Up in the Air: The Best Film of 2009

The

Best Film

of 2009

"Up in the Air" is the third film by Academy Award nominated director Jason Reitman and stars Academy Award winner George Clooney. Reitman previously directed 2006's "Thank You for Smoking" and 2007's "Juno". George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert who travels around the country firing people. Ryan doesn't have a personal life and he numbs himself with sex, booze, and air miles. On occasion he delivers motivational speeches about the virtue of a relationship-free life. His life on the road however is threatened when his company chooses to ground him at corporate headquarters and when he meets the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams, Alex Goran. The film is cross between a comedy and a serious drama. There are plenty of funny lines and there are many lines that makes think about life itself. The movie co-stars Vera Farmiga ("The Departed") as Alex Goran, Anna Kendrick ("Twilight"), Jason Bateman ("Extract") as Ryan's boss, Danny McBride ("Pineapple Express") as Ryan's brother in-law, J.K. Simmons ("Spider-Man"), and Zach Galifianakis ("The Hangover"). The film was written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Turner previously wrote 2005's "The Longest Yard" and 2006's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning". The movie is loosely based on the 2000 novel "Up in the Air" by Walter Kirn. This movie is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time and couldn't of been released at a better time. The subject matter in the film really hits home because of our country's current economic struggles. George Clooney is simply fantastic as Ryan Bingham and is definitely Oscar worthy. The character is extremely likable, funny, and incredibly cool. I really believe no one else could of played Ryan Bingham but George Clooney.The Departed's Vera Farmiga is very good as the cool, sophisticated, and sexy Alex Goran. "Twilight" star Anna Kendrick plays Natalie Keener, a young Cornell graduate, who after she convinces the company to fire people via webcam, she learns the trade from Ryan when she accompanies him on the road. Anna Kendrick was unbelievable in her role and is definitely a star in the making. "Up in the Air" have won numerous awards already, the biggest award being the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay. The film has recently been nominated for 6 Academy Awards, consisting of Best Picture, Best Director (Jason Reitman), Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga), Best Supporting Actress (Anna Kendrick). "Up in the Air" is now one of my favorite movies of all-time and is the best film of 2009. I think "Up in the Air" should win the Oscar for Best Picture. View Trailer Here