‘Up in the Air’ is magic

Should you find that the advent of New Year is not enough to solicit deep introspection, George Clooney’s latest work, “Up in the Air,” will undoubtedly spur on that inevitable bout of contemplation on 2010.

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) makes his living terminating employees. No, not his own. Bingham terminates the employees of other firms, firms whose management lack the required genitalia to handle their own dirty work. To his credit, however, Bingham handles this task with the utmost professionalism and compassion. This is not what makes him tick. Oh no, what winds his watch is elite status. No waiting in lines, access to the Admiral lounge, first-class accommodations, these are some of his favorite things. His goal is simple: 10 million frequent-flyer miles. His life no longer is.

Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) is hired by Bingham’s firm with the goal of transitioning its business to a totally online function. Headstrong young Natalie is paired with Bingham to see what the business actually entails and the lives they impact daily. In order to do this, the unlikely duo head out on the road. Bingham’s boss Craig (Jason Bateman) sees the online benefits in the form of dollars saved by having a staff of traveling employees no longer needing to travel. Bingham’s only hope is to make them both see the necessities of the personal touch offered to dismissed employees by having the dignity to do this deed in person.

No matter how you spin it, someone being fired is a traumatic experience for the individual. Keener soon learns the gamut of emotions experienced by these unfortunate souls and that perhaps life is not as black and white as she once believed. To further complicate matters, both she and Bingham are dealing with personal relationships as well. The life-long bachelor has perhaps met his match in fellow traveler Alex (Vera Farmiga). While Keener’s engagement hits a snag. Faced with these new developments and his sister’s upcoming wedding, Bingham begins to wonder if he has made the right choices in life, if in fact he believes in his own philosophy of traveling light and not being tied down.

Clooney delivers as always. The man is a machine. His charming yet thought-provoking character rolls with the changes life throws at him while remaining focused on his goal. However, it is not all fairy-tale melodrama. The dark reality of the current financial/employment crisis threatens to creep in at every turn, making the film much more poignant than it may have been if released five years ago. It supplies a true dramatic feel to what could have been a dark comedy under different circumstances.

The audience is treated to a slew of truly great performances by a very talented ensemble. The icing to this particular cake is, however, the cameo appearances supplied by J.K. Simmons and Zach “The Hangover” Galifianakis as newly dismissed employees. As well as the iconic Sam Elliot’s turn as Capt. Maynard Finch. Director/writer Jason Reitman (“Juno”) deserves credit for his masterful story and the manner with which he constructed this seamless film.

From the opening credit to the film’s end, “Up in the Air” is magic. A perfect blend of heart, music, laughs, tears and love that entertains thoroughly while giving pause for thought regarding one’s own life and what portions may indeed still be up in the air.

Rating: W W W W 1/2