Nov 10

Nov 10 Up in the Air (2009)

This film plays as a character study of a man who isolates himself within society even as he travels the country firing people from companies who hire him to do so. George Clooney and Vera Farmiga deliver in the lead roles, but Anna Kendrick nearly steals the film with her performance. Following up his Best Picture nominee Juno, Jason Reitman directs with great confidence, carrying the uncompromising script to an unexpected but inevitable conclusion. The film examines where people find worth in modern American society, as well as observes the notion of male image and ego. Up in the Air definitely deserved its six Academy Award nominations, including the one for Best Pic.

*½ (out of ***)

2009 • 1 HOUR, 49 MINUTES
PARAMOUNT PICTURES • COLD SPRING PICTURES • DREAMWORKS • THE MONTECITO PICTURE COMPANY • RICKSHAW PRODUCTIONS • RIGHT OF WAY FILMS

STARRING
• GEORGE CLOONEY, VERA FARMIGA

ALSO STARRING
• ANNA KENDRICK, JASON BATEMAN, AMY MORTON, MELANIE LYNSKEY, J. K. SIMMONS, SAM ELLIOTT, DANNY MCBRIDE, ZACH GALIFIANAKIS

WRITTEN BY
• JASON REITMAN AND SHELDON TURNER (SCREENPLAY BY)
• WALTER KIRN (BASED ON THE NOVEL BY)

DIRECTED BY
• JASON REITMAN

2009 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (6)
• BEST PICTURE (LOST TO THE HURT LOCKER)
• BEST ACTOR: GEORGE CLOONEY (LOST TO JEFF BRIDGES FOR CRAZY HEART)
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: VERA FARMIGA (LOST TO MO’NIQUE FOR PRECIOUS)
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: ANNA KENDRICK (LOST TO MO’NIQUE FOR PRECIOUS)
• BEST DIRECTOR: JASON REITMAN (LOST TO KATHRYN BIGELOW FOR THE HURT LOCKER)
• BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY (LOST TO PRECIOUS)