Up in the Air (2009)

Up in the Air Up in the Air

I'm surprised there isn't a thread about this movie yet, especially since it's a frontrunner for a few Oscars. 😕

So, my wife and I caught it last night. She wasn't feeling it, but I actually liked it. She thought the moral was too basic and hated that whole subplot about the layoffs, but honestly, that was the best part for me. Watching his life being constantly Up in the Air and seeing how he handles letting people go? That’s where the movie really hits.

Maybe the fact that I loved this movie while my wife absolutely hated it proves it’s polarizing, or maybe it just means our marriage is built on shaky ground. 😁

Anyone catch that?

I watched it. It was a decent enough flick.
It’s about this emotionally wrecked guy who runs away from relationships by burying himself in his work, basically chasing after some big dream. But once he actually lands it, he just feels empty. Like, there’s nothing left to aim for.
Then, finally, he falls for someone, but they're totally out of reach. He gets exactly what he deserves... which is a whole lot of nothing.

Personally, I thought it was alright, but it wasn't one of those movies that completely transports you...😁

I suspect our local translators might have botched the title for "No Way to Treat a Lady." 🤣

Anyway, I am honestly counting down the days until I can finally sit down and watch it. 🙂

Terrible translation

For the record, he was up for Golden Globe nods, not Oscars
The Oscar nominations come out on February 2nd

The translation is truly atrocious. Even so, I still intend to sit down and watch the film over the weekend.

Honestly, this movie was killer... mainly because Clooney was absolutely perfect 🙂. Plus, I loved the whole setup—all that constant traveling and his little cards and everything. And that specific part about laying people off? Totally new info for me, haha.

Bottom line: if you can relate to this guy, you gotta see it. 😉

The title translation is absolutely infuriating🙂

That said, I’ll still sit down and watch it—I am genuinely curious. George and Anna😍 are both stellar actors, and based on the trailer, the premise seems intriguing enough🙂

hollowharbor76 said:Terrible translation

For the record, he was up for Golden Globe nods, not Oscars
The Oscar nominations come out on February 2nd

Nobody actually said he was nominated for an Oscar; I just said he's a favorite, since the Globes are usually a good gauge.

And yeah, the translation is straight-up garbage. I saw somewhere they called it Up in the Air, which sounds way better.

I was looking through the AMC promotional flyer for "Month of Love" (🤣) and I noticed they translated the title as "Neither in Heaven nor on Earth."

At this point, it feels like Reitman is the only one actually investing in screenplay awards, while Farmiga, Kendrick, and Clooney just somehow "lost out" to everyone else. Honestly, if you ask me, aside from maybe Jeff Bridges, Clooney doesn't stand a chance at an Oscar nomination this year.

frozenlynx17 said:Honestly, this movie was killer... mainly because Clooney was absolutely perfect 🙂. Plus, I loved the whole setup—all that constant traveling and his little cards and everything. And that specific part about laying people off? Totally new info for me, haha.

Bottom line: if you can relate to this guy, you gotta see it. 😉

I wouldn't go so far as to say Clooney is perfect. He tends to play the same character in every single film. Don't get me wrong, he does his job well, but this role doesn't offer anything new compared to his previous work. He really missed an opportunity to dive deeper into the character's psychology. That was where he fell short.
That's exactly why I feel like he stands no chance against Jeff Bridges. Jeff Bridges truly stepped out of his comfort zone here, moving far beyond his usual typecasting like Bad Blake.

Still, we all know what the Academy has become lately, so I wouldn't be shocked if Clooney walked away with an Oscar for this—admittedly—mediocre performance.

As for the movie itself, it's decent. Anna Kendrick actually surprised me; she did a fantastic job.

In my humble opinion, the movie is just okay. It’s definitely better than your average flick, but it still lands right in the middle of the road. George did a solid job as expected, but I just can't get into Vera; she's never really clicked with me,
she always feels the same to me, and I just don't see her as a top-tier actress. On the other hand, Anna Kendrick was more than good.
So, it was nominated for 6 Oscars? Hmm, that’s definitely worth discussing, though we have to admit Avatar walked away with 9.
The plot is decent—modest and straightforward. The themes feel a bit overly "Americanized" for my taste, but the pacing stays steady throughout. It’s an enjoyable watch, but nothing groundbreaking.

The absolute highlight of this movie has to be the soundtrack...

I am somewhat skeptical about labeling this film a romantic comedy—it feels far too neutral for such a genre classification🤷,but regardless... I absolutely loved it! I have always had a soft spot for George Clooney; he is simply a phenomenal actor and possesses such a charming screen presence😍. Furthermore, Anna Kendrick delivered an excellent performance—her character is truly wonderful. While I am undecided if she actually warrants a Golden Globe or an Oscar nomination, I am certainly proud of her work👍. It was a great performance, though perhaps not quite a "Wow" moment.
The narrative itself is engaging—never once does it feel tedious—and I found it to be both insightful and quite endearing🙂
9/10

I caught it recently—and I have to admit, my initial reaction wasn't exactly glowing. But the more I let myself sit with it—really chew on what happened onscreen—the more I started to realize just how masterfully crafted the whole thing actually is. 🙂

A true masterpiece.

You really need to see this.

Caught this at the theater tonight, and honestly? It didn't blow me away. 🤷

Right off the bat, you could write off the "comedy" aspect because the trailer basically spoiled every single joke—and even if I hadn't seen them, would they have actually been funny? I guess you could also toss out the romance since it felt pretty uninspired, though I'll admit there was *something* there. So, what's left? Just the drama, and even that lacks any real punch.

Look, fine, let’s say I just approached the movie the wrong way. Let’s say George Clooney’s performance rubbed me the wrong way for most of it, or maybe I just wasn't feeling that pseudo-philosophical message about karma and all that. But even if I set my personal biases aside and try to look at this objectively, I still don't get it: Why six Oscar nominations? 😕

If I pretend I’ve never seen George Clooney before, I suppose I’d say he did a decent job (though he barely had to act), and sure, little Anna Kendrick did a solid job pivoting from a career woman to someone leaving her partner. But Vera Farmiga? She didn't move me one bit. There. That's my take.

If you ask me, the only thing worth recognizing is the screenplay, which was okay (I see it actually won a Golden Globe for that), but nothing else. Is 2009 really such a bad year for movies, or am I just missing something here? 🙄

Speaking of missing things, I was thinking... my reaction to Up in the Air is almost identical to how I felt about Juno. Neither one of them touched me, even though most other films lately have. To get the full Jason Reitman experience, I should probably watch Thank You for Smoking soon, but I already have a sinking feeling I'll walk away feeling the exact same way.

All in all, if it weren't for everyone else's opinion, I might have given it a 6/10. Instead, I'll settle on a 7/10—mostly because the soundtrack was good and a few other bits worked. I'll just group it with Juno and leave it hanging there; maybe someday I'll finally understand why both are considered "good" movies. For now, I'm just deeply disappointed in the critics. 👎

It’s a decent enough movie, but in my opinion, it’s light years away from even being nominated, let alone winning an Oscar.🤷

I honestly found myself really liking this one, mostly because I’ve always been a fan of George Clooney, but also because it dives into such a gripping, modern theme: that sense of isolation, detachment, and being painfully self-reliant.
The whole concept of a firm that exists solely to handle layoffs on behalf of larger corporations is such a perfect, biting metaphor for the movie's core message.
Then you look at the protagonist's life—he’s so disconnected from everyone around him that he basically admits he barely knows his own sisters.
And then there’s this young intern who takes the company's mission of alienation even further by pushing for "layoffs via video call."
Even breaking up through a text message fits right into that cold vibe.
To me, the film feels very tightly wound around that single central idea of alienation, and it wraps everything up quite nicely by the end.
That said, even when you finally get what you've been waiting for, it doesn't always bring the satisfaction you'd expect.
But hey, that’s just life, I guess.
Anyway, I really enjoyed it. 😍
PS: I also thought Juno was great. 😁

I honestly don't get why Vera Farmiga's stunt double wasn't nominated for an Oscar for that sex scene
She did an incredible job making sure Vera looked absolutely stunning in that moment😁

And for that matter, why wasn't Ryan Bingham nominated? He played George Clooney so incredibly well🤷

It’s such a calculated, "smoke-filled" kind of movie, and frankly, I don't know what everyone is complaining about—the title is actually translated perfectly into American English

Maybe they should just play it on flights, specifically on those short hops that last less time than the movie itself. Or perhaps include it as a free DVD in the welcome kit for budget airline passengers?

Grace White4 said:Caught this at the theater tonight, and honestly? It didn't blow me away. 🤷

Right off the bat, you could write off the "comedy" aspect because the trailer basically spoiled every single joke—and even if I hadn't seen them, would they have actually been funny? I guess you could also toss out the romance since it felt pretty uninspired, though I'll admit there was *something* there. So, what's left? Just the drama, and even that lacks any real punch.

Look, fine, let’s say I just approached the movie the wrong way. Let’s say George Clooney’s performance rubbed me the wrong way for most of it, or maybe I just wasn't feeling that pseudo-philosophical message about karma and all that. But even if I set my personal biases aside and try to look at this objectively, I still don't get it: Why six Oscar nominations? 😕

If I pretend I’ve never seen George Clooney before, I suppose I’d say he did a decent job (though he barely had to act), and sure, little Anna Kendrick did a solid job pivoting from a career woman to someone leaving her partner. But Vera Farmiga? She didn't move me one bit. There. That's my take.

If you ask me, the only thing worth recognizing is the screenplay, which was okay (I see it actually won a Golden Globe for that), but nothing else. Is 2009 really such a bad year for movies, or am I just missing something here? 🙄

Speaking of missing things, I was thinking... my reaction to Up in the Air is almost identical to how I felt about Juno. Neither one of them touched me, even though most other films lately have. To get the full Jason Reitman experience, I should probably watch Thank You for Smoking soon, but I already have a sinking feeling I'll walk away feeling the exact same way.

All in all, if it weren't for everyone else's opinion, I might have given it a 6/10. Instead, I'll settle on a 7/10—mostly because the soundtrack was good and a few other bits worked. I'll just group it with Juno and leave it hanging there; maybe someday I'll finally understand why both are considered "good" movies. For now, I'm just deeply disappointed in the critics. 👎

The film strikes an exceptional balance, weaving together comedic beats and dramatic tension with remarkable precision.

Grace White4 said:Caught this at the theater tonight, and honestly? It didn't blow me away. 🤷

Right off the bat, you could write off the "comedy" aspect because the trailer basically spoiled every single joke—and even if I hadn't seen them, would they have actually been funny? I guess you could also toss out the romance since it felt pretty uninspired, though I'll admit there was *something* there. So, what's left? Just the drama, and even that lacks any real punch.

Look, fine, let’s say I just approached the movie the wrong way. Let’s say George Clooney’s performance rubbed me the wrong way for most of it, or maybe I just wasn't feeling that pseudo-philosophical message about karma and all that. But even if I set my personal biases aside and try to look at this objectively, I still don't get it: Why six Oscar nominations? 😕

If I pretend I’ve never seen George Clooney before, I suppose I’d say he did a decent job (though he barely had to act), and sure, little Anna Kendrick did a solid job pivoting from a career woman to someone leaving her partner. But Vera Farmiga? She didn't move me one bit. There. That's my take.

If you ask me, the only thing worth recognizing is the screenplay, which was okay (I see it actually won a Golden Globe for that), but nothing else. Is 2009 really such a bad year for movies, or am I just missing something here? 🙄

Speaking of missing things, I was thinking... my reaction to Up in the Air is almost identical to how I felt about Juno. Neither one of them touched me, even though most other films lately have. To get the full Jason Reitman experience, I should probably watch Thank You for Smoking soon, but I already have a sinking feeling I'll walk away feeling the exact same way.

All in all, if it weren't for everyone else's opinion, I might have given it a 6/10. Instead, I'll settle on a 7/10—mostly because the soundtrack was good and a few other bits worked. I'll just group it with Juno and leave it hanging there; maybe someday I'll finally understand why both are considered "good" movies. For now, I'm just deeply disappointed in the critics. 👎

That cardboard cutout George Clooney carries around captures every ounce of romance this movie needs to succeed—and then you’ve got a wedding on top of it all.

Grace White4 said:Caught this at the theater tonight, and honestly? It didn't blow me away. 🤷

Right off the bat, you could write off the "comedy" aspect because the trailer basically spoiled every single joke—and even if I hadn't seen them, would they have actually been funny? I guess you could also toss out the romance since it felt pretty uninspired, though I'll admit there was *something* there. So, what's left? Just the drama, and even that lacks any real punch.

Look, fine, let’s say I just approached the movie the wrong way. Let’s say George Clooney’s performance rubbed me the wrong way for most of it, or maybe I just wasn't feeling that pseudo-philosophical message about karma and all that. But even if I set my personal biases aside and try to look at this objectively, I still don't get it: Why six Oscar nominations? 😕

If I pretend I’ve never seen George Clooney before, I suppose I’d say he did a decent job (though he barely had to act), and sure, little Anna Kendrick did a solid job pivoting from a career woman to someone leaving her partner. But Vera Farmiga? She didn't move me one bit. There. That's my take.

If you ask me, the only thing worth recognizing is the screenplay, which was okay (I see it actually won a Golden Globe for that), but nothing else. Is 2009 really such a bad year for movies, or am I just missing something here? 🙄

Speaking of missing things, I was thinking... my reaction to Up in the Air is almost identical to how I felt about Juno. Neither one of them touched me, even though most other films lately have. To get the full Jason Reitman experience, I should probably watch Thank You for Smoking soon, but I already have a sinking feeling I'll walk away feeling the exact same way.

All in all, if it weren't for everyone else's opinion, I might have given it a 6/10. Instead, I'll settle on a 7/10—mostly because the soundtrack was good and a few other bits worked. I'll just group it with Juno and leave it hanging there; maybe someday I'll finally understand why both are considered "good" movies. For now, I'm just deeply disappointed in the critics. 👎

The drama is just too intense.

Grace White4 said:Caught this at the theater tonight, and honestly? It didn't blow me away. 🤷

Right off the bat, you could write off the "comedy" aspect because the trailer basically spoiled every single joke—and even if I hadn't seen them, would they have actually been funny? I guess you could also toss out the romance since it felt pretty uninspired, though I'll admit there was *something* there. So, what's left? Just the drama, and even that lacks any real punch.

Look, fine, let’s say I just approached the movie the wrong way. Let’s say George Clooney’s performance rubbed me the wrong way for most of it, or maybe I just wasn't feeling that pseudo-philosophical message about karma and all that. But even if I set my personal biases aside and try to look at this objectively, I still don't get it: Why six Oscar nominations? 😕

If I pretend I’ve never seen George Clooney before, I suppose I’d say he did a decent job (though he barely had to act), and sure, little Anna Kendrick did a solid job pivoting from a career woman to someone leaving her partner. But Vera Farmiga? She didn't move me one bit. There. That's my take.

If you ask me, the only thing worth recognizing is the screenplay, which was okay (I see it actually won a Golden Globe for that), but nothing else. Is 2009 really such a bad year for movies, or am I just missing something here? 🙄

Speaking of missing things, I was thinking... my reaction to Up in the Air is almost identical to how I felt about Juno. Neither one of them touched me, even though most other films lately have. To get the full Jason Reitman experience, I should probably watch Thank You for Smoking soon, but I already have a sinking feeling I'll walk away feeling the exact same way.

All in all, if it weren't for everyone else's opinion, I might have given it a 6/10. Instead, I'll settle on a 7/10—mostly because the soundtrack was good and a few other bits worked. I'll just group it with Juno and leave it hanging there; maybe someday I'll finally understand why both are considered "good" movies. For now, I'm just deeply disappointed in the critics. 👎

What exactly is it about George Clooney that people find so polarizing? To be honest, I’ve never been his biggest fan either—I usually skip over movies starring him. But I decided to give this one a shot, and I am glad I did. In fact, passing this one up would have been a genuine mistake.

The film is nothing short of a masterpiece, driven by an absolutely exceptional screenplay.

The film is nothing short of extraordinary—truly a masterpiece. Every single element is executed flawlessly, from the cast to the crew. Even George Clooney delivers a performance that is absolutely stellar.

In this film, George Clooney is worth a hundred times more than that total loser Guido from the movie Nine.