Turning Things Downside Up

Up In The Air is a highly enjoyable and thought-provoking drama starring George Clooney and Vera Farmiga. Clooney’s corporate ‘hit-man’ is gloriously uncaring, but still exudes charisma in a way that is difficult to take one’s eyes off. Clooney’s chemistry with Anna Kendrick’s character is very entertaining, and the corporate (and personal) carnage that they wreak, while wince-inducing, is inventively captured by Jason Reitman through the device of talking heads. This is a superb follow-up by Reitman to the excellent ‘Juno’ , almost looking at the opposite end of the human condition for its inspiration, it should send you off to look for Reitman’s other films ‘Thank You For Smoking’ and ‘Young Adult’. There are clever and thoughtful twists in the third act; it is ultimately a very satisfying and enjoyable film that should leave you with something to think about if you are on a professional career path.

Reitman For The Job

Cutting satire from Jason Reitman who also wrote the screenplay, and he directs an excellent cast, some in blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos. Aaron Eckhart is every inch the unscrupulous and single-minded PR wiz, sauntering through a slightly chaotic series of episodes, surrounded by a host of well drawn characters. The scenes featuring the cabal of Eckhart, Mario Bello (booze) and David Koechner (guns) are biting, and a triumvirate of Robert Duval, JK Simmons and William H. Macy provide the gravitas (sort of!). As if that wasn't enough to keep your attention, there are appearances by Sam Elliot, Rob Lowe, Dennis Miller and Todd Louiso. Katie Holmes plays reporter with her sights on the protagonist well enough. All in all it's an entertaining piece and should get the grey cells going, but for Reitman it perhaps serves best as a warm up for what followed, namely 'Juno' then 'Up in the Air'.