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Rarified Air: 'Up in the Air' is a gem

By VR Bryant

Jason Reitman had already solidified himself as legitimate force, both in writing and directing, before now. "Thank You for Smoking" (2005) was slick and silvery while dealing with some pretty weighty themes, both political and personal. As director of "Juno" (2007), he proved he could get great performances despite distractingly over-stylized dialogue.

He faced no such hurdles with his most recent product, taking complete control and reaching full maturity and potential with "Up in the Air," the latest in a series of sure-to-be-Oscar-contender films that I'm reviewing for you here.

"Up in the Air" is, like Reitman's previous works, a multi-faceted symphony of a picture - at once hilarious and tragic. It addresses the kind of terrifying realities that we all fear, even if we can't directly sympathize: personal and financial instability and the importance of preserving relationships.

Some viewers have expressed the sentiment that the movie plays on cheap emotions that are circumstantially more impactful at the moment because of current economic swoons. But I argue, is it not the filmmaker's responsibility to tell stories of his own era?

Full marks go to Reitman, as I've said, but it's George Clooney who really seems to make a quantum leap here. Admittedly, it's difficult for me to ever fully "forget" that it's Clooney I'm watching - what is a star of his caliber to do, fly under the radar?

His massive celebrity notwithstanding, Clooney manages to be his old syrupy self, ripping quips and making the female audience squirm, and definitely seemed to have taken to the direction of Reitman - there were definitely some corollaries to the aforementioned movies.

But in the latter half of the film, Clooney almost disappears. His character is so painfully transparent that you can't help but stick with him. It's not that he's particularly likeable. He is, though, easily at his most vulnerable, an achievement that should not go overlooked or underappreciated for a guy who, so often in his movies, has the world by the ass.

I find myself saying this practically every week, but what I find critical to a film's success is its ability to shed the clumsy edifice that Hollywood production often forces on the filmmaker, thereby helping you forget for a little while that you're watching a movie.

"Up in the Air" is dark, yet funny, and tumbles effortlessly down its own little spiral before delivering one final slap at the end, just to make sure you're awake and paying attention. It probably isn't enough to get Reitman a Best Picture statue, but it is artful, and that's worth a lot in my book.

Originally Published: February 3, 2010

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