Up in the Air
Up in the Air follows frequent flyer Ryan Bingham who's job it is to fly across the United States of America, to fire people from their jobs, because the companies bosses are too chicken to do it.
The film reflects on the current economic climate being the first movie to tackle the hard hitting issue head on and, to make it even more true to life, features real people who have lost their jobs over the recession who share their own experiences of unemployment.
Bingham boasts that he spends three hundred and twenty-two days a year travelling, which leaves him "forty-three miserable days at home,"
His home I may add is a one bedroom apartment that could easily be mistaken for a low starred hotel, with no luxuries, which is ironic for a man who spends most his life in five star hotels.
In his spare time Ryan also delivers motivational speeches, using the analogy "What's In Your Backpack?" where he likens people who have a lot of friends and family to being see as weighed down and holding them back stopping them truly reaching their potential, due to all their baggage.
Ryan's personal goal for his life is to achieve 10 million frequent flyer miles. While travelling, he meets another frequent flyer named Alex (Vera Farmiga) and they begin a casual relationship which then leads on to another level.
When he is unexpectedly called home in Omaha he is introduced to a young businesswomen Natalie Kenner (Anna Kendrick) who has come up with a modern way that would be a cheaper more efficient way to do the job Ryan does.
This consists of setting up an I-chat link to break the devastating news that your employer no longer wants you working for them anymore.
Its quite possibly the most inhuman way you could get fired, with no human interaction at all and having to be a cut off an isolated human being.
The story then goes on to develop and span out taking you along a journey of excitement despair and self doubt, is your life what you want it to be or are you cut off from your friends and family?
Directed by Jason Reitman, the director of Juno, the film takes on the slow pace that he is well known for, you might think it's boring but trust me the pacing is perfect.
If you can see past the product placement from Blackberry, Hilton and American Airlines which probably funded the film, it will have you reflecting on the life you lead and what you hope the future hold for you.
It seems so many of use have the ideal life in our own minds whether it be the perfect marriage and husband and if that person doesn’t live up to our expectations is it right we settle?
On the opposite end of the scale there are types of people who are perfectly happy being single and have no desire to be married or start a family and be alone, are they missing out on life?
The film makes you see that all the money in the world can't make you happy especially if you're alone as you have no one to share the finer things in life with.
All the greatest memories are when you share them with someone.
All the cast deliver with not one of the actors every looking out of their depth or out of place and all the nominations for this film are well deserved.
Up in the Air is a must see film, reflecting on the society we live in today it will make you sit up and take a look at the life you lead are you living it to the fullest?
Female First Natalie Broxton
Tagged in George Clooney