Let me make the case for why "Up in the Air" is, as Entertainment Weekly reports, the best movie of the year:
10) The direction is perfect. This may sound weird, but I always feel proud of a director when I've seen all their movies in the theater--watched them grow and get better. It's almost like they're a friend. And let me tell you something, Jason Reitman is one hell of a good friend. First "Thank You for Smoking," then "Juno," and now "Up in the Air." Three completely different movies, filmed in different styles, all with the same sense of confident style and intelligence.
9) The opening and semi-closing moments done by real people. Incredibly moving.
8) Vera Farmiga talking about what she wants in a man. Great moment.
7) Anna Kendrick--two great moments: Firing someone via computer for the first time and singing karaoke while drunk.
6) Random cameos--J.K. Simmons, Sam Elliott, Amy Morton (that was a--Wait! Is that Amy Morton?" moment) and early 90's rap stars.
5) How perfectly it captures the feeling of constant travel. It's the same way Sofia Coppola captures isolation in "Lost in Translation." The movie makes you feel the loneliness, the rush, and the exhaustion of constantly being on the go.
4) Jason Bateman--I forgive you for Couples Retreat.
3) I love when movies don't have to rely on twists and turns. I love it more when they seem to be a movie that would have no opportunity for twists and turns and then WHAM! There were some distinct WHAM! moments in this.
2) The music. Perfectly chosen.
1) George Clooney. Is he playing George Clooney? Yes, but he also manages to play with his own image. It's not a transformative performance, but then again, Cary Grant never did those either and you don't hear anybody bitching about North by Northwest.
So basically, go see the movie. If you can spend twenty dollars on Avatar, you can certainly cash out 7.50 for a matinee of this--a movie that will still hold up twenty years from now in people's living rooms.
10) The direction is perfect. This may sound weird, but I always feel proud of a director when I've seen all their movies in the theater--watched them grow and get better. It's almost like they're a friend. And let me tell you something, Jason Reitman is one hell of a good friend. First "Thank You for Smoking," then "Juno," and now "Up in the Air." Three completely different movies, filmed in different styles, all with the same sense of confident style and intelligence.
9) The opening and semi-closing moments done by real people. Incredibly moving.
8) Vera Farmiga talking about what she wants in a man. Great moment.
7) Anna Kendrick--two great moments: Firing someone via computer for the first time and singing karaoke while drunk.
6) Random cameos--J.K. Simmons, Sam Elliott, Amy Morton (that was a--Wait! Is that Amy Morton?" moment) and early 90's rap stars.
5) How perfectly it captures the feeling of constant travel. It's the same way Sofia Coppola captures isolation in "Lost in Translation." The movie makes you feel the loneliness, the rush, and the exhaustion of constantly being on the go.
4) Jason Bateman--I forgive you for Couples Retreat.
3) I love when movies don't have to rely on twists and turns. I love it more when they seem to be a movie that would have no opportunity for twists and turns and then WHAM! There were some distinct WHAM! moments in this.
2) The music. Perfectly chosen.
1) George Clooney. Is he playing George Clooney? Yes, but he also manages to play with his own image. It's not a transformative performance, but then again, Cary Grant never did those either and you don't hear anybody bitching about North by Northwest.
So basically, go see the movie. If you can spend twenty dollars on Avatar, you can certainly cash out 7.50 for a matinee of this--a movie that will still hold up twenty years from now in people's living rooms.
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