So Christmas is over, my upset towards Google Ads has subsided and I'm getting ready to watch the Golden Globe Awards tonight. I thought it was time I wrote a new review and I chose a movie that I did see a little while ago. Seeing as it is nominated for a Golden Globe for "Best Picture", "Lead Actor" and "Supporting Actress" (both women from the film were nominated), it seemed fitting to write about what I thought about it tonight before the awards show began. Let's see if my prediction is true...Up In The Air is directed by Jason Reitman (director of Juno) and stars George Clooney. Clooney plays a businessman named Ryan Bingham who works for a company that is hired by other companies to fire people. His downsizing job requires him to fly all over the United States to meet with complete strangers in a room and give them the worst news possible. Turns out Bingham, who narrates throughout the movie, loves his job and the travelling associated with it. He has no need for home or family and instead prefers a life of transition and the material perks that come with it. During the film, Bingham meets two women: Alex Goran (played by Vera Farmiga) a fellow traveller who describes herself as the female version of Bingham (i.e. shares his "no strings attached" life philosophy) and Natalie Keener, (played by Anna Kendrick) a young protege to the downsizing company who wants to modernize Bingham's job - make it even more impersonable- by replacing the face-to-face meetings (which requires him to travel) with web-cam meetings. Bingham, in an attempt to prove the young protege's business plan impractical (and preserve his lifestyle), takes Keener with him on his trips to fire people while simultaneously meets Goran in various stop-overs so they can develop their own type of "romantic relationship".
Although I really did like this movie, I had hoped to be blown away by it - which I wasn't. (I've been looking for one great drama film from 2009 to really sink my teeth into and unfortunately, that just hasn't happened). But that doesn't mean that Up In The Air isn't a good movie - it is! The style of the film is great. All kinds of little details are incorporated into the cinematography of the film that amplify Bingham's isolation and lack of "baggage". The acting is strong. I love George Clooney and I found his character very believable. Although I found Anna Kendrick's character, "Natalie", a little over the top sometimes, her resistance to Bingham's life philosophy created some great tension between the two of them and provided insight into both characters. I thought the "Alex Goran" character was exceptionally well portrayed. Vera Farmiga, in my opinion, has an ability to take a subtle, quiet character and make little nuances profound (she was a real standout for me in The Departed, as well). Another thing I really liked about the film was how all the small clips of the people who were getting fired had a strong impact. Even though these actors were only on screen for a very short period of time, the script and acting were strong enough for the audience to connect with them and care about their plight. (As a side note... seeing J.K Simmons play one of Bingham's victims was an unexpected pleasant surprise for me. Simmons, if you're unfamiliar with him, is a bald white guy who is always working in both T.V and film. -He's the guy that played a Nazi in the T.V show Oz, played a psychologist in Law and Order and presently plays the police chief in The Closer. And yet he still manages to get great film work-. Personally, I was very happy to see his face on the screen. Each character I see him play, reaffirms to me his incredible acting skills).
So with all the positive attributes I've mentioned about Up In The Air, you must be wondering "why wasn't I blown away by it"? Well, it really only comes down to a couple of things...Although I generally liked the pace of the film, I did find it slow in parts. In addition, I figured out a twist in the story line ahead of time so it didn't have the impact on me that I'm sure Reitman was hoping it would. And finally, although I liked the characters, my connection to them wasn't as strong or as lasting as I would have liked. I enjoyed the film but I don't know if I need to see it again. And for someone who does have a vast movie collection and owns many films that I like to watch over and over again, I was a little disappointed that this won't be one of them.
So my prediction with tonight's award show...although I believe Up In The Air deserves the many Golden Globe nominations it received, I don't think it'll win any of them.
Let's see if I'm right...
