Movie Review: Up in the Air

This past weekend I went with my brother and sister-in-law to see Up in the Air. Although I'm usually skeptical of movies that are getting "awards buzz," usually because I rarely like the Oscar-winning movie, I figured that George Clooney was charming enough to watch for 109 minutes. As the preview indicates, there is a significant amount of jet-setting in the movie, and I have to admit, my emotions were also taken for a ride.

I won't give you the summary of the movie, as you can easily look that up. But I will tell you that I think it's a fantastic study of the human condition as the world of technology expands. Clooney and his new associate (played by Anna Kendrick), each learn what it means to inflict isolation upon others, upon themselves, and to also have it inflicted upon them without their consent. I think it's a great portrayal of the experience of solitude and the need for real connection. A lot of things promise this connection: hookups, technology, the idea of the perfect mate, but they all fall short of the human communion we are really looking for.

At the end of every encounter Clooney's character has with an employee that he is firing, they realize their their plans for their lives are now "up in the air." At the end of the movie, so does the protagonist. And if the audience has a shred of humility, they too will realize that some things are out of their control, but perhaps that is merely an avenue given to them to find what they were looking for in the first place.