Up in the Air (2009 film)

Up in the Air is a tragi-comedy from 2009, directed by Jason Reitman, who was also involved in the screenplay and co-produced the film. The plot is based on the novel Up in the Air ( German Book Title: Mr. Bingham gathered Miles) by Walter Kirn. The film stars George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick.

Action

Ryan Bingham is almost always traveling. His employer sends him to companies that do not have the courage to lay off their employees themselves. He loves the freedom and anonymity of travel. Ryan's main goal is to overcome the ten million frequent flyer mile sound barrier. Close personal relationships he barely maintains, neither the Company nor to family members. Only with his chance acquaintance Alex, who he met during a mission, he established a non-binding and loose relationship, but also contrary to what this is. His boss Craig Gregory asks him one day, the young Cornell graduate Natalie Keener to the side that proposes to reduce costs, to lead discussions termination no longer on site, but via video conference. Ryan's life threatens to fall apart. He also doubted openly that this method of part fully. To make Natalie familiar with the practice, they will also sent by her boss to Ryan's next trip so that it gains a personal impression of his work. He befriends something with Natalie to, in the course of their conversations during the trip he gradually recognizes that a life of solitude is sadder than a life with family, friends and love. This will be aware of him on the occasion of the wedding of his sister, to which he is accompanied by Alex. He renewed during this weekend his family ties and the fact that he brings his future brother in law to not call off the wedding, what this was doing in a panic reaction on the wedding day. After this weekend, Alex and Ryan suggested separate again and Ryan flies to a guest lecture he then but does not keep to an end. He suddenly leaves the lectern, flies spontaneously to Alex and visited this unannounced, as he has stated that he would like to perform more than a non-committal relationship with her. There he is alarmed that Alex is married and has her own family. In a subsequent telephone call him Alex announced that she sees him only as an affair and as a little escape from their daily lives, they want but would like to see him again. During the return flight from Alex he reached the long-awaited 10 million miles limit but means nothing to him. When he is back in his office, he plans to transfer 1 one million miles of his account on his sister so that she can go on a honeymoon. The phone call with the airline but is interrupted by his boss. This tells him that one of the employees terminated by Natalie has plunged off a bridge and Natalie has terminated then. At the same time reveals to him that the new program is stopped on this occasion for the time being and he should continue to go on trips.

Background

• In the film, a number of companies and brand names are prominently mentioned and illustrated (see product placement ). According to a statement by Jason Reitman, he got at least from occurring in the film Hotel chain and the American Airlines no money. Other companies such as the equally prominently placed car rental and car manufacturer he made no statements. However, it is mentioned in the audio commentary of the DVD that from the American Airlines extracting a Boeing 757 flown that you got charged for the shooting available, as well as all business class seats for an aircraft mock-up, so that no additional costs of production incurred. This was a non-cash benefit. One indication of the close connection to the occurring in the film company is also the fact that the director after filming the member-only map of the airline, which Alex admired so much in the film, also received personally, and that purchasing DVD an advertising brochure occurring in the film Hotel chain was settled.

• The author of the original book Walter Kirn has a cameo in the movie: It sits during the first presentation of Natalie next to Ryan.

• Production costs were estimated at around 25 million U.S. dollars. The film played in theaters worldwide around 167 million U.S. dollars, of which approximately 84 million U.S. dollars in the U.S. and about 7.6 million U.S. dollars in Germany.

• A limited few cinemas publication in the U.S. began on 4 December 2009, the nationwide theatrical release followed on 23 December 2009. In Germany the film was in the theaters on February 4, 2010.
• Some of the performers, which are released in the film by Ryan Bingham, were not actors, but people from St. Louis and Detroit, who had just lost her job in reality and acting out the situation. ( Audio commentary by J. Reitman )

Main actor George Clooney

Actress Vera Farmiga

Reviews

"With incredible speed and an excellent flair for timing right Reitman unwinds his story. In flash montages people are fired, made ​​via aerial photographs and Inserts breathless change of location, only to again to slow the event with sparkling dialogue duels. This looks like a seasoned cinema tricks and it is, but when the director then celebrates wedding with the camera (Eric Steel Mountain ) is immersed into the action and casually captures mood, then you realize that Reitman is already a big one in the film business. His death in a plane crash would immediately let him move into Hollywood's Mount Olympus and guarantee posthumous Oscars. The Reitman has at least formulated in the interview so. Who wants to argue with that? "

" Increasingly, the sober history developed over a busy frequent flyer whose job it is to fire people, an emotional story about a man who really has everything and yet something vital in life is missing: love, friendship and family. Together this results in an interesting reflection on contemporary life. Our increasingly global world, often taking place in the communication only via new technological advances, which causes a change in society. " Up in the Air " takes a critical and also authentic look at these changes and leaves by messages that probably every one of us more aware again for certain problems. "

"It is difficult for Jason Reitman movies - not to like anyway. They are so fluffy, tasty and of a meringue -like lightness that makes it hard to take them something bad. They also give regularly appears somehow to circle an important issue. [ ... ] The fact that the film takes a very serious topics and relegated to window dressing and it even instrumentalized real people, maybe even falls only on the finish, if you a little thinking about the something bluesy simplicity of the story. It is part of Reitman's success (which is also noticeable in the Oscar nominations ), he manages to make these movies revolve around trendy topics that are somehow perceived as "edgy " and yet are so smooth, consensus and good at their core, that really no one likes to disturb them. "

Instrumentation and synchronization

Soundtrack

• " Help Yourself " - Sad Brad Smith ( title song of the film)
• " This Land Is Your Land" - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings ( music for the opening credits)
• " Goin ' Home " - Dan Auerbach
• " Angel in the Snow" - Elliott Smith
• " Genova " - Charles Atlas
• "Thank You Lord " - Roy Buchanan
• " Be Yourself " - Graham Nash
• " Up in the Air " - Kevin Renick

Awards

• Academy Awards 2010 nominations:
• Best Picture
• Best Director (Jason Reitman )
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner)
• Best Actor ( George Clooney )
• Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga )
• Best Supporting Actress ( Anna Kendrick )

• Golden Globe Awards 2010 nominations:
• Golden Globe: Best Director (Jason Reitman )
• Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture - Drama
• Golden Globe: Best Actor - Drama ( George Clooney )
• Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga )
• Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actress ( Anna Kendrick )
• Won:
• Golden Globe: Best Adapted Screenplay (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner)

• Screen Actors Guild Awards 2010 nominations:
• SAG Awards: Best Actor ( George Clooney )
• SAG Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga )
• SAG Awards: Best Supporting Actress ( Anna Kendrick )

• Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2010 nominations:
• BFCA Award: Best Acting Ensemble
• BFCA Award: Best Actor ( George Clooney )
• BFCA Award: Best Director (Jason Reitman )
• BFCA Award: Best Adapted Screenplay (Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner)
• BFCA Award: Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga )
• BFCA Award: Best Supporting Actress ( Anna Kendrick )

• BAFTA Award 2010 won:
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner)

• National Board of Review Awards 2009 won:
• NBoR Award: Best Film
• NBoR Award: Best Actor ( George Clooney )
• NBoR Award: Best Adapted Screenplay (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner)
• NBoR Award: Best Supporting Actress ( Anna Kendrick )

• Satellite Awards 2009 nominations:
• Satellite Award: Best Actor - Comedy / Musical ( George Clooney )
• Satellite Award: Best Supporting Actress ( Anna Kendrick )
• Satellite Award: Best Film - Comedy / Musical
• Satellite Award: Best Adapted Screenplay (Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner)
• Won:
• Satellite Award for Best Film Music ( Rolfe Kent)

• Kulturnews Award 2010 Award for Best Film 2010