January 03, 2010
— Open Blog Jason Reitman (son of iconic comedy director Ivan Reitman) is probably one of the most promising young directors around, having directed the darkly comic Thank You For Smoking as his feature debut, and following that up with the comically dark Juno.
So, while waiting for the lights to go down on his latest, Up In The Air, I had to wonder: Would it be comic? Would it be dark? What would the ratio of comic to dark be?
As it turns out, way more on the dark, not so much on the comic.
The story is about ruthlessly shallow Ryan Bingham, whose job it is to fly around the country firing people. The company he works for acts as a (very) short-term Human Resources department which has as its sole function the removal of employees in as painless and low-key manner possible. Bingham is glib, and so thoroughly disconnected from humanity that he actually prefers being in the air 320 days out of the year, and loathes the few days he has at home.
Played aptly by George Cloony and oh, my God! what did he do to his face? I wish I were kidding when I say that. I spent about 30% of the movie trying to figure out whether he'd been botoxed or lifted or what. And that's a shame since this is the kind of role he was made for.
Anyway, Bingham is flying around the country firing people when he gets called home by his boss (Bit Maelstrom favorite Jason Bateman). Seems that the latest addition to the firm, firm young Natalie Keener (Twilight's Anna Kendrick) has successfully promoted the idea of firing-by-webcam.
Cue existential crisis as Bingham must contemplate the notion of not flying all around the country. This plays out as Bingham flies Keener around the country to get some real hands-on experience firing people.
So. Yeah. Seeing people get fired for a good half-hour may not be exactly what the doctor called for in this economic climate. (Seriously, anyone looking for a veteran computer programmer/movie geek?) There's a buttload of acting, though, and we actually do gain a little respect for Bingham; there is some technique to what he does.
The other tension in the story comes from love interest Alex, played by the sexy Vera Farmiga (of this yearÂ’s Orphan and last year's Oscar bait Boy In The Striped Pajamas). Alex shares Bingham's love of the perks of travel, including the niceties that ultra-frequent travelers enjoy. As Bingham's work situation comes to a head, he also finds himself reconnecting with his sisters (about whom we know nothing till late in the film).
Can Bingham use this old connection to help him find happiness with a chick he picked up in an airport bar?
It's a well-made movie, with strong characters and believable settings, yet I wouldn't recommend it broadly. It's hard to explain why without some spoilers so let me just say that beyond the firings, while the movie's not exactly bleak, it's not exactly a pick-me-up either. (More dark than comic, like I said.)
Great little performances from J.K. Simmons, Bateman (of course), and Sam Elliott (who I swear is reprising his role as "The Stranger" from The Big Lebowski).
The Boy thought it was okay, but he expected more humor. This is the umpteenth movie we've seen this year that was made out to be funny in the commercials, but turned out to have a much more dramatic edge in the theater. (Adventureland, Duplicity, Observe and Report, Sunshine Cleaning, Management, just to name a few off the top of my head, all were advertised as being wackier comedies when they all had a fairly serious dramatic edge.)
A little more truth in advertising would be nice.
Posted by: Open Blog at
01:48 AM
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there was no, "there it is," moment that would have moved it to
a another level. I can't recommend it at all.
This and Sherlock Holmes were very dissapointing.
Posted by: McLovin at January 03, 2010 03:11 AM (o+bH/)
Posted by: Hans muslim handlebar at January 03, 2010 03:42 AM (986fB)
Posted by: Hans muslim handlebar at January 03, 2010 03:47 AM (986fB)
Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at January 03, 2010 03:52 AM (qWLc4)
Posted by: Crusty at January 03, 2010 04:13 AM (qzgbP)
Posted by: di butler at January 03, 2010 04:17 AM (S3xX1)
Now that I'm married with a four-year-old boy and a four-month-old baby girl, I'd be panicked if I lost my job. I could live on Ramen noodles or even out of my car (been a long time since I've been that down) when single, or even just with my gf, but with kids it's completely different. That was the one thing that bugged me about that movie.
That said, I ran single for a lot of years and thought people with kids were chumps, I knew I was selfish and wanted to spend money on myself, I was in a touring band and I knew I'd be a shitty husband and father. Now I'm at a time in my life where I am pretty much over all that, and I can see kids are the most important thing in the world. You aren't tied down, they _are_ your world, and you wouldn't have it any other way (at least I hope it's like that for any of you who have kids).
But saying it makes hard times easier seems facile and stupid to me. The sense of responsibility hangs on me, and I'd hardly expect my kids to sympathize and pull me out of my punk-ass funk if I lost my job. I'd get off my ass and get another one.
A lot of stuff on that movie just didn't ring true. And how did the fugly, unpopular girl from Twilight (who can't act her way out of a paper bag) get the lead female role? Plus, there was a contrary message that the slutbag Clooney was banging risked her marriage and kids to fuck around with him on the road. So, I guess family's not all _that_ important, huh? Hope she doesn't lose her job :p
Posted by: docweasel at January 03, 2010 04:21 AM (kgwdA)
Interestingly, When I visualize the main character I now think of Eckharts's Nick Naylor in "Thank you for smoking" and even if Clooney is great I think hes going to be a let down.
Posted by: jcp at January 03, 2010 04:21 AM (DHNp4)
Clooney has had some great roles. Even if you hate him I highly recommend "Oh brother where art thou" and "Intolerable Cruelty"
Damon too has had some good roles too, "The Departed", and at least the first Bourne movie.
But, yeah - It seems that if you have a big name and a formula you don't need the passion that makes a movie worth making.
Posted by: jcp at January 03, 2010 04:30 AM (DHNp4)
Sad but true. Smug moonbattery FTL.
Posted by: someone at January 03, 2010 04:52 AM (njJQD)
Posted by: RJ at January 03, 2010 05:06 AM (2jp4I)
Sam Elliott (who I swear is reprising his role as "The Stranger" from The Big Lebowski)
Sam Elliott seems to play that same character in a lot of different movies. I understand his "Caretaker" character in Ghost Rider was not all that different from "The Stranger" either: narrator, exposition-giver, and objective observer, all in his unique down-homey folksy style.
Come to think of it, his role as General Buford in Gettysburg was largely as observer/narrator for the first day of the battle.
Posted by: wolfwalker at January 03, 2010 05:25 AM (hypy8)
17 Crusty,
Clooney has had some great roles. Even if you hate him I highly recommend "Oh brother where art thou" and "Intolerable Cruelty" -jcp
I liked OBWAT and Departed a lot actually. I used to be able to table my disgust with the activist and enjoy the artist but the more asshole behavior I see the harder it is for me to watch these putzs for 2 hours. Hell, I used to catch Woody Allen movies in the threatre no one else was going to see. But after the Roman Polanski defense I'll be skipping his and a lot of other artist's movies.
Posted by: Crusty at January 03, 2010 05:26 AM (qzgbP)
Posted by: Tim at January 03, 2010 05:27 AM (Sxt4Z)
A little more truth in advertising would be nice.
Don't worry, I'm sure Obama has a plan for that...or not...
Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie at January 03, 2010 05:30 AM (kay6f)
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 03, 2010 05:39 AM (GQhsP)
Posted by: Frank G at January 03, 2010 05:44 AM (I+To0)
Posted by: gomm at January 03, 2010 06:11 AM (Ibk1S)
Posted by: ian cormac at January 03, 2010 06:20 AM (8F3RR)
Posted by: huerfano at January 03, 2010 06:21 AM (9szrE)
Posted by: HH at January 03, 2010 06:27 AM (1kwr2)
Spoilers alert! After watching it I found it more interesting watching it from a kind of Meet Joe Black angle. Clooney is death. Compassionate, old school. Respectful. The new girl is technology and high tech getting involved with the death process. Streamlined. Efficient. Bureaucratic. She represents the end of life machine that involves hospitals, insurance, legal issues, and yes, even death panels, etc. Clooney makes the death process a matter of concern to the person he's "taking across the river" or whatever he said, and the person's family. Clooney's love interest is flirting with death. Taking dangerous chances but not wanting to die, just get close. Like guys who skydive and bang hookers bareback. The movie makes more sense with making this about death and not just a change in employment.
Posted by: Dang at January 03, 2010 06:37 AM (UA4gE)
Posted by: Warthog at January 03, 2010 06:38 AM (kaUmc)
Posted by: RushBabe at January 03, 2010 06:45 AM (LKkE8)
Posted by: CoolCzech at January 03, 2010 06:46 AM (QECjC)
Speaking of boots (heh), I just want to say that the best pair of boots I ever bought were in Canada. Sorel boots. I got them when I was up there for the Winter Olympics in '88. I'm still wearing them, like as of an hour ago when I was out shoveling snow. One of the best investments I've ever made.
Oh, and those Ugg boots? I think it stands for Ugly.
Posted by: HH at January 03, 2010 06:51 AM (1kwr2)
Posted by: gomm at January 03, 2010 06:57 AM (Ibk1S)
Posted by: CoolCzech at January 03, 2010 06:58 AM (QECjC)
Posted by: CoolCzech at January 03, 2010 07:00 AM (QECjC)
Posted by: TexasJew at January 03, 2010 07:02 AM (dcKUM)
Hey CoolCzech, been there. I look at the post, hit 'post', then suddenly go "Aw man, what an idiot".
On the bright side, most peoples know what you meant.
Posted by: HH at January 03, 2010 07:04 AM (1kwr2)
And he is handsome. Or was. I saw pix of him from last year after he had his eyes "done" and he still looked ok to me (although I prefer the eye wrinkles) so I hope that the latest work hasn't destroyed his looks. He's classically handsome, clean cut, nice build (not too skinny), and looks great in a suit.
Posted by: Y-not circa 2010 at January 03, 2010 07:05 AM (sey23)
Eh, pretty tired of the "dark" schtick. Except for the Pixar like kids stuff, it's basically the default position of the entertainment industry these days and really for the past two decades. It was cool when Danny Devito was doing it way back in the 80' and 90's, now it's just played out.
Posted by: koopy at January 03, 2010 07:06 AM (XllG0)
Posted by: Y-not circa 2010 at January 03, 2010 07:07 AM (sey23)
Posted by: Connertown at January 03, 2010 07:09 AM (sc1R9)
Posted by: TexasJew at January 03, 2010 07:09 AM (dcKUM)
Posted by: MathMom at January 03, 2010 07:23 AM (W2Dc8)
I went to "The Princess and The Frog" this weekend. I thought it was adorable.
You couldn't pay me enough money to sit through a Clooney movie. He twitches so damn much you'd think he was on meth. I can't figure out why people think he's still a good actor. Unless the twitching is hypnotizing or something.
Posted by: experience smeperience at January 03, 2010 07:30 AM (8mpdw)
Posted by: sheik Yamani at January 03, 2010 07:32 AM (mhD2v)
Posted by: Zimriel at January 03, 2010 07:48 AM (1Q8uL)
Posted by: Zimriel at January 03, 2010 07:50 AM (1Q8uL)
Bittorrent FTL, dude.
Posted by: AbdominalSnowman at January 03, 2010 07:53 AM (pla1I)
Would you please not give any publicity to any of these people who were born into the entertainment industry, like Reitman?
You know who I mean. How did George Clooney get into the business? He made sure he was the nephew of Rosemary Clooney! How did Sean Penn get acting jobs? His daddy was the TV director Leo Penn. How did Rob Reiner get a job? He made sure he was the son of Carl Reiner! And so on.
Posted by: Never Mind at January 03, 2010 07:55 AM (oVeBl)
Posted by: Old Guy with a Big Collar and a Mustache at January 03, 2010 07:57 AM (GQhsP)
Posted by: AbdominalSnowman at January 03, 2010 07:57 AM (pla1I)
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 03, 2010 08:01 AM (GQhsP)
I'm just astounded that none of my fellow morons made the now obligatory "I'd hit it" comment about Ms Farmiga. She's one hot Ukrainian American.
But as for the movie--yes it is dark. And considering the economy, late 2009 is not the best time to release a movie about firing people.
While I'd normally refuse to see any movie Clooney made (since his politics always wind up on the left side of the toilet bowl that is Hollywood) SWMBO was eager to get out of the house and so off we went. Lots of good acting; and lots of amateur acting by people who had actually been fired--with one identifiable exception--long time actor whose name I can't recall right now--the "firees" were real people replaying or reenacting their own actual firings.
I agree that the movie takes more out of you than it gives.
Posted by: Chicken Choker & Corncob Smoker at January 03, 2010 08:31 AM (ktYjH)
Posted by: andycanuck at January 03, 2010 08:49 AM (2qU2d)
This sounds like the Cheers episode where Norm is made the company's firing hitman: "Executive's Exucutioner".
Heh, and Norm was too decent a person to handle the job. I have the series on DVD and they don't make them like that anymore.
Posted by: barbelle at January 03, 2010 09:15 AM (qF8q3)
Posted by: Holdfast at January 03, 2010 09:46 AM (hDyHJ)
Posted by: Holdfast at January 03, 2010 09:48 AM (hDyHJ)
Posted by: barbelle at January 03, 2010 09:53 AM (qF8q3)
Posted by: schumpert at January 03, 2010 10:11 AM (vi0w4)
Popcorns (they give you the refill right away if it's near closing time) and sodas, $8.25.
Excellent point, docweasel, about family making it much harder, rather than easier. At least if you're not someone who invests a lot of their identity in their employment.
I liked Adventureland, holdfast. You can click through on the piece to see my review. It was one of those movies I thought about a lot after the fact, too.
Clooney doesn't twitch so much any more. He started curbing it ten years ago—it seemed reflexive after ER—and now it seems like he does it only for particular roles.
If he can do it at all anymore with whatever he's done to his face.
Posted by: moviegique at January 03, 2010 10:27 AM (1y5Vr)
Sam Elliot prefected his role as the laconic laid back Westerner in the seminal TV mini-series "Once An Eagle" in 1976 where he played General Sad Sam Damon.
He has been playing the same role ever since.
He was great as Tell Sackett in the "Day Breakers" though.
Posted by: trooper york at January 03, 2010 11:09 AM (6UPPZ)
Posted by: Mortis at January 03, 2010 02:11 PM (hA5JK)
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Saw that this weekend. Really liked it.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
*****SCROLL IF HAVEN"T SEEN****
The ending (all those people talking about their families coupled with his final monologue) redeemed the character , and saved the movie from being a downer. What I got out of it was this: Ryan Bingham realized his vocation was to help other people realize how important their families were, even though he didn't have a wife and children of his own (he does have a family).. What he did for his sister and her fiance in the middle of the movie was a microcosm, and more direct version ,of what he does, more indirectly, in all his encounters with the people he's firing.
*****END SPOILERS****
Posted by: Clooney's politics suck but this movie was good at January 03, 2010 03:00 AM (b0sdZ)