At some point in the cinematic doldrums of late summer last year, stuck between a trailer for Jennifer’s Body and Gamer, I came across a preview for Up in the Air. Like a breath of fresh air, I found myself repeatedly returning to this trailer over the proceeding months believing that finally, “here is a film for someone like me.” Dramatic, but not overly so, with a touch of humor, and well-written dialogue that is smartly delivered; and, with fingers crossed, a deliciously satisfying happy ending (after all, the film’s director is Jason Reitman . . . aka Mr. Juno). Imagine my enthusiasm when I heard that Paramount moved up the distribution date for the film by two days . . . talk about a Merry Christmas!
After months of anticipation, I saw Up in the Air on Christmas Eve; and alas, there was very little merry about it. First off, no happy ending (no real ending at all, now that I reflect on it). Second, literally (and I’m not exaggerating here) every humorous line in the film made it into the trailer. Sure, I found some smart dialogue, but I could have saved my money and watched the trailer ad infinitum to the same effect. Yes, George Clooney was as winsome as ever and the supporting cast (namely Anna Kendrick and J.K. Simmons) gave compelling performances, but the film is a flat line. Clooney’s character, Ryan Bingham, may live his life up in the air (both literally and metaphorically), but his story arc fails to get off the ground. Don’t get me wrong, Bingham is pleasant enough and has a decent heart, but by story’s end we recognize that real life change has not occurred.
Of course, you may argue that the film’s ending leaves matters open to interpretation and I have obviously selected a more negative viewpoint of what Bingham will do next. Fair enough, but remember I went looking for a happy ending and the fact that someone with my propensity couldn’t see it makes me all the more suspicious of anyone else who does. Bingham may have allowed a small rekindling of hope with Alex (Vera Farmiga), but when she closes the door to return to her married life, we are shown little else to stay the belief that so too the entry to Bingham’s heart closed. I appreciate Reitman’s attempt to empower the viewer to “choose your own adventure” and to take the next step in life, but Bingham’s flat storyline does not have enough substance to bear-up such an elevated undertaking.
My fellow film critics want to make this a film about “moving on” in an age of recession-era joblessness. I appreciate their attempts to add some depth to a film filled with far more ideological departures than arrivals. Certainly, Up in the Air is filled with more than hot air, but it fails to hit the heights claimed by some. In Good Company covers similar ground as this film, but does so with far more humor and grace. I recommend grounding Up in the Air and picking up In Good Company instead.
I personally enjoyed Up in the Air, but I haven’t seen In Good Company either (adding to my Netflix queue now). Either way I respect your opinion, nice write-up!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Since my review, I have had a few conversations with folks that make me appreciate that maybe I didn’t give this film a fair shake. I think clues were offered that George Clooney’s character changed more than I gave him credit. Still, I hoped for a greater upswing at the end. Alas, I guess we don’t always get what we want
. Thanks for your positive words and for stopping by.
I loved this film. Like you I really enjoyed the trailer before seeing the film and found it a breath of fresh air. But I really did fall for this film. I related so much with Kendrick’s character being a similar age to her. At times I also related to Clooney’s character in parts as well.
The ending was very bitter sweet as it appeared he did not change, however I think he did change a lot as he was willing to let someone in his life and even wanted to change his life. While he did get hurt and it might of stopped him from changing his lifestyle we got a glimpse that he could if he really wanted to, when the right person came along.
Hey Caz . . . thanks for your willingness to dialogue with me about my film reviews (even if it takes me a month to respond . . . sorry about that!). My heart is definitely warming more toward this film (for many of the reasons you mention). It still doesn’t end in a way that I’d have preferred, but isn’t that life in a lot of instances? There are a lot of let downs in life, but I guess that hasn’t stopped me from looking for happy endings . . . I hope George Clooney’s character went on to find bluer skies.
No problem about how long it takes to reply, I enjoy your reviews and putting my two cents in haha. Sometimes it takes me a while to read other blogs too.
Yeah I know what you mean often when a film does not end happily it makes you feel bad and quite upset when you really want to see everything happy. As you hope that will happen in your life as well. Totally agree with you that there are a lot of let downs in life and this film helps show that too.
Hey Caz . . . I just appreciate your willingness to read . . . it reminds me that I’m not writing in a vacuum. I need to get cracking on writing more reviews. I just get preoccupied with viewing more films that I never sit down to the business of composing my thoughts . . . let alone a review. Your blog is quite a happening place. I like that you review posters . . . so few people appreciate movie poster art and it’s cool that you take the time to give those graphic designs proper credit. Keep blogging . . .
As you suspected Andy, I *loved* this movie! I disagree that “real life change” did not occur. So Bingham’s still in a crappy apartment in Omaha and he’s still flying, but now he is accutely aware of his own misery–that’s a pretty seismic shift in the real-life change department.
And Alex didn’t “close the door to return to married life,” she reminded him that she wasn’t available for anything more than what they had. We (the audience) aren’t even told what she does for a living, and yet we think we know her as a character? (Deft directing!) She didn’t change, he did.
The film’s only fill-in-the blank is whether you think Bingham is better off or not. It’s a classic battle — Is ignorance bliss? Or is the unexamined life is not worth living, even if you find you’re miserable as a result?
Hi Heidi . . . even after a month of sitting on your comment, I have no mature response to your excellent points (which you know burns me). I think you’re right, Bingham did change. Granted, it wasn’t the change I was looking for and we obviously don’t know the end of his story. But I wanted more than a moving from ignorance into knowledge (picture me saying this in a whiny voice while stamping my feet repeatedly). I can’t fault the director or picture for showing only a sliver of Bingham’s story; still, it all felt so deflating and incomplete. Mind you, I’m not asking for a sequel here . . . just a bit more light at the end of the O’hare tunnel.
P.S.–I’m only allowed to admit you’re right once a year . . . consider your card used.
This is possibly one of my favorite films ever. I think I identified with Clooney’s character – perhaps too much? – and was quite touched by the closing scene. Perhaps it’s because, like it or not, I feel more at home in an airport terminal than anywhere else. I’m not from anywhere, don’t belong anywhere, my “real” space is waiting at a gate somewhere in the world. Granted, I am the female, budget foil to Clooney’s high-flyer, but there you go. Some people, whether they like it or not, are passers-through, not settlers-down. I liked that the film ended with Clooney’s character still a passer-through. Nothing “saved him” from a rootless fate. Indeed, it seemed to me the rootlessness of his career saved him from bitter unhappiness & disillusionment on the ground.
I hear where you’re coming from. I think at our most honest we’ll all admit that we feel like “passers-through” in this life. Sure, some of us more than others have a “space,” a home, or a place that very much feels like “home.” Yet, for those willing to see it, we recognize that even our most valued “settled-places” are mere glimpses of a true home that each of us so desperately seeks . . . that place where the doors are thrown open, arms thrown open, love thrown open.
Perhaps what rubbed me the wrong way in Up in the Air is that the filmmakers pressed their fingers squarely into that “home” wound, but seemingly offered little cure or direction. Yet, perhaps they were saying “we feel it too, but don’t know what to do with it” or “we feel it too, but you have to choose what to do with it.” While I can certainly affirm either of these sentiments (I have felt both at various times in my life), I guess I wanted more . . . an “answer” maybe. I know. I know. Of all people, I who so loath “message movies” is looking for a clear message. Or, if not a “message,” I would have settled for a hopeful delusion here (aka: a happy ending).