Up in the Air

Since none of my family members have the remotest interest in seeing a film about people getting laid off or business travel, it was ironic that I finally was able to see the film “Up in the Air” in my hotel room while on the road last week. George Clooney plays the part of Ryan Bingham, whose job takes him on the road 340 days each year meeting with employees to tell them their jobs have ended, relieving their spineless managers from the task. Ryan loves his job, has traveling down to a fine science (there’s an amusing series of scenes demonstrating all his tricks for getting through an airport efficiently), and strives toward his goal of earning 10 million miles on his airline loyalty account. He is a pro, in that he possesses a rare talent: the ability to look a person in the eye and with fairly consistent (although regrettably not 100% consistent) success convince that person that losing their means of support and sustenance is after all not a great misfortune and catastrophe but in fact represents a brand new day filled with fresh opportunity and hope.

The title “Up in the Air” describes not only where the main character spends most of this time, but also where he leaves people after his visits with them, as well as his own state as the movie progresses.

Ryan Bingham has spent most of his life thinking mainly about himself and how to get what he wants rather than connecting with people he really cares about. But as events unfold he shows some signs of change when he starts to actually fall for a kindred soul who is just as seasoned a business traveler as he is. He also decides at the last minute to attend a niece’s wedding where his one skill, see above, comes in handy to save the day.

But ultimately Bingham ends up facing the same kind of loss he’s been imposing on others – a huge change in his job that will result in no more travel as the company experiments with conducting exit interviews via teleconference. He can talk the talk – but can he walk the walk and find the pony hiding in the pile of manure?

See for yourself – let me know if you liked the movie.