Rent Up in the Air (2009)

my cup of tea - Up in the Air review by CP Customer

very enjoyable and loved the surprise ending Definately watch it again - really enjoyed it I would recommend it to my friends

An insightful tale gently told - Up in the Air review by AD

Clooney finds his medicine doesn't really work and ends up, well, let's not ruin the plot. I enjoyed this gentle but meaningful film which gives us a dose of reality.

Worth watching - Up in the Air review by CP Customer

Having chosen this film as it had been Oscar nominated I suppose I could say that I was disappointed. Clooney is good, but the has a depressing existence throughout the film, which although it is touched on, he didn't have a big enough epiphany for me. Great aerial shots of the US in this, although the story lacks a bit of depth.

A really excellent comedy with some profound moments - Up in the Air review by CD

This film really exceeded my expectations. Excellent casting in all the roles and great acting by Clooney in particular. The storyline moves along well and at no stage compromises the characters. Clooney's character remains quite inscrutable throughout but the onion is peeled sufficiently for one to be able to glimpse what drives him (beyond the air-miles). A really worthwhile film that leaves you thinking.

Full of Surprise - Up in the Air review by CP Customer

Pleasantly surprised by the "independant" feel to this film. Didn't expect too much from it thus exceeded all my expectations of a "cloony" film.

Entertaining Relationship Comedy/Drama - Up in the Air review by GI

An interesting relationship drama with some added humour that epitomises the loneliness of a modern life directed towards career success at all costs. George Clooney excels at roles in films like this and here he's all charm and cool although inevitably revealed as naive when it comes to love. He plays Ryan, a corporate troubleshooter for a big firm led by Jason Bateman's unfeeling CEO. Ryan spends his time flying between cities where he fires employees who are no longer required by the company. He has developed a skill at handling the emotions of the sacked people with a somewhat cold and cynical patter he has perfected. He loves the lifestyle and shuns connections including a home. He is therefore much angered when his boss brings in a bright young executive, Natalie (Anna Kendrick), who intends to save the company money by having the firing done via internet meetings rather than face to face. Ryan is given a chance to prove her system is doomed by taking her on one of his trips to show here why face to face is key and to save his precious way of life. But Ryan is also beginning to fall for Alex (Vera farming), a woman he meets on his trips and attendance at his sister's wedding makes him start to rethink his life choices. A well scripted film with some lovely moments and a typical American comedy/drama that shatters the dream of the luxury lifestyle beating hearth and home. Worth checking out if you've never seen it.

A brilliant & profound musing on growing old & the changing world impacting how people work - Up in the Air review by Timmy B

When Up In The Air (UITA) was released, it garnered across the board 5 star reviews. The easy charm of Clooney, alongside the minutiae of looking at how a man whose primary job was to travel around the world firing people was always going to be a winner if done well. Fortunately, the writer & director is Jason Reitman, who has made a career of a film with gentle musings and big impacts. Here, he has assembled an incredible cast as well as brilliant crew to bring this script to life.

Ryan Bingham is an “employee-termination” specialist who works for a company hired by organisations who wanted to get rid of their employees but didn’t have the guts to fire them using their own people. Hence, they pay Ryan extortionate amounts to travel all over the country and do it for them. Whilst he is travelling, he meets & starts a casual relationship with Alex, a fellow traveller, meeting up in different states when their schedules combine. Ryan’s life is also changing as well in terms of the goals he has set himself, combined with his advancing years. 

This film is unashamedly Clooney’s. There is almost no other actor on this planet who could play the role of someone who goes around sacking people & make you like them. There is a smoothness, alongside a genuine want to help these individuals find other employment, often better than the job that they are losing. Clooney is a professional at this type of role and his effortless charm & genuine warmth makes him a pleasure to be with. Similarly, Vera Farmiga is outstanding, her sharp businesswoman front giving way to a gentle & tender soul. Anna Kendrick finally rounds things off with her performance as a determined & deeply ambitious woman who then realises the job she has let herself in for. 

As the film progresses, you begin to really buy in to the world that Reitman has created, especially some of the scenes towards the end, including a powerful one where Ryan is forced to confront what he has been running away from most of his life. The music, cinematography & locations brilliantly used, subtle & powerful. Despite its 15 rating, there is only some casual uses of strong language. Overall this is an exceptionally gentle & profound film and one I loved spending the time being a part of.

Highly recommended