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).

P.S.–I’m only allowed to admit you’re right once a year . . . consider your card used.

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?

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.

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.