Up in the Air (Paramount)
1. The leading cast is superb, with wonderful performances from George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, and Vera Farmiga (who has a bit of egg on her face recently from the craptastic “Orphan”). Even Danny McBride does a great job, which I didn’t expect at all. I’ve always seen him as somewhat of a one-trick pony, but his performance as a fiance with cold feet manages to be as sweet as it is subtle.
2. Fantastic (and also subtle) cameos from Zach Galifianakis, J.K. Simmons and Sam Elliott. Throw in guest appearances from both Cut Chemist and Young MC (yes, you read that correctly), and you’ve got yourself a cast that is as talented as it is bizarre. (Note: Cut Chemist also showed up in Jason Reitman’s last movie, “Juno.”)
3. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is a romantic comedy because it’s anything but. Some of the commercials and promos make it seem that way, but what lies underneath is an honest and realistic story about wants vs. needs, love vs. career, and hopes vs. reality. You know, a lot like real life.
4. One of my complaints of “Juno” was that every character in the film became an unrealistic caricature of screenwriter Diablo Cody. But this movie was co-written by Sheldon Turner and Reitman himself (and based on a novel by Walter Kirn) and is void of both heavy slang and pop culture references as made popular by filmmakers like Cody and Kevin Smith. This isn’t an indie film that only a select group of hipsters will get. It’s bigger than that, delivering a message that is more universal than it is elite. It might not be loved by every person who sees it, but I think it would be a hard movie for someone to dislike.
5. This film managed to squeeze its way into my top-five favorite films of the year, and is possibly (I have to let it soak in a little bit) my favorite live-action film of the batch. (I have two animated films in my top five.) I’ve always said that a great film will leave me jealous; jealous that I didn’t think of it, jealous that I didn’t write it, and jealous that I didn’t create it. “Up in the Air” did all three of those things, and there’s really no better compliment than that.
Even straight men love George Clooney,
9 comments
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December 14, 2009 at 12:22 pm
dave theune
Can’t wait to see it!
December 14, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Drew Linne
my sister liked it too
December 14, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Drew Linne
oh, and by the way, I love Juno. But maybe that’s because I’m a teenager
December 14, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Joel
Hearing great things about this.
What are your top films of the year?
December 14, 2009 at 4:57 pm
jshady
My top five films of 2009, with my favorite listed first (the others in no particular order):
“Up”
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Up in the Air”
December 15, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Bob Steib
Justin,
You like anything with the word UP in it. Like up your ass.
I think George Clooney is the smart celebrity. Why get married when
you can have your pick of the litter every few months. No one ever
has to put a panel together to discuss how unfaithful you have been
to your spouse. More actors/atheletes/famous people should live
like him.
Bob
December 15, 2009 at 1:09 pm
jshady
Tell me about it! I’m SO SICK of hearing about the awesome sex lives of other people.
December 15, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Drew
like Tiger Woods? I wish people would just stop talking about him and his stupid scandal.
December 15, 2009 at 2:04 pm
jshady
I know! I never gave two shits about Tiger Woods before last week. Now I’m rooting for him to fight off all of these MORONS.