Up In The Air

(B) It was almost an hour after I had seen the movie before I could fully appreciate it.  I thought it was a good film, but as I reflected on different scenes I came to see the true value.  Each scene stuck with me. I started to recall the dialogue and the great acting and would smile or wrinkle my brow, as it covered a great many topics.  I think the actress, Vera Farmiga is worthy of the GLOBE nomination that she’s received and would not be surprised by a win and another nomination at the Academy Awards. Up In The Air was refreshingly different, in tone and storyline, that anything I’ve seen in a while (and maybe ever).

I particularly liked the scene where a dedicated “non committed” individual (Clooney) is giving marriage advice to his soon-to-be-brother-in-law, while both critique the “sales pitch” of the other. I give this one three and a half binoculars.

(G) I had no expectations about this film when I went into the theater (taking my 88 and 90 year old parents as part of their Christmas gift) so it was funny that I was completely caught off guard by the excellent direction, unusual characters and timely poignancy of the storyline that I was pleased to witness. Clooney (and his character) meets the perfect female foil (in Farmiga) for his witty and insightful handling of each and every other character’s problems in the movie, including his own.  All who were in our viewing party seemed to be, at first confused by their own appreciation of the film when the end-credits and final song were playing.  I felt like I liked the film, but it took a while of discussion before I realized why. This film’s release is perfectly timed to the economic situation in this country and for the social “seeking” for answers that all of us seem to be involved with at this time. There is even a “positive message” of sorts at the end, uttered in the off-the-cuff words of the main character (Clooney), “Life is better with company.”

As for my parents, both my dad (90) and mother (88) knew right away that the film would stay with them for a while, and grow on them as well. The barometer? “Your mother didn’t fall asleep once during the whole movie,” my dad said proudly.

If I have to grade this one right now, I’d have to say 3 and ½ binoculars. The longer I think about it, however the more likely it will become a perfect four, in no time.