Up in the Air

Writer-director Jason Reitman delves into the zeitgeist of America in the wake of the financial crisis with this high-flying comedy. George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, an aloof and well-groomed executive who specializes in firing employees for cowardly bosses. "Moving is living," he proclaims as he delivers a motivational speech on the virtues of being able to fit all that's important to you in only a backpack. Meeting kindred spirit Alex in a lounge on one of his stops, he impresses her by revealing that he is close to achieving 10 million-mile frequent-flyer status. Difficulties arise when recent college graduate Natalie proposes a system to fire people through video conferencing. Suddenly Ryan finds himself suffering the risk of being superfluous. Balancing melancholy with lighthearted comedy, Reitman explores the inner life of a man who has distanced himself from human experience by growing addicted to comfy hotel rooms and airport lobbies - living in a "cocoon of self-banishment." But UP IN THE AIR is also a film about the finer details of making it through security and traveling light.