MOVIE REVIEWS
Up in the Air
Up in the Air, directed by Jason Reitman, is a movie about a man who finds his home with a single suitcase, a wallet full of hotel keys, frequent flyer miles, and a knack for firing people. Ryan Bingham, played by the talented George Clooney, is a simple man with a simple goal, to reach ten million flying miles. Now how in the world does one man reach that ridiculous number, right? Well Ryan Bingham is a career transition counselor for a hire-to-fire company called Integrated Strategic Management, a very innovative program that many big shot business mogals have found convenient when it comes to firing their long- time staff. With many people to fire, the staff, including Ryan Bingham, are sent all over the United States and flown from city to city to break the “unfortunate” news to hundreds of people.
Bingham loves his constantly changing bed, hotel condiments, and his single carry-on baggage. But one day, when his boss gathers the team at home base in Omaha, Nebraska to discuss the future of the company, Bingham’s savored life becomes threatened by a pointy and cocky University graduate named Natalie Keener (played by Anna Kendrik). She proposes a revolutionary new program where the company’s staff can remain grounded in Omaha while partaking in the same firing task through a live video conference. Before issuing the new program, Bingham’s boss asks him to show Natalie the ropes by taking her on one of his firing trips.
Bingham is convinced that the sassy smart-ass knows nothing about what it takes to fire people face-to-face and still give them a sense of hope at the end of the tunnel. During the trip Natalie and Bingham are always clashing as her hopeless romantic view on life punches with Bingham’s loveless and structured life.
I don’t want to give anything away, but what movie doesn’t have a bit of a love story. It’s definitely not with Natalie Keener, but with a woman who matches Bingham’s life to the tea except for one little secret. Overall Up in the Air is a quirky movie with catchy lines, relatable humor, and a message to uplift the soul of any hard hearted.
Written by Cristina Szewczyk
