DVD review: Clone Hunter Often, sci-fi and low budget indie productions go together about as well as chocolate and onions. The high budget demands on special effects eventually hamper the entire story. Clone Hunter is indeed [ ... ] |
What to make of the ending to Inception? So far, my favorite film this year is Christopher Nolanís Inception. Not only does it deliver all the action and thrills expected of a big budget summer blockbuster, but it has inspired endl [ ... ] |
DVD Review: The White Ribbon The White Ribbon is a drama starring Christian Freidl, Ulrich Turkl and Burghart Klaussner. Directed by Michael Haneke. |
DVD Review: Shutter Island The film begins on an ominous note. Eerie strings play as the film fades to white. Soon, a ship appears out of the fog. Cut to a gumshoe, looking and speaking as if he has stepped straight out of a [ ... ] |
| DVD Review: Up In The Air |
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| Written by Trent Daniel |
| Wednesday, 14 April 2010 18:49 |
 Pilot: ìWhere do you live?îRyan Bingham, sitting in first class: ìHere.î The simple exchange above effectively describes Ryan Bingham, the protagonist of Jason Reitmanís dramedy Up in the Air. Bingham (George Clooney) is a ìrelocation coordinator,î which is a tidier way of describing his true profession as traveling ax man for large companies who donít have the time or decency to fire their own employees on their own. Bingham doesnít necessarily enjoy his work much. What he does enjoy is flying and having no roots or attachments (ìLast year I spent 43 miserable nights at home.î) His goal: reach 10 million sky miles-and accomplishment only 7 other travelers have reached. Obviously, this rootless man has no time for relationships, either with family (his two sisters in northern Wisconsin hardy talk to him) or with women. However, his lifestyle is soon invaded by two women: new coworker Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), fresh out of college and ready to change the world and Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), a woman that, rather crudely but accurately, tells him ìIím you, only with a vagina.î Though the film is not full of high melodrama or slapstick, it is quietly effective and poignant. It is also, sadly, reflective of the times, as Binghamís business is booming (note: many of the people seen being fired are not professional actors, but actual people who had recently been fired. They were offered the chance by the makers of this film to read for a part and to express what they recently went through.) Clooney, Kendrick and Farmiga all received Oscar nominations for their performances and deserved them, particularly Clooney and Kendrick. Clooney has no splashy scenes, yet is quietly outstanding. He is totally believable as a man who actually would excel at such a loathsome job, yet it is clear that he grows as a person throughout the film. Kendrick is also dead on as a fresh face out of college who is book smart and full of ideas, but knows nothing yet about the real world (a harsh life lesson she has to endure late in the film is heartbreaking). There is also strong romantic chemistry between Clooney and Farmiga-and a revelation she reveals about herself is one of the filmís more devastating moments. Up in the Air is one of the best dramedies in recent years and deserved its Oscar nomination. It will also probably have strong staying power and serve years from now as an accurate reflection of these current times. It is another strong showing by Direction Jason Reitman as well and puts him squarely in the forefront of young directors whose work we can look forward to. Special Features
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