Up in the Air – Blu-ray Review

The Film:

If Thank You for Smoking was Jason Reitman’s hello to us, then Juno was his hello to Hollywood. He mixes humor and drama, with a great ear for music, crafting some really good films. Intelligence and hilarity are benchmark for what now is the definition of a Jason Reitman film, yet the Juno backlash seemed to rope him in unjustly. Up in the Air should squash all of those unruly Diablo Cody haters for good, as many viewed her script as some sort of template that made everyone better because of it. Let’s get this straight: Juno is a fine film, with a sense of honesty that came from Jason Reitman, and Up in the Air proves this due to the maturity he has now gained as a director. His voice is clear here; there’s a sense of relevance in the film, timeliness, and earnestness in the comedy, as well as the drama.

Up in the Air tackles our tanking economy head-on, yet there’s a series of interesting subtleties that aid into making this film so good. Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) flies out to various companies in different cities to fire people, because the companies themselves cannot find the gal to do so. Knowing our country’s dilemma is key to understanding the film’s message, yet it’s also interesting to note on how the film is just as much as a story of a man and his attempt at redemption, as it is of the Midwest with it’s economic climate and values. Clooney’s character is from Omaha, NE one of the few cities not to be rocked with historic layoffs. Omaha has had its share of closings and layoffs, but it is also a city that has blocked much of America’s woes, with being on the edge of the changing economy. His job is very much modern, especially when Natalie (Anna Kendrick, Elsewhere) comes into the film, a symbol of a new, blossoming career, as the ones in Detroit, Wichita, or Cleveland are dying out. Omaha is one city in America that is growing steadily with the changes in America, and all for the positive.

Mixing that with comments on a changing dating scene, makes for an interesting peak at the dawning of a new decade in America, one that is being met head-on with failures and uncertainty. But don’t mistake Up in the Air for some deep document, as Reitman is having even more fun with the comedy he is finding in situations based on Clooney’s character’s own vapidness. He looks down right alien when he comes to Wisconsin for his sister’s wedding, let alone a man that is finding love in suspicious Alex (Vera Farmiga, Orphan). While layoffs and the acceptance of being incomplete can be dour stuff, one must not forget where Reitman gets his funny bone from, because Up in the Air is still a funny film. But it is this dour stuff; this look at our sinking economy, the nature of who one is with or without their job, these types of subtle looks aid a ballsy final act, making Up in the Air a great film.

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Video: Paramount delivers a superb looking transfer. Rich, textural, and nearly three-dimensional, for a drama/comedy with a muted color palette, this is excellent. The DTS track is good, but it’s a dialogue driven film. Expect it to be front heavy, but warm and ambient.

Commentary: Reitman is here with his first unit director and cinematographer. They all offer up some neat info, for a laid back track on the filming. Pretty technical, yet informative.

Shadowplay: Before the Story: This is a look at the company Reitman uses for his film’s title sequences. Short and sweet, but nothing to riveting.

American Airlines Prank: Used to get the bigwigs all up-in-arms on how the airline is portrayed in the film, as it runs about 40 seconds.

13 Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary, Trailers, and a Music Video finish out the slim helping of extras.

Conclusion: A superb film, worthy of the praise and award nominations. A must own. Blu-ray is great, but the extras could have had more meat to them.

The Film: Rating:

The Blu-ray: Rating: