Up in the Air (2009)
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A corporate downsizer who lives a life of constant travel must confront his personal philosophies when a young colleague challenges his lifestyle.
The story
Ryan Bingham is a corporate 'downsizer' who travels across the country to assist companies in conducting layoffs. He lives a nomadic lifestyle, fueled by a desire to accumulate frequent flyer miles and a philosophy of living free from material possessions and heavy commitments. While on a trip, he meets Alex Goran, a fellow frequent flyer with whom he begins a casual, travel-based relationship. His routine is disrupted when his employer assigns a young, ambitious employee, Natalie Keener, to accompany him on his next round of terminations. As they travel together, Natalie's presence forces Ryan to confront the human cost of his work and the emptiness of his nomadic existence.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Ryan Bingham, a man who lives for the road and the 'freedom' of constant travel, works for a firm that handles corporate layoffs. He meets Alex Goran, a fellow traveler, and they begin a casual relationship across various cities. However, his routine is disrupted when he is forced to mentor Natalie Keener, a young employee who believes in the efficiency of remote layoffs. Natalie challenges Ryan's lack of commitment to Alex and his detached philosophy on life. During a trip to his sister's wedding, Ryan is forced to use his motivational skills to help a nervous groom. Following a realization in Las Vegas that Alex is actually married, Ryan's perspective shifts. He eventually finds a sense of resolution as he stands before a destination board, contemplating his next move after Natalie finds success elsewhere. The film concludes with him letting go of his luggage, symbolizing a potential change in his journey.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 109
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jason Reitman
- Writers
- Jason Reitman · screenplay; Sheldon Turner · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- George Clooney · Ryan Bingham; Vera Farmiga · Alex Goran; Anna Kendrick · Natalie Keener; Jason Bateman · Craig Gregory; Danny McBride · Jim Miller; Melanie Lynskey · Julie Bingham; Amy Morton · Kara Bingham; Sam Elliott · Maynard Finch
- Genres
- comedy-drama
- Themes
- corporate culture; loneliness; detachment
- Tone and mood
- witty; poignant
- Premise and plot tags
- road movie; corporate drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- Walter Kirn's 2001 novel
- Reception
- The film was met with critical acclaim for its direction, screenplay, and performances, and was a box office success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 90% · scale: percentage · review count: 288; Metacritic · score: 83 · scale: 100 · review count: 36
- Awards and nominations
- Best Picture · Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association · Win; Best Director · Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association · Win; Best Screenplay · Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association · Win; Best Actor · Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association · Win; Best Breakthrough Performance · MTV Movie Award · Win; Rising Star · Palm Springs International Film Festival · Win
- Production trivia
- The film features heavy product placement with brands like American Airlines and Hilton Hotels.; The script was adapted from a novel written by Walter Kirn during a snowbound winter in Montana.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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