Up in the Air

Up in the Air is both a bitter and somewhat cynical romance, as well as a psychological exploration of the thinking of today's American middle class, and last but not least, a drama about the collapse of the infamous American dream in the style of American Beauty. I would be cautious about classifying the film as a comedy because anyone who approaches this film as light entertainment will inevitably be disappointed. If there are comedic tones in the film, they mostly arise from the absurdity and contrasts of what is seen. The only moment when the movie theater warmly laughed was the situation where a young employee and a manager, who is a few years older with many failed relationships, describe their requirements for a partner. It is the story of a seasoned employee of a company specializing in laying off redundant employees of American companies. The protagonist is convincingly and brilliantly played by George Clooney, who can rely on similarly excellent performances from his co-stars. Vera Farmiga surprised me as his mistress. The film is certainly not flawless, as it has a slightly fluctuating pace, the musical motifs have a somewhat intrusive sentimental character, and above all, Jason Reitman lacks the courage to completely dismantle the American myth. This is especially evident in the reconciliatory ending and the testimonies of those laid off on camera, where hope emerges. Perhaps it needed about 10-15% of the audacity and uncompromisingness of Michael Moore. On the other hand, how many similarly significant sincere testimonies can we find in the film world? Overall impression: 90%. By the way, I kind of expected that ending of the romance, something similar happened to me... (01/02/2010)

I’d like to fly one day. These days it sounds almost ridiculous, but I’ve never ever flown anywhere. But that feeling of abandonment and freedom that flying represents is so tempting for me... and Ryan Bingham lives in the clouds. It’s hard not to envy him. He has a super job that he enjoys (I liked that too) and it allows him to fly here, there and everywhere. But the day came when he couldn’t and his life begins to change. I’ve seen thousands of sentimental movies about life, but why is Up In The Air so much better? Is it the dry lines, the pleasant actors or the atmosphere? Maybe all of that and maybe it’s because each one of us can find a part of themselves in this story. Credit carders, glues or diligent workers. Luckily, Jason Reitman doesn’t stay at everything being cool and fine, but he shows the other side of the coin too. People losing their jobs. That’s what it’s all about. You have to be able to balance everything and Reitman did a perfect job of it. Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack... (21/02/2010)

Jason Reitman has shown that it is possible to make a romance film that doesn't necessarily have the ending you expect, and it can even be set in the environment of airports. A person who spends most of their life in an airplane, airport terminals, and various hotel rooms. And yet they are happy because they have a job (firing others) and maybe even love (although they see it very rarely). Or maybe everything is just a little different. Beautiful, even though people are ugly. (06/04/2014)

The same old story. Reitman makes one movie after another, but he just can’t achieve the quality of his shorts. And here it is even worse because the entire time I couldn’t shake off the feeling that this is an Americanized variation (and I don’t mean that pejoratively, just it’s been adapted to the American way of life, the mood in society etc.) on last year’s Japanese Oscar winner. Unfortunately I get the feeling from this that it isn’t nearly as sincere as intentional, criminally dry and almost too “serious". (10/01/2010)

When odes to Juno were being sung, I stood silently at the back. But when praises for flying were sung, I must be heard in the front rows. Clooney showcases his most natural side after some nice couple of years, Reitman's script elevates the concept of "life truth", and that treacherously realistic ending still doesn't let me sleep. The overall impression takes up so comprehensively that neither side can contradict. Lovers of people with a pleasant everyday feeling of a warmed home will have their share, just like chronic travelers who may become unsure whether it really makes sense to start returning somewhere. Calm, intelligently-warm certainty. (28/02/2010)