The premise: Up in the Air is director Jason Reitman’s adaptation of the Walter Kirn novel, about Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) who works as an always-in-the-air travelling “termination consultant”.
The conditions, flying business class, staying in the best hotels, and regularly bumping into charming – though mysterious – fellow travellers such as Alex (Vera Farmiga), compensates – at least as far as Ryan is concerned – for the unpleasant task of firing people.
The play: Ryan’s only real aim professionally – and personally it seems – is to clock up ten million air miles, something his ceaseless work is gradually bringing about, as he criss-crosses the US telling his client’s employees their services are no longer required.
When business management graduate Natalie (Anna Kendrick) arrives on the scene with ideas to conduct the culling process online, Ryan not only feels his livelihood threatened, but also the long-held goal of achieving of his air travel milestone.
The wrap: while Ryan may be expert when it comes to precision packing his bag, or discharging his duties, he is however ill-equipped to deal with the emotional ups and downs of his family and colleagues.
But while may he sometimes feel his existence is as empty as the spartan apartment he calls home, when it comes to life choices there’s no doubting it’s a case of different strokes for different folks.
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