Up in the Air (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jay H

  
  I've seen this film at least seven or eight times. It's one of my favorites because it blends together so many important emotional themes into a striking cinematic balance of drama and comedy that most anyone will enjoy and relate to. But also, having seen it as much as I… More
  I've seen this film at least seven or eight times. It's one of my favorites because it blends together so many important emotional themes into a striking cinematic balance of drama and comedy that most anyone will enjoy and relate to. But also, having seen it as much as I have, I can say that I still get something new out of it with each viewing. That's one of the hallmarks of a great film. Is Up in the Air perfect? Certainly not. It has its small flaws. But they're all forgivable when the larger picture is considered. George Clooney's character is what modern technologies are turning us all into. We're surrounded by people, yet many of us remain reclusive. Peering into his worldview for a while teaches us a little about how we should live our own lives. Is this a new cinematic concept? Hardly. Are the messages earth-shattering? Not at all. But the film is well-directed, well-acted, well-written, and highly enjoyable. I can't complain.

• Joseph M

  
  Beautifully directed, Beautifully Acted, Beautiful Film. George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, who's job is to travel America and fire people. Up in the air is a perfect blend of Humour and Romance. George Clooney is fantastic in the lead role. Brilliant Heart warming Comedy from… More
  Beautifully directed, Beautifully Acted, Beautiful Film. George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, who's job is to travel America and fire people. Up in the air is a perfect blend of Humour and Romance. George Clooney is fantastic in the lead role. Brilliant Heart warming Comedy from the creators of Juno..

• Jennifer X

  
  I think, I liked it a lot better the second time around. There's a genuine, emotional core to Clooney's flippant remarks about lifestyle and burn-baby-burn mentality that I didn't get so much the first time around. I have grown to really respect Jason Reitman as a… More
  I think, I liked it a lot better the second time around. There's a genuine, emotional core to Clooney's flippant remarks about lifestyle and burn-baby-burn mentality that I didn't get so much the first time around. I have grown to really respect Jason Reitman as a director, and I think he's improved tremendously from "Thank You for Smoking" to "Juno" to this movie to "Young Adult," so I'm very excited to see what he's come up with next. One day he'll pull out a masterpiece.

• Graham J

  
  An impressive follow up to Juno, the younger Reitman uses George Clooney perfectly.

• Ken S

  
  Really good, but not great.

• Sanjay R

  
  A great movie depending on who you are. I can relate heavily to the story's protagonist so I may be bias, but this is a great movie. Good performance by Clooney (obvously).

• Kristijonas F

  
  This movie is so deceptive: It swiftly wins your undivided attention with the witty dialogue and sharp direction, and then rips your soul apart with the emotional turmoil and sobering ending. Furthermore, it manages to comment on the current Economic crisis in a way most media… More
  This movie is so deceptive: It swiftly wins your undivided attention with the witty dialogue and sharp direction, and then rips your soul apart with the emotional turmoil and sobering ending. Furthermore, it manages to comment on the current Economic crisis in a way most media hasn't even attempted.

• Wildaly M

  
  Enjoyable.

• Brad W

  
  Up in the Air is not overrated, its not boring, and its not bad. This movie is one of the most moving and saddest films Ive seen in a while, and that made it even better. The acting in this movie was amazing, this is probably in my opinion Clooneys best performance since O Brother,… More
  Up in the Air is not overrated, its not boring, and its not bad. This movie is one of the most moving and saddest films Ive seen in a while, and that made it even better. The acting in this movie was amazing, this is probably in my opinion Clooneys best performance since O Brother, Where Art Thou. I laughed at the comedy, but I felt this was stonger when called a drama, in my opinion. This had some genius camera work in it too, and I think this should have won Best Picture.

• Drake T

  
  Clooney is a man bound to a life of delusional elitism, happily living void of morality and finding pleasure in the little things. The movie's about this man trying to change his life becoming more, ultimately, failing because being "more" doesn't exist. It's… More
  Clooney is a man bound to a life of delusional elitism, happily living void of morality and finding pleasure in the little things. The movie's about this man trying to change his life becoming more, ultimately, failing because being "more" doesn't exist. It's a state of mind... or is it? As a comedy it's brilliant, much in the same as Thank You For Smoking but less pretentious and more observational, poking fun at the truth.

• Luke B

  
  Much in the same vein as Thank You For Smoking. Up in the Air is rather intelligent musings on life without being predictable nor condescending. Clooney plays a bachelor that believes life is better alone. He has no home to settle down in, he's always on the road, and his job is… More
  Much in the same vein as Thank You For Smoking. Up in the Air is rather intelligent musings on life without being predictable nor condescending. Clooney plays a bachelor that believes life is better alone. He has no home to settle down in, he's always on the road, and his job is to fire people for big corporations that are too cowardly to do so. What starts as a despicable job, soon turns into admiration. Clooney is blessed at his job, and understands that people skils are required. It's his job to show Kendrick the ropes, as she plans to make all firings over computers. The film flirts with predictability, as Clooney discovers a woman that may be able to settle him down. Luckily, the film slaps the audience just as life would. Reitman's film is wonderfully crafted, showing both beautiful blossoming relationships, relationships in trouble, and some people are just better off alone. This really is a story about life, and overcoming difficulties. Some kill themselves after being fired, and some seize life. Enjoyable and thought provoking, it will take a lot to not contemplate where your life is headed after this.

• Anthony L

  
  I thought Up in the Air was really good. It seems it's a love it or hate it film though looking through others reviews. I think any film that receives the amount of hype it did will always get the same treatment though. The sad fact is that there are loads of films as good as… More
  I thought Up in the Air was really good. It seems it's a love it or hate it film though looking through others reviews. I think any film that receives the amount of hype it did will always get the same treatment though. The sad fact is that there are loads of films as good as this out there that are only seen by a fraction of the people who have seen this, the only difference being that they aren't nominated for a certain award that isn't as prestigious as it pretends to be. Anyway - back to the film - I thought it was well written, brilliantly delivered by the very competent cast and really well filmed. Well balanced, well paced and subtle in all the right places, a great film, up-lifting and heartbreaking all at once, a quality not many films can boast! More please Mr. Reitman Jr!

• Matt G

  
  Hilarious, sad, romantic, and inspiring. Up in the Air is a film you must see. Grade: A

• Cynthia S

  
  My three star rating means it's decent, and watchable. It's difficult to comment on this film without being a spoiler because..well.. because. Overall, it is enjoyable, but can be a little depressing; actually, it can be very depressing. There's enough else going on… More
  My three star rating means it's decent, and watchable. It's difficult to comment on this film without being a spoiler because..well.. because. Overall, it is enjoyable, but can be a little depressing; actually, it can be very depressing. There's enough else going on that you don't feel the need to throw yourself off a bridge, whoops, I mean under a truck. Just rent it. It's ok.

• Dean !

  
  Hmmm not quite sure what the hype was all about? It's funny in places, very witty dialogue with some good acting. However half the time your not sure if this is a comedy, Rom-Com or drama. It has a bit of all of them and a bit depressing too at times. Just a view into one guys… More
  Hmmm not quite sure what the hype was all about? It's funny in places, very witty dialogue with some good acting. However half the time your not sure if this is a comedy, Rom-Com or drama. It has a bit of all of them and a bit depressing too at times. Just a view into one guys life living a lonely existence spending most of his time in the air, estranged from his family and with no real friends. At least it never got cheesy.

• Chris W

  
  This film is definitely a sign that Jason Reitman is truly one of the leading directors of his time. This is both a timely and timeless cinematic gem. There are elements of the stroy that will no doubt date it, but the broader themes and concepts are what make it timeless. George… More
  This film is definitely a sign that Jason Reitman is truly one of the leading directors of his time. This is both a timely and timeless cinematic gem. There are elements of the stroy that will no doubt date it, but the broader themes and concepts are what make it timeless. George Clooney one again proves why he's a modern Cary Grant with his captivating portrayal of Ryan Bingham, a man set in his ways who flies around the country firing people for a living. As the film's tagline says, he's a man looking to make a connection, which he finds in Alex, his female equivalent. Along the way, Ryan is forced to show the ropes to an ambitious up and comer named Natalie who tries to push a less personal but more efficient way of telling people they've been let go. Vera Farmiga shines as Alex, showing that her good but overshadowed turn in The Departed was just a warm up for something juicy like this. Anna Kendrick may be associated with the Twilight films, but those do her no justice as an actress. She really shows up her chops, and is absolutely brilliant, easily holding her own against the veterans. This film is many things: serious, quirky, sad, funny, but most of all, real. Everything blends together nicely, which is good considering that this film has so much to offer (part rom-com, part character study, part docudrama). It could have easily become a jumbled mess, but Reitman is great at holding it all together seamlessly and making it work. It's a real shame this film didn't get mroe attention at the Oscars, because it's one of the finest films of the past decade.

• Arash X

  
  Oh what an empty forgettable film, The script is just plain terrible & It's really amazing how it does nothing right, From portraying a man who doesn't believe in commitment & his transformation, to that ambitious stupid girl to people who lose their job, Even the… More
  Oh what an empty forgettable film, The script is just plain terrible & It's really amazing how it does nothing right, From portraying a man who doesn't believe in commitment & his transformation, to that ambitious stupid girl to people who lose their job, Even the interactions between our three main characters are artificial & uninteresting & don't lead to a single impressive moment or line, Not to the mention the contrivance in the script, like Alex not telling her secret only to make the final twist work or that cold feet thing near the end which was so awful it was hilarious, Thank You For Smoking was a good film Juno was below average & this one is terrible so what's next mr. Reitman?

• Kevin k

  
  Grade: B Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is man that loves to travel. Thank god his job allows him to do this: travel. He travels from city to city, state to state, by plane to tell citizens that they are fired or "let go" from their current play of work. While this is his… More
  Grade: B Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is man that loves to travel. Thank god his job allows him to do this: travel. He travels from city to city, state to state, by plane to tell citizens that they are fired or "let go" from their current play of work. While this is his job, his love life is with Alex (Vera Farmiga), a traveler herself, that is more physical than romantic. Ryan comes into trouble when Natalie (Anna Kendrick) figures out a way to decrease the traveler budgets of workers and fire people through the computer. This means that he can't see Alex or travel as much so he brings Natalie along with him to see why the conferences need to be in person not by technology. She soon realizes that people will react more destructive than the demo she does to the entire group. People will threaten to commit suicide. Example from the movie, "There is a nice bridge where I live. I'm going to jump off it." She realizes that Ryan is right and soon finds out about his relationship with Alex in Miami. Now this is more of a drama than a comedy and very little romance (unless you count Vera showing her butt romantic enough). There are some funny things in this movie that some will come to laugh at. Mainly it is trying to show that people are being let go right now in real life. Does the movie deliver? Absolutely, but not enough to win Best Picture (as it was nominated last year). The performances by the three leads are great especially Mr. Clooney when he's pretending to be fired, his sad look cracked me up. It's sort of dark in some ways as the main characters are people who fire others. People with mortgages, wives/husbands, children. These people will have three months of pay but they will look at it as three more months of living. In my opinion it is a dark movie with some comedy to give it some light. Still it is a solid movie that audiences will enjoy.

• Ginny  

  
  "Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live… More
  "Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are sharks." "Is the bag empty because you hate people or you hate the baggage that they come with?" Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch! The lines in this movie just kept hittin home. I like it! Extremely recommended for the sarcastic singles who have cycling thoughts about relationships. Note to self: Look up Reitmans other films. I like his style!

• Lanning :

  
  Before I send this one back to Netflix, I'm trying to give it a fourth chance. A FOURTH chance, Walter. I mean, I've only watched <i>Bridges of Madison County </i>TWICE, and I love that movie. <p> And also before I say anything else, I want you all to… More
  Before I send this one back to Netflix, I'm trying to give it a fourth chance. A FOURTH chance, Walter. I mean, I've only watched <i>Bridges of Madison County </i>TWICE, and I love that movie. <p> And also before I say anything else, I want you all to read my comments about, say, for instance, <i>Good Night, and Good Luck</i>, just so you know how much I would very sincerely like to like George Clooney. <p>I think it never hurts to have successful relatives in the business if you want to have a chance to make it. Hey, ask actors like Sheen and Estevez if it does or does not help to be related to a good actor, should you want a leg up in the industry. And furthermore in Clooney's case, apparently a very popular medical TV show gave him early huge exposure and wide popularity. But time really will tell. <p>I love the line in this one where Kendrick is talking on the phone and says something along the lines of: No, I don't think of him like that -- he's old. <p>My friends, George Clooney is so very way, way old in all kinds of ways. <p>Amazingly, Team Clooney must have thought that making a movie about a professional employee hatchet man would be entertaining in this day and age. That alone sounds one of the oldest old themes with Clooney: He simply lacks the acumen to pick consistently appropriate -- or even actually good, scripts. But hey, if your income is always up and rising when unemployment is up and rising, well, what the borat, right? There are always going to be enough employed folks to pay the ticket price -- hopefully . . . <p>You know what, Flixsters, see this one to understand why George Clooney is out of touch with people in our collective income range. And see it as well to understand why George Clooney will pretty much guarans-ballberans never make my favorite actor list. No more George Clooney ever again for me. Life is way too short.

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