Up in the Air

[superhero]

Definitely the best film I have seen so far at the London Film Festival. George Clooney gives a very nuanced, subtle performance tinged with sadness, which you really see in his performance. This performance is more in line with Michael Clayton, whereas The Man who stare at Goats, the performance is more like in O brother where art thou?
It's quite a serious adult film, which explores themes of social alienation, relationships, unemployment. Well as the director said it himself "the purpose of life". However it is actually quite funny as well, due to his excellent screenplay with witty lines (similar to his other films Juno and Thank you for smoking).
It was quite nice to have the director(Jason Reitman) there to answer the questions. We learn that the line in the film that gets the best response was the one line written by his famous dad, Ivan Reitman. Have a guess which line when you see it....! This is the first film he worked with his dad as a producer. Also there are 2 nice jokes about asians in the film and then we learn he's married to an asian wife, who was also present. I think they met in London!
There were also great performances from the 2 leading ladies which added to the chemistry in the film. And the ending of the film was quite nice, doesn't patronise you hollywood style.
I suspect it will get some sort of nominations when the award season comes.
All in all a very well observed, touching film. Probably not everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I am giving it 8.5/10

[Beate]

I agree, this is a brilliant film, wouldn't mind watching that again as a free preview!

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is employed by a company that gets called in to do the dirty "we are having to let you go" work if the HR department itself is too chicken to do it, with the economic crisis of course giving them plenty to do. When he isn't doing that, he gives talks on empty backpacks being the metaphor for decluttering our lifes and getting rid of the things that weigh us down (people included). So George spends his entire life flying from one location to the next, spouting meaningless drivel at people who just lost their jobs, spending the minimum time at his soulless apartment, non-committally hooking up with a fellow business traveller whenever their paths meet, waiting for the moment when he will hit 10 million air miles, and he likes it that way. Until an ambitious young colleague has a brilliant idea: "All that flying about costs too much money, why don't we just fire them via the internet over a webcam based programme?" George vehemently protests and takes her on a tour of America so that she can learn what his job is actually about and why it has to be done personally.

The acting is very good and the film is very very funny, with a lot of witty one-liners (LOL at the scene where he tells his colleague which queue to choose at an airport security check or where he and the business woman compare their various cards!). It is as superhero said quite adult and sad at times too - George Clooney forever roaming the skies without any meaningful relationship even after he had seen the light and promptly had his heart broken. Can I just say thank God for the non-Hollywood ending and that I saw the twist coming a mile away!

I would thorougly recommend this, and not only for Clooney being very dishy in it! 9/10

[superhero]

Yeah you can see the twist coming from a mile but it's such an enjoyable ride, you don't spend time thinking about it, unlike if it was a horror/thriller where the audience is always wondering about the twists. Structurally it's quite similar to the film "Away We Go" but better.
I think it would do well in nominations at least in the upcoming award season, but it won't win, because its not a historical period drama, someone overcoming so physical/mental handicap as such. It's just a very well made adult drama, which happens to be very funny too.
Don't read too much about it, just go in with no expectations and enjoy the film!

[superhero]

Interesting, this is the review for Up in the Air from the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film ... eview.html

Its completely in agreement with me and Beate.

[Ms Thrifty]

Certainly sounds more promising than "The Men Who Stare At Goats" Shame about George Clooney, though!

[superhero]

I think the press is just in love with George Clooney, he got rave reviews for this film and for his acting in "The Man who stares at goats". The acting in "Up in the Air" is in a different league!

[EthanRunt]

Can't wait for Up In The Air, disappointed by Juno but Reitman's Thank You For Smoking is still one of my very favourite films.

[superhero]

Oh this is closer to Thank you for Smoking than Juno I think and the interactions between the leads are wonderful

[a_person]

This is the next Sky Perks screening... Possibly in December?

[superhero]

Those lucky sky viewers then! (or non viewers)