Up in the Air -- 3 Stars

George Clooney is a cool customer, always playing the suave, sophisticated guys. In “Up in the Air” he stars as Ryan Bingham, a man who travels the country to workplaces in order to fire employees for their cowardly bosses. It's a film that speaks about our crippling economic situation and achieves the right tone. Jason Reitman directs the film, with this certain charm that makes the film a pure delight.

Bingham is a man who enjoys what he does; going to businesses and firing people for their lowely bosses. He states that he spends over 300 days on the road traveling. He is a man who is proud of being constantly in limbo; he enjoys being disconnected from society. He has no real friends, no romantic interests and does not keep in contact with his family. When a new-age employee (Anna Kendrick) comes in with a new idea to fire people on the computer, Bingham starts to panic and really takes a long look at his lifestyle.

Reitman takes a subject that should be such a downer, but he manages to make it so sweet. The problem I have had with other Reitman films (Thank You For Smoking, Juno) is that he relied too much on sentimentality, not showing the negative side of the subject. He has that problem with “Up in the Air” as well. The film for the first 2/3 is a complete charm, I enjoyed it very much and thought it was a fun time. It wasn't till the last third of the film that Reitman throws a chink in the chain. He does not have that much of a balance in the film, relying too much on charm. That is the biggest problem with the film.

But the negatives are small in an otherwise very good film. Reitman has really matured as a director, not relying on lame editing tricks or camera techniques like he did in “Juno”. Clooney is great as a character we really shouldn't like, but we really do like. Anna Kendrick gives a really good performance as Natalie, Bingham's protégées. I did not care for Vera Farminga's character, but it was ok, Clooney made up for her boring performance.

Overall the film is an absolute joy to watch. The performances' and directing make it a very good film. I feel that if Reitman could have balanced the themes and subject matter it could have been a great film. But come Oscar time do not be surprised if this sweeps the awards.

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