Five Stars: Up in the Air

You may find it appropriate that I am writing this while alone in my apartment during christmas eve. It is not lost on me. This movie was never in my radar, in the last few weeks it came to my attention and I was actually amazed that I did not know about it earlier. The movie follows Ryan Bingham as he flies from city to city performing a task that makes most people he meets hate him or at least dislike him. He preaches about how to let go, and how every connection you have weighs you down. He lives disconnected, he feels at home in the sky. Being a metaphor for all of our complex lives, the jet setter fits the bill. He might be a caricature of people but we are all too busy to stop and look around. A theme that has been around ever since Ferris Bueler asked us to do it all those years ago. Life is passing us by, and we keep setting dates for when we are going to do something and then just hearing the swoosh as the deadlines go by. I completely understand all the award buzz that it has. The movie is funny and real. Clooney is brilliant, as always, but its the women who shine and carry this film. While many older people can see themselves in Clooney's or Vera Farminga's (Alex) characters, younger moviegoers will find their voice on Anna Kendrick's character Natalie. If you're looking for a film this holiday season and you're already tired of silly comedies and want something new. In my opinion Up in the Air is a great film to start the year off with.