Up in the Air

[cheekyweelassie]

Saw this at the Vue 02 Greenwich last night. After the last Sky screening there (Avatar) I was looking forward to another goodie bag with popcorn, chocolate and drink! Alas, there was nothing, so we had to resort to spending £5 on a pick n mix and drink! Shucks!

Anyway. To the film.....
I hadn't seen any trailers, as I don't go out of my way to see them, but the film posters were suggesting a romcom so I did find that it wasn't a genre I was expecting. It was quite slow, and although there were some bits that I found a bit amusing I didn't find it funny. I did like how the ending was not what I was expecting. I also liked how the stereotype of the gallivanting man was subverted when it seemed like George was all ready to change his ways and settle down, only the female object of his affections was the one with the bad behaviour. The pair of them have carbon footprints bigger than a bloody yeti, and I found it quite unrealistic that nobody had thought of videoconferencing before, so that plot point seemed a bit far-fetched.
The wedding bit hit me, as I'm busy planning my wedding for next weekend!
I thought overall it was clever, and subtle, and it did lead to an interesting discussion on the tube home, but I can't really understand why there is an Oscar buzz around this film as it was really just a two-hour bit of fluff.
Maybe I just wasn't really in the mood.
I'll give it 7/10

[Beate]

The wedding bit hit me, as I'm busy planning my wedding for next weekend!

Congratulations!!!

[anakin]

The wedding bit hit me, as I'm busy planning my wedding for next weekend!

Congratulations!!!

Ditto! How exciting! Wish you all the very best.
There should be a wedding thread.

[andrews]

I saw the film last night with anjirose at the Odeon, MetroCentre. I was expecting a comedy and had not been reading the reviews on here. initailly, I was disappointed but have had a day to reflect on it. I felt it is a very thought-provoking film which includes some very clever writing and excellent acting throughout. George Clooney's character, Ryan Bingham, is on a voyage of self-discovery, assessing his inter-personal relationships and deciding what he really wanted from life. I thought the ending was particularly apt, and upon reflection, I can see why this film will receive several Oscar nominations. 8/10 from me.

[splodgy]

I was also expecting a romantic comedy for some reason. There were quite a few funny parts, though not the funniest film I have seen recently. Also not much romance. However, I thought it was a good story which an unexpected ending and the acting was very good.

[ciro22]

This is clearly yet another of those films where the trailer and the marketing have mistakenly led people to believe they are going to see an entirely different film - The comic tone of the trailer and the presence of George Clooney are clearly giving some people the wrong impression

I've found that this type of bad marketing is happening more and more lately... (e.g. The original trailers for the Road made it out to be an apocalyptic thriller rather than the downbeat but rewarding drama that it actually was)

The film is not an out-and-out comedy but rather a drama with some comic touches and if you see it in that light then I think that it hits the mark, but I'm not surprised that people are going in expecting a comedy or romantic comedy and then coming out a little disappointed...

[ellrond]

Saw this on Tuesday at Manchester Printworks and enjoyed it, as did my girlfriend. Clooney's great in this, and I've liked Anna Kendrick (the young upstart) since the brilliant Rocket Science.

The film is paced well. It's not a full-on comedy - the laughs are often spaced well apart - but there are enough to keep the plot ticking over nicely.

The scene where Natalie is firing the car-manufacturer employee who breaks down is fantastic. Brilliantly acted by both Kendrick and the employee, and it seemed to create a great amount of tension in the audience. Very well done.

7/10

[Beate]

http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/up-in ... 30159.html

The ViewLondon Review

Review by Matthew Turner
15/01/2010
Opens Friday 15 January 2010

Four out of Five stars
Running time: 109 mins

Hugely enjoyable, well written comedy-drama that delivers a powerful emotional kick, thanks to terrific performances and strong chemistry between Clooney and Farmiga.

What's it all about?
Directed by Jason Reitman, Up in the Air is based on the comic novel by Walter Kirn (who wrote Thumbsucker) and stars George Clooney as Ryan Bingham, a management consultant who spends most of the year travelling, since his job is to fly all over the country and fire people whose companies are downsizing. Ryan has streamlined his life to the point where he has minimal contact with his family and no relationship ties, but he suddenly finds his lifestyle threatened when new recruit Natalie (Twilight's Anna Kendrick), introduces a video-conferencing system that will permanently ground him if it takes off.

The timing couldn't be worse, since Ryan has just begun a passionate sexual relationship with fellow frequent flyer and apparent kindred spirit Alex (Vera Farmiga), so he persuades his boss (Jason Bateman) that Natalie isn't familiar enough with the human realities of firing people and takes her on one last round-the-country trip to show her the ropes.

The Good
Clooney is terrific as Ryan, even allowing his own 'permanent bachelor' tabloid persona to subtly inform the character. He also has smoking hot chemistry with Farmiga (always excellent but on top form here), while there's brilliant support from Kendrick as the buttoned-up Natalie.

There's also good work from Melanie Lynskey (as Ryan's about-to-be-married sister), Danny McBride (as Lynskey's fiance) and Bateman as Ryan's smooth-talking boss, while Sam Elliott contributes a particularly brilliant cameo towards the end.

The Great
The sharply-written script is excellent, with extremely well drawn characters and moments that are, by turns, romantic, moving, darkly serious (the firing scenes) and laugh-out-loud funny. However, just when you think you know where the film is going, it pulls the rug from under you in unexpected ways, resulting in a surprising, yet fitting finale.

In addition, Reitman orchestrates several excellent scenes (watch for a peerless cameo by J.K. Simmons) and includes a number of striking images, such as Natalie sitting in a room full of discarded office chairs.

Worth seeing?
In short, Up in the Air is a superbly written, impressively directed and brilliantly acted comedy-drama that sidesteps the usual cliches and has a few emotional surprises up its sleeve. Highly recommended.

[jo_shuni]

Saw this film in Glasgow without reading any reviews didnt know what to expect but thought it looked like a rom com, and george is usually pretty good so thought would give it a try. It wasn't what i expected but was very funny in parts and some great acting all in all not the best movie ever but a good watch
7/10 for me.

[EthanRunt]

Missed out on the screenings between weather and uni work, but finally, finally I saw it today.

The wait was painful, but finally, Jason Reitman back on top form and proving that Juno was just a fault in the (Remarkably appalling) script.

Like Thank You For Smoking it's leading man is charismatic, funny but has heart still, even though he rarely wants that to leak out.
Stylish, witty, magnificently entertaining, best film of '10 so far, just beating The Road.