Up in the Air

"Up in the Air" is the story of a cynic who is taught the power of love. This conceit is at least as old as "A Christmas Carol." Hollywood never seems to tire of recycling it.

But unlike the standard cynic-sees-the-light story, "Up in the Air" has a contemporary resonance. It tackles America's currently pervasive economic anxieties head-on.

About the love story: Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), is a man who abhors being tied down. He spends most of his time traveling the country on business, loathing the rare occasions when he's stuck at his spartan bachelor pad in Omaha. He falls for the lovely Alex (Vera Farminga), in part because she seems just as resistant to commitment as he is.

So far, so formulaic. But Bingham is not just any businessman. He fires people for a living, so that their bosses don't have to do it. His profession makes him seem like a cad, until a young co-worker, Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), proposes that the firings be done via videoconferencing. Even Bingham recognizes that these employees need a real human being to deliver their terrible news. Bingham takes Keener across the country, demonstrating the shock and devastation expressed by terminated employees.

The two storylines dovetail nicely: as Bingham shows Keener that business should be about more than impersonal efficiency, he also begins to realize that life may have better things to offer than bachelorhood and casual flings. The ending appears to be projected from a mile away, yet "Up in the Air" keeps the audience on its toes.

As with his previous two films, "Thank You for Smoking" and "Juno," director Jason Reitman delivers a bittersweet look at the difficult choices life forces on us. His direction has become less gimmicky and more assured. His shots are based on what's needed for the scene: rapid-fire cuts which show Bingham's clinical approach to travel, a smooth pan as he delivers a motivational speech. He captures the absurdity and harshness of corporate America well, integrating interviews with real-life laid-off workers into the story.

If Reitman deserves a criticism, it's that his films seem a bit stuffed with twists and turns, leaving the viewer slightly rushed. But his commitment to quality filmmaking within the Hollywood juggernaut is encouraging; hopefully, his storytelling will grow more economical with time.