This might have affected me more had I seen it in the moment, but I think watching it now - five years later - allowed for an interesting reflection on my adult life. Where I'm headed, where I've been, what I haven't experienced, and what I'm sure glad I didn't experience in 2009.
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate downsizing expert. In other words, he fires people for a living. He spends 75% of the year flying across the country doing other boss's dirty work. Him being a dick sort of comes with the territory, but he isn't disagreeable by any means. He's simply a man that's good at what he does: suavely helping these eliminated excess employees "transition." He gives them an opportunity, not the end of the line.
He's a proud loner. The airport, the airplane, the air itself is his home, and he's perfectly fine that way. He's in the zone when in transit, when going for drink at terminal 2, when renting vehicles. No wife, no kids, he relishes his frequent flyers position and his life pursuit is to reach 10 million miles. The films hinges on the development of his character and Clooney majestically makes Ryan relatable to all of us. This is George Clooney just getting better with age, and he delivers an absolutely masterful performance. I don't think we really realize how great he actually is in this movie. He does everything so effortlessly! He laughs the laugh of a sad man who doesn't know he's sad. He speaks purposefully but with an undertone of uncertainty. He develops but it isn't an instantaneous, forced change by any means.
This change is initially instigated when Ryan meets Alex (Vera Farmiga). Alex is, in essence, the female version of Ryan. They meet in his zone. In transit. For a drink. For a one night stand. Ryan learns a lot about himself in his fleeting relationship with Alex. He is terrified yet entranced by this mirror image of himself. Farmiga is fabulous as this smart and sexy commitment-free frequent flyer. She's good in anything.
Ryan develops further in his travels with Natalie (Anna Kendrick). Natalie is the newbie assigned to Ryan. He shows her the ropes of execution. Natalie is 23, ambitious, dismisses Ryan as "old", and a bit hot-headed. Ryan's career is threatened when Natalie introduces a cyber-firing method that will make his up in the air position obsolete. They travel together for a spell, ruining people's lives and discussing their views on life (which vastly differ from each other). Anna Kendrick fantastically contributes to this acting trio - all three were nominated for acting Oscars. These three characters are the meat of the film. The story is guided by a simple slice, a mere taste of these three lives intertwining - and their dialogue with each other, their simple human, realistic interactions are what make this film beautiful.
I loved this movie because though, admittedly, it was kind of depressing, it's subtle. I love how unforcedly Ryan develops in his character. He doesn't go all 180 and settle down and realize he's missing out on life like something Hallmark. Despite what many movies teach us, change is hard and people don't actually change who they are over the weekend. Ryan doesn't. And it's refreshing. And yet, you still see a flicker of change growing deep down there. The start of a new outlook on life for the aged flyer.
Five years later, or whatever, but this might have been my pick for Best Picture in 2009. Closely matched with Inglourious Basterds. And I definitely think some acting Oscars should have been won.
Though the film certainly centers on our three leads, the supporting acting cannot be ignored. Jason Bateman, JK Simmons, and Zach Galifanakis in their small roles were enjoyable as usual. Up in the Air is a character study, and provides a great insight into people we see everyday but don't necessarily know. 8/10
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