himself off from the world because its easier than dealing with the pain. He’ll go on acknowledging humanity. Just don’t expect him to join in. It will be interesting to see how this film ages. George Clooney for Best Actor at this year’s Oscars? It would be more than worthy: it’s the best performance he’s ever given.

Rating: