Visitors Review

(2012-05-26 08:56)

Thoughtful look at something beyond the status quo

After a while, it gets pretty tiring to have nearly every Hollywood movie either overtly or subtly suggest that real happiness lies in marriage and family. I love this movie because it asks us to consider that happiness is personal, not cookie-cutter. The protagonist loves his life of traveling and the lack of ties that go along with it. Some might see this as melancholy, and at times it is portrayed that way in the movie, but overall, it's clear that what most people want is not what the protagonist wants. I love the realistic, insightful way that this different outlook on life is presented in this movie.

Ken Hanke (2012-05-26 00:43)

At the center of it all, is George Clooney in the role he seems born to have played -- a role he's lived himself into.

(2012-05-24 08:49)

A Good Movie

Up In The Air is a good movie. George Clooney and Vera Framiga are incredibly pleasant to watch in this film. Jason Bateman was outstanding as the boss. I thought Anna Kendrick was OK as an over educated college graduate. The film is about 15 minutes too long, the second act dragged a bit. But, the bonus features of this DVD are almost worth the price of admission. The deleted scenes are priceless - George Clooney assembles Ikea furniture, cleans out a toilet, and wears a space suit. Do not miss the bonus features.In the first fifteen minutes, Jason Reitman got the ultra frequent traveler down cold. Sadly, I could mostly see myself in the things George Clooney did at the airport (almost 600,000 actual flight miles on United). There was one glaring mistake, unless Hertz has significantly changed the way you rent a car now, a credit card never comes out in the rental lot (there is a dramatic reason for using the credit card at that moment). Other than that, the whole airport / hotel activity was perfection, I know it too well.Up In The Air is about Ryan Bingham, a man with no home, who loves what he does, and feels perfectly at home traveling. The fact that he fires people for a living seems to have absolutely no effect on him. He is a professional and does his job extremely well. He meets Alex (Vera Framiga) in a bar with an opening line about rental car companies. They end up playing cards with their frequent miles status cards. Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) is the recent college graduate that is going to revolutionize the termination business with video conferencing instead of physical travel. The movie is more about relationships and what home means, than about firing people.I mostly liked this film. Given that I travel a lot, and know most of the airports in this film, I had to suspend belief because the real airports were almost never used. O'Hare was a bunch of different airports, and they never used the real one. Like the credit card, those are nits I'll give to artistic license. The film is rated R for a brief moment of nudity (there is a view of Vera's derriere and side view of her breasts - more has been shown on television), and strong language (elsewhere somebody counted 20 f-bombs, it's a pretty good number by my guessing). Otherwise, this is a very mild R rated film. There isn't much in here that a mature younger viewer couldn't watch. The music is outstanding. I particularly liked the song by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. In fact the music adds a nice drama to the film. Shots are perfectly in focus, steady, and perfectly exposed. The film is dialog centric, so there isn't a lot of surround sound effects. This film looked very good on DVD and is probably not worth the Blu-Ray investment.The DVD has about fourteen minutes of deleted scenes that are a must see. The two minute piece of junk about the making of the title sequence is worthless. And there is an alternate audio track with the director commentary.Overall, this is a good film. Jason Reitman has a very bright career ahead of him. This film proves that he is not a one hit wonder (Juno).

(2012-05-23 10:25)

The movie and the DVD extras worth a watch!

For everyone who's ever spent a great deal of their working life on the road- you're going to love this movie. I'm generally a Clooney fan anyway (what woman isn't?), but this role as a man that loves the isolated life and perks of living on the road and doesn't want to settle down, seems just made for him. I won't describe the story, since it's done so well throughout the other reviews. However, I will say that while I enjoyed it thoroughly, the firing parts can be a little rough to watch. I also would have liked many of the deleted scenes in the DVD "extras" (with the exception of one about a bizarre astronaut dream) to have been included in the movie to make the story and reactions of the characters come together better towards the end. In fact, there's a whole section of the story in these scenes about how Ryan manages his life after he's "grounded" in Omaha that makes these worth watching.There aren't a lot of other extras on the DVD. But, there is a good director/writer commentary version which is also well worth watching! Insights about how they used real recently laid off folks without scripts for the firing scenes, other improvisations and how they shot in the various locations add a lot of insight and appeal to an already good movie. Bottom Line: If you've ever been a frequent user of a frequent flyer program, worked for a large corporatation or just plain like George Clooney - you're going to like this one, and the limited but good extras make it even better.

kozzmik (2012-05-22 17:10)

You can't possibly be happy.

Attention, all people who are happy being alone! You're not reallyhappy! Believe me! You need to run out right now and find that perfectsoul mate to spend your life with. Yes, you may find out that they arealready married to someone else and that you are just their favoritechew toy, but believe me, it's you that has not grown up, not them. Youshould have your own family that is happy to stay at home while youtravel 9 months out of the year, so that you can cheat on them. THISWILL MAKE YOU HAPPY. And it will never lead to any painful consequencesor lost years, when it doesn't work out. Also remember that if you everlose your job, it's best to do so when you have people depending on youbecause they will make it so much easier on you, and will be right byyour side at the unemployment line supporting you all the way. Don'tpay any attention to the stats that show divorce is next on the todolist after job loss, complete with the angry ex spouse and thedysfunctional kids.Such is the inane message fed to the hungry mouths suckling at the teatof this film, but for me this heavy handed and simplistic messageoverwhelmed the film, and made what started out to be a decent lightcomedy, into a self contradictory philosophical mess suited only to aten year old.

Michael O'Keefe (2012-05-22 09:55)

The harder facts of life. Great movie.

This film from director Jason Reitman lives up to all its ballyhoo.Talk about taking a bad situation and making it sound good. RyanBingham(George Clooney)has been making more than a decent living as ahigh end hatchet man. When a company is ready to down size, Bingham issent out to 'chop heads'. He is a brilliant motivational speaker andthe silver tongued charmer easily convinces workers getting the pinkslip that their life is not over...just at the doorstep of an otherfulfilling opportunity.Bingham is constantly in the air crisscrossing the country, staying inthe best hotels, wearing the best clothes and not having any kind ofnormal life doesn't bother him in the least. Ryan strikes up aconversation with another traveler...a very nice looking AlexGoran(Vera Farmiga), who also racks up the air miles in her job. Theirschedules allow them to meet every so often and there is the beginningof a special relationship.Back at the home office, Bingham finds out his own employer(JasonBateman) is wanting to change the policies of having his hatchet mentraveling so much. A young twenty-something, fast rising and highlymotivated Natalie Keener(Anna Kendrick)presents a novel idea ofconducting the interviews via webcams. Bryan is given enough time totake Natalie on a few trips to see if she really has the 'chops' tofire someone.A very interesting story with impressing locales and quick-witteddialog. You find yourself thinking about your job, your life and yourfuture. Also in the cast: Melanie Lynskey, J.K. Simmons, Steve Eastin,Amy Morton and Sam Elliott.

Neil Smith (2012-05-20 19:47)

Witty, pertinent and moving, this is a sophisticated treat from a director who gets exponentially better with every picture. But it's Clooney that makes it soar with his most accomplished acting to date. Think of this as his Jerry Maguire.

(2012-05-20 08:51)

Over-hyped, manipulative and predictable

So glad the producer (Ivan Reitman) has such faith in the director (hisown son, Jason) and his "creative vision." What were the odds? LOL.Whatever skills Jason has as a technician, the philosophical thrust ofthis movie is as phony as a $3 bill. Wow, disconnectedness? Wow,everybody needs somebody to love? Wow, having casual sex is ultimatelydisappointing? This is glib commercialism at Hollywood's typical worst,disguised as a movie with meaning and now being hyped as Oscar materialon all fronts. The audience for this flick would presumably be comfywhite folks earning six-figure salaries, who can relate to all theemptiness that its lead character is striving to overcome. So who do wepity more--the director who thinks this message needs transmitting, orthe dumb saps who will watch it and think it's really meaningful? (Thelatter, actually, because the director's getting rich off the movie,and the saps are giving him their money.) A manipulative piece ofnonsense, which, at its core, is as naive as they come about real humanissues. If you've paid to see this one, you've already been duped.

David Edwards (2012-05-16 16:48)

Delivering his killer one-liners with a gently raised eyebrow, Clooney impresses at every turn and is fast becoming one of Hollywood's subtlest comedy actors.

(2012-05-16 08:42)

Outsourcing Firing People - What a Great Premise

This review is from: Up in the Air (DVD) I think the premise of this movie is hilarious enough with George Clooney working for a company that goes around the country firing people. Then they try to modernize it to make firing people more "efficient" and cost effective. The movie is very funny and fun to watch with a little bit of romantic comedy that's not too cheesy.

(2012-05-15 00:44)

intellectual squalor; really no doubt about how horrible this celluoid is

There are often times the wooden political influenced motion picture academy of arts and sciences makes grave errors. Off hand I can think of two: not nominating Christian Bale for one of the greatest youth roles in the history of cinema, as 'Jim' in Spielberg's epic 'Empire of the Sun' and two not nominating Streisand as Best Director when Conroy's adaptation of the stellar 'Prince of Tides' was nominated for Best Picture.Here then is another foible of incoherent nonsense the Academy offered as a Best Picture for the cravings of absolute boredom and ineptness. This truly was a gawker, a complete and total meltdown of cinema."Oh look at me, I'm an intellectual, oh look at me, this movie is for me, oh look at me the rabid coherent neanderthal who thinks anyone that doesn't 'get' this film, is sub-par to most other human beings, because we only like 'bam bam-knock em dead movies', oh look at me and my elite, upper east side tupaware party, PTA mom friends who will get together for dry martini's after this viewing and talk about how 'emotionally gratifying' it was that a film can touch on the 'pseudo' elites lifestyle.....oh look at me, I'm sophisticated, and well if you aren't you just wont get the film, so go watch it again, and if you still dont get it, well then go back to your Transformers, because your feeble mind could never grasp something so pure, driven; a film with such subtle nuances that it touches at the very heart and soul of life..."--->Yeah that is what people say to those who give this work of contemptible garbage 1 star. Ohhhhhh all art housey, all bon vivant style acting, from the upper crust of gutter stylish hollywood. Ohh 'it so relates to our times in a way that the actors really touch on personal issues facing all of us and the deeper meaning of and endless search for happiness, when happiness is wafting all around us'. The Academy is an utter atrocity, nominating films like this and the horrid, deplorable Hurt Locker...but then again we know why Formiga Vermigo, Fermogo Verpevo, got nominated because of that little article in that big publication...save it, Nominations have raraly been about the pinnacle of the craft, if that were the case people like Sam Rockwell, Ed Norton, Mike York, Liam Neeson, Sam Elliott, John Malkovich and Joe Levitt, would have won multiple times, for multiple roles..... wahhhhhhh wahhhhh wahhhh wahhhhh wahhh so what I didn't like it, but that doesn't make me less of a human being or less of some type of these amazon hack intellectuals claim that you are if you DONT like it. In fact if you are one of those people who think this movie is the greatest work of pure art since, well I dont know, JewNo, or the like, or Out of Africa, well let me tell you, these are the kind of people I WANT NOTHING to do with. Go have your cheap Chardonnay in your beach homes in wildwood NJ, with your stiff, fake vanilla friends, and I will get along just fine, NOT being one of THOSE intellectuals, but still manage (I KNOW I KNOW>>>>>>>hard to imagine, but...).....still manage to not only enjoy films like Au Revoir Les Enfants, Flight of the Red Balloon, Europa Europa, Scent of the Green Papaya, Like Water for Chocolate and The Village, but also films like Donnie Darko, Transformers, or the next JAMES CAMERON EPIC.....You have seriously, SERIOUSLY have got to be kidding me....

offshorewaylong (2012-05-14 04:52)

I love the myriad philosophies

This movie is a parallel of my life in nearly every way; growing up inthe Midwest; being lost to my family ... in their eyes; 20+ years(after 20, it doesn't really matter) of traveling constantly,unpredictably, and for 80% of the year; living out of a suitcase;having/owning nothing material; doing a "dirty job" with dignity andcare; probably having 10,000,000 air miles (unfortunately, not all onone airline); wanting to "settle down" with a good woman, only to findout, she wasn't so good.Having experienced many of the parts of the movie firsthand, the moviecould not have been better cast.The actors portray their roles so accurately and genuinely.

(2012-05-06 14:24)

Up in the Air - A first class flight to a disturbing destination

Up in the AirIf you are Up in the Air about work, family, travel,relationships, the economy, committment, loyalty,career, well then this is the perfect movie for you...From start to finish this is one movie that really takes off but neverreally lands...and that is the movie,s intentThe film examines the cold, calculating inhumanmethods of terminating people from their jobs and perhaps their identities as well.It explores the impersonality of the modern work placeand the current corporate climate.The films main character George Clooney, is a slickcarefree, non commital corporate suit flying from one locationto another terminating peoples livelihoods without regret.Though he seems content flying high above the real worldof feelings, he eventually free falls into an abyss ofshocking isolation. He becomes a victim to his owndetachment and ruthlessness. I wont spoil the shocker scenebut in a moment of frailty he discovers what it,s like to be on the receiving end of getting the cold shoulder, and it entails not just losing one,s job.The entire cast give fine performances throughout this pertinent drama with very adept direction. The script is solid, the editing tight and crisp.If you,re looking for a short flight of entertainmentand introspection, then Up in the Air is the perfectmovie in which to land. It will leave you reexaminingyour own flights of fancy. [...].

ICUPhysician (2012-05-06 06:01)

Clooney Deserved An Oscar

Y'know how movies are often criticized for somehow being less than thenovels from which they are adapted? That the characters so threedimensional on paper become two dimension on celluloid? That the plotsare untwisted and sanitized? Not so for "Up In The Air".I read the novel first, as it happened whilst I was on the road for acouple of weeks. It captured the tarnished charisma of modern airtravel beautifully, the banality of it all. The once glamorous pilotshave become bus drivers, the once elegant stewardesses have becomewaitresses. Greyhound with wings.That being said the book also paints a picture… in two dimensions... ofa guy who goes around the country firing people for a living. He's aprofessional asshole basically. The very thing that irks most of usabout modern day travel…the utter staleness of it all is this guy'swellspring of comfort. His goal in life, it seems, is to amass frequentflyer miles for the sole purpose of amassing miles. He is colorless; heis two-dimensional because he chooses to be. Or maybe…just maybe…hecan't help it.The movie takes this premise and expands on it. That's the gift here…arather (purposefully) banal book is brought to life. mostly thanks toClooney's interpretation of a very well written script the twodimensional characters grow a third dimension. Mostly but notexclusively. The film is nicely shot, thoughtfully decorated andextremely well cast in the persons of Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick.What ends up happening is one of these women warms his heart and theother breaks it. Clooney takes this character from being a superficialcliché'-spouting asswipe to becoming a vulnerable somewhat adriftmiddle aged man. It's a tour de force, ranking up there with hisportrayal of Ulysses Everett McGill. In this case however he didn'thave the Coen Brothers gifted bizarre adaptation of Homer to lift him.This performance deserved the Oscar for Clooney.

Jason Zingale (2012-05-05 19:17)

It's Reitman's whip-smart script, well-developed characters, and keen use of his actors that ultimately makes Up in the Air the highly entertaining modern American classic that it is.

(2012-05-05 08:00)

Dialogue: one of the best screenplays ever!

Maybe this is a comment; not a review. After reading a few good ones, I only wanted to share my opinion. And, what I liked a lot about this movie was the adapted screenplay from the novel.Some scenes are electrical by simply the way the characters talk to each other. Oh, the one between Alex and Ryan at the gate's lounge!And Clooney, so handsome and witty! For me he doesn't fit the mold some publications and talk shows had given him; a professional actor that's what he is.

red_identity (2012-05-04 06:24)

A powerful and rich film. One of the best of 2009

Up In The Air is a rich film. It is one of those rare films thatmanages to entertain, make you laugh, make you sad, and one that stayswith you after it is over. I say it is that rare film, because althoughthere might be a lot that try to be similar in a way, Up In The Air isthe one-of-a- kind film of 2009, and probably the most satisfyingexperience you will have from 2009. George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man that goes all around thecountry firing people from different countries. He meets Alex (playedby Vera Farmgia) and both believe they have the same desires for theirrelationship, and nothing mutual. Ryan is forced to teach Natalie(played by Anna Kendrick) the ropes of the company, after she endangershis chance of achieving a certain number of flier miles. All three ofthese characters go through circumstances that reveal their true natureand true life. I have never been a big fan of Clooney, I have alwaysthought he plays the same types of characters in all of his films. Butin this film, I finally recognize how great of an actor he is. Heachieves everything that is required from him, and his subtleexpressions and thoughts are perfectly portrayed. I fully appreciatehis character transformations now, and how subtle and realistic theyare. Vera Farmiga is a natural actress, and she reveals her characterto be mysterious and not what we expect her to be. Anna Kendrick is acharmer, and I believe that all three actors deserve to be nominatedfor Academy Awards. I have only seen one other Jason Reitman film, andthat is Juno. While that was a good film, a very good film at times, Ifound Up In The Air a lot better- more charming, more real. He hasincredible writing skill and his direction was very well balanced, andhe never over- directs anything or allows it to feel unauthentic. At the end of the day, Up In The Air makes you think about your ownlife, and about everyone and everything involved with your experiences.It is one of the best films of 2009

Duane Dudek (2012-05-03 12:41)

It's a lean and economical film about a lean and economical time. The only things it is rich in are empathy and compassion.

(2012-04-29 23:31)

ok...

ok movie - a bit slow but tolerable and entertaining. I don't like the way Anna Kendrick talks: total loss of femininity that is so common in US among some women.

Clayton Davis (2012-04-29 17:38)

Breathes New Air...

Director Jason Reitman, that has brought us great Indie classics suchas Thank You for Smoking and Juno has crafted his most personal andmost effective portrait to date, Up in the Air. The film stars GeorgeClooney, also giving his most intimate and beautiful performance of hiscareer, as Ryan, a traveling "Firing-Man," who plans on racking up asmuch frequent flyer miles as he can. Completely void of humanconnection and emotion, even from his two sisters, one of which isgetting married, Ryan seems completely content with his choice ofliving. All seems well until he meets his female version in thebeautiful and charismatic Alex, played with sexual force and intensityby Vera Farmiga. At the same time, a change at his job makes himacquire a student, Natalie, played with sensitivity and vigor by AnnaKendrick, to learn the ropes of the business before potentially makinga devastating change to Ryan's way of life.The film, based on the book of the same title, is a moving and wittypiece of cinema. The line deliveries given are some of the best linersof the year. The adaptation by Reitman and Sheldon Turner is ofbeautiful and social importance in today's day and age. There was nobetter time than now, to bring a film like this to the table. Dana E.Glauberman's crisp and precise editing sets the pace as we travel withRyan in this beautiful account. Reitman's direction shows he's a forceto be reckoned with and should be in full blown force for Oscarconsideration along with the adaptation shared with Turner.George Clooney, who's having one hell of a year along with his othercomedic turn in The Men Who Stare at Goats, gains sympathy and emotionfrom the viewer, which up until now, Clooney had always struggled for.The role is right up Clooney's alley and with humorous strength,conveys the pain and loneliness of an otherwise charming mansuccessfully.Vera Farmiga as Alex, is a beautiful as she is dark, and as sexy as sheis ugly. Farmiga has finally landed the right role that, in her yearsof wrong place at the wrong time, should land her a first-time Oscarnomination. Never showing her hand, Farmiga keeps and earns your trust,attention, and admiration. It's one of the most divisive andstructurally brilliant supporting turns of the year. Seemingly not playing with a full deck is Natalie, played mostbeautifully by Anna Kendrick, who portrays brains don't equal smartchoices. Kendrick earns your care and concern for the character, as shefollows Ryan around and constantly badgers him about happiness andlove, she naïvely and courageously shows the tenderest parts of youthin today's world. Kendrick will likely be sitting along side Farmiga atOscar's ceremony.Jason Bateman, playing Craig Gregory, the boss in charge, is amusing ina brief but memorable role. Amy Morton and Melanie Lynsky, who playRyan's sisters, are valuable and sufficient enough to book end awonderful tale. Danny McBride, an outstanding comic talent to watch, isas good as ever. And finally, in otherwise cameos, Sam Elliott and thegreat Zack Galifianakis are uproarious in their respective roles.This could very well be the crowd and critical pleaser of the year. Ithas what the 2004 film Sideways lacked, the emotional edge. Long afterthe film, you take these characters home with you and remind yourselfof its authenticity in delivery, poise, and premise. Up in the Air isone of the best pictures of the year. ****/****