The Fluff up there
If there is one thing I hate, it’s mediocrity. And boy, is Up in the Air Mediocre. Set adrift without a driving plot, the film leans heavily on George Clooney’s charm. If you are still partial to said charm, you may like this movie. If like me, however, you now find Mr. Clooney unable or unwilling to blend into a film or inhabit a character, stay away.*
In the film, Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a frequent flier who has made traveling on business an art form and a philosophy. Plus, he fires people for a living (how au courrant!). Pursuing his nirvana of 10 million American Airline miles, only subplots starring Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga (the Departed) stand in his way. All of this is entertaining, but exceedingly forgettable.
*Clooney should look for a role where he can subvert his pansexual flirting, like what Tom Cruise pulled off in Magnolia. Right now I feel like he is failing in his primary job, as an actor. Maybe I am simply jealous of his smile and perfectly formed wrinkles.
February 28, 2010 at 4:15 am
Ok OK …Clooney cant inhabit a role in a way that Philip Seymour Hoffman can inhabit a role ….but the really annoying thing about this movie is NOT Clooney. It is the insidious marketing job of American Airlines. Oh that the Admirals clubs were inhabited by people that look like Anna Kendrick or Vera Farmiga. I am writing this from the Tokyo Admirals Club where I am wedged in between a 22 year old Russian volleyball player (who is talking VERY LOUDLY into her computer and amazing at least 15 of her friends by calling them on Skype) and an aging Japanese couple who have amused themselves for the last 30 minutes by clipping their fingernails.. Whatever happened to the Fred-and-Ginger glory days of travel? or at least the gorgeous girl watching of Lost in Translation?
March 1, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I totally agree. The tacit message of the film is that traveling
with American Airlines is so restful you come out looking like George Clooney. When, more often then not, you and me come out looking like we’ve been fighting with the clerk at 7-11 at 3 in the morning.
Maybe Clooney is my scapegoat for a larger problem of Hollywood creating and nuturing new stars less. In my mind, the studios give roles to proven talent like Clooney and Meryl Streep, whether or not they may be best for the role.
PS- Hi, Dad! Thanks for exposing the Admiral’s club propaganda.
January 24, 2011 at 11:28 pm
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