Comments on: Review: Up In The Air http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/ Where Cinema is more than just $100 Million productions Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:49:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marc Saint-Cyr http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-39006 Marc Saint-Cyr Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:46:02 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-39006 Just saw this yesterday and really enjoyed it. My Dad and I were also talking afterwards about Farmiga's character's inconsistencies, though - SPOILERSPOILERSPOILER if she really was the kind of person who wanted to have a specific kind of relationship with Clooney that wasn't too emotionally complex, then she should have NEVER gone with him to the wedding or broke into his old school and all that. She still did a great job in the part, though. And I really liked Kendrick's character too. When Clooney walked out of the speech, I actually was expecting him to go off on a whole other rant that explained the truths he learned and why they clashed with his previous philosophy. But instead he simply walked away, which I found somewhat surprising/underwhelming. But overall, despite its predictable bits, I was content with the ending. Just saw this yesterday and really enjoyed it. My Dad and I were also talking afterwards about Farmiga’s character’s inconsistencies, though – SPOILERSPOILERSPOILER if she really was the kind of person who wanted to have a specific kind of relationship with Clooney that wasn’t too emotionally complex, then she should have NEVER gone with him to the wedding or broke into his old school and all that.

She still did a great job in the part, though. And I really liked Kendrick’s character too.

When Clooney walked out of the speech, I actually was expecting him to go off on a whole other rant that explained the truths he learned and why they clashed with his previous philosophy. But instead he simply walked away, which I found somewhat surprising/underwhelming. But overall, despite its predictable bits, I was content with the ending.

]]> By: Bob Turnbull http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38977 Bob Turnbull Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:59:31 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38977 True, but like I mentioned, I didn't have a problem with things not ending happily between them. I didn't mind Farmiga's character rejecting him. I guess I would have preferred her rejecting him for other reasons that were based on Bingham himself - not because she hadn't been truthful about her own life. But instead they went with "she was married all along and cheating on her spouse". There was a bit of a role reversal there I suppose, but I still think the situation itself was both cliche and predictable. Wouldn't it have been better for him to be hoisted by his own petard by getting rejected because of his philosophies? Not because she was cheating? I don't know, maybe not...Maybe I was just bummed because I suddenly didn't like Farmiga's character who had been so great up until then. I know it's not about her, but still... Add that to the walking out of his speech part and the learning of the suicide of the woman they had earlier fired and the ending didn't work for me. True, but like I mentioned, I didn’t have a problem with things not ending happily between them. I didn’t mind Farmiga’s character rejecting him. I guess I would have preferred her rejecting him for other reasons that were based on Bingham himself – not because she hadn’t been truthful about her own life. But instead they went with “she was married all along and cheating on her spouse”. There was a bit of a role reversal there I suppose, but I still think the situation itself was both cliche and predictable. Wouldn’t it have been better for him to be hoisted by his own petard by getting rejected because of his philosophies? Not because she was cheating?

I don’t know, maybe not…Maybe I was just bummed because I suddenly didn’t like Farmiga’s character who had been so great up until then. I know it’s not about her, but still…

Add that to the walking out of his speech part and the learning of the suicide of the woman they had earlier fired and the ending didn’t work for me.

]]> By: Jonathan B. http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38936 Jonathan B. Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:20:43 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38936 There is a difference between predictability and cliche though. Cliche is something overused to the point of exhaustion and that plot development is certainly not overused, especially in the case of it being the woman who had the wife and family. It wasn't meant to be a twist so much as it was meant to be an inevitability. Clooney's development of rejecting his own philosophies had to be met with a stumbling block and from the very get-go we know it can't end happily between these two. It was predictable because it was being alluded to all along. There is a difference between predictability and cliche though. Cliche is something overused to the point of exhaustion and that plot development is certainly not overused, especially in the case of it being the woman who had the wife and family. It wasn’t meant to be a twist so much as it was meant to be an inevitability. Clooney’s development of rejecting his own philosophies had to be met with a stumbling block and from the very get-go we know it can’t end happily between these two. It was predictable because it was being alluded to all along.

]]> By: Bob Turnbull http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38935 Bob Turnbull Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:38:14 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38935 Spoilers... Jonathan, I felt the results of his actions ended up being cliche too. While he stood outside her house, I couldn't help thinking "Please don't let her already be married with kids, please don't let her...Aw crap." Not because I wanted it to work out for the characters (like I mentioned, I don't mind where it ended up with Clooney's character - it's kind of fitting given everything else), but I had wished that they brought him there in another fashion. I really do like Lynskey as well. She was the only bright spot in the otherwise dismal "Detroit Rock City" from many years ago. Spoilers…

Jonathan, I felt the results of his actions ended up being cliche too. While he stood outside her house, I couldn’t help thinking “Please don’t let her already be married with kids, please don’t let her…Aw crap.” Not because I wanted it to work out for the characters (like I mentioned, I don’t mind where it ended up with Clooney’s character – it’s kind of fitting given everything else), but I had wished that they brought him there in another fashion.

I really do like Lynskey as well. She was the only bright spot in the otherwise dismal “Detroit Rock City” from many years ago.

]]> By: Goon http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38934 Goon Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:01:59 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38934 I liked Kendrick to the extent that after she essentially leaves the film I find it goes way downhill, I really missed her on screen. Has anyone else seen her in Rocket Science? Same deal there. She kills, takes off, and the movie flounders until she's back near the end. I liked Kendrick to the extent that after she essentially leaves the film I find it goes way downhill, I really missed her on screen. Has anyone else seen her in Rocket Science? Same deal there. She kills, takes off, and the movie flounders until she’s back near the end.

]]> By: Jonathan B. http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38932 Jonathan B. Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:50:26 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38932 Wasn't he leaving the speech meant to be cliché and expected by the audience, with the end result of his actions not? Wasn’t he leaving the speech meant to be cliché and expected by the audience, with the end result of his actions not?

]]> By: Marc Saint-Cyr http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38931 Marc Saint-Cyr Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:43:08 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38931 Melanie Lynskey! I'm so glad to hear she's gradually becoming more prominent - I had no idea she was in this and The Informant! Loved her in Heavenly Creatures... Melanie Lynskey! I’m so glad to hear she’s gradually becoming more prominent – I had no idea she was in this and The Informant! Loved her in Heavenly Creatures…

]]> By: Andrew James http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38929 Andrew James Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:07:14 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38929 That closing speech was a big downer on the movie as a whole. For as fun and unique as that movie was for the most part, I was surprised to see it go so cliché. That closing speech was a big downer on the movie as a whole. For as fun and unique as that movie was for the most part, I was surprised to see it go so cliché.

]]> By: Bob Turnbull http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38928 Bob Turnbull Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:50:14 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38928 I liked Kendrick. I found that as the film went on I liked her character more and more and felt more compassion for her. You have to give Kendrick at least a portion of the credit for that. Fermiga was simply outstanding. She played a sexy, funny, tough and very sharp character and did it seemingly effortlessly. The first 3/4 of the film was terrific. It just got stronger as it went on. I loved the whole section with the Corporate party they crashed. Even though I was fine with the turn the story took and where it ended up, I didn't really like how they got there. It felt too familiar and almost cliche in spots during that last section (starting his speech and walking off, etc.). A solid film overall though. I liked Kendrick. I found that as the film went on I liked her character more and more and felt more compassion for her. You have to give Kendrick at least a portion of the credit for that.

Fermiga was simply outstanding. She played a sexy, funny, tough and very sharp character and did it seemingly effortlessly.

The first 3/4 of the film was terrific. It just got stronger as it went on. I loved the whole section with the Corporate party they crashed. Even though I was fine with the turn the story took and where it ended up, I didn’t really like how they got there. It felt too familiar and almost cliche in spots during that last section (starting his speech and walking off, etc.). A solid film overall though.

]]> By: Andrew James http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38925 Andrew James Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:52:29 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38925 I completely disagree. I liked Farmiga in it a lot, but I thought Kendrick was pretty bad. Passable is maybe the better word... at best. The crying scene capped it ogff for me to realize she was not very good. She rushed her lines and didn't seem to believable. I get that she's high strung rookie with confidence, but it plays off as a performance by a girl who doesn't really know much about acting. I completely disagree. I liked Farmiga in it a lot, but I thought Kendrick was pretty bad. Passable is maybe the better word… at best. The crying scene capped it ogff for me to realize she was not very good. She rushed her lines and didn’t seem to believable. I get that she’s high strung rookie with confidence, but it plays off as a performance by a girl who doesn’t really know much about acting.

]]> By: Goon http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38924 Goon Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:40:08 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38924 UITA's female performances are some of the only ones that really truly stood out for me this year. UITA’s female performances are some of the only ones that really truly stood out for me this year.

]]> By: Jonathan B. http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38923 Jonathan B. Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:12:52 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38923 Kendrick passable? I thought she held her own just fine alongside the others. I think she deserves every bit of awards love thrown her way. It was an honest and confident performance, but the confidence of her character acting cold and calculated only went so far, which I thought she did a great job of demonstrating during her breakdowns and rants, particularly her frustration with her personal life and not being taken seriously because of her age. She didn't have the ability to light her backpack on fire. It wasn't in her. It was a great movie though and really resonated with me. Could be my favorite of the year, although I need to give Inglorious Basterds another watch first. Kendrick passable? I thought she held her own just fine alongside the others. I think she deserves every bit of awards love thrown her way. It was an honest and confident performance, but the confidence of her character acting cold and calculated only went so far, which I thought she did a great job of demonstrating during her breakdowns and rants, particularly her frustration with her personal life and not being taken seriously because of her age. She didn’t have the ability to light her backpack on fire. It wasn’t in her.

It was a great movie though and really resonated with me. Could be my favorite of the year, although I need to give Inglorious Basterds another watch first.

]]> By: Jandy http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-38282 Jandy Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:28:15 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-38282 I'll have more to comment when I get back to a computer instead of my phone, bu I just got out of this, and it was amazingly good. I was afraid the hype would get the better of it for me, but it was at least as good as I was hoping. Reitman has a rare ability to get out of the actors' and script's way, but still maintain an obvious control over everything. He's not a flashy director, but every note the film hit was perfect - very classical Hollywood in the very best sense of the term. I’ll have more to comment when I get back to a computer instead of my phone, bu I just got out of this, and it was amazingly good. I was afraid the hype would get the better of it for me, but it was at least as good as I was hoping. Reitman has a rare ability to get out of the actors’ and script’s way, but still maintain an obvious control over everything. He’s not a flashy director, but every note the film hit was perfect – very classical Hollywood in the very best sense of the term.

]]> By: David Brook http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-37832 David Brook Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:34:48 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-37832 Got to wait till January for this in the UK. I'm usually going to be behind you guys unfortunately. I'm looking forward to this one, although I've found Jason Reitman's films often don't quite live up to the hype or concept. Saying that I've only actually seen Juno and Thank You For Not Smoking, which were both good, but a little too light and fluffy to be great. Got to wait till January for this in the UK. I’m usually going to be behind you guys unfortunately.

I’m looking forward to this one, although I’ve found Jason Reitman’s films often don’t quite live up to the hype or concept. Saying that I’ve only actually seen Juno and Thank You For Not Smoking, which were both good, but a little too light and fluffy to be great.

]]> By: Kurt Halfyard http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-37816 Kurt Halfyard Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:55:32 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-37816 ...I guess Melanie Lynskey is a regular on Two and a Half Men as show that is apparently popular in the US, but I don't watch that sort of stuff, maybe that show got her into features again because she's been pretty busy the last couple years after that show got popular. I'm rambling here though.... …I guess Melanie Lynskey is a regular on Two and a Half Men as show that is apparently popular in the US, but I don’t watch that sort of stuff, maybe that show got her into features again because she’s been pretty busy the last couple years after that show got popular.

I’m rambling here though….

]]> By: Kurt Halfyard http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-37815 Kurt Halfyard Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:52:46 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-37815 Kendrick is passable in Up in the Air (maybe even the weekest performance), I thought Vera Farmiga was incredible though (also awesome in a very different role in Scorsese's THE DEPARTED). The actress who played Clooney's sister was awesome. And, trivia bit (while we are talking UP IN THE AIR actresses), the girl getting married to Danny McBride was the young star of HEAVENLY CREATURES, Melanie Lynskey along with Kate Winslet. Obviously Winslet has gone much further than her, but I've seen Lynskey pop up here and there lately and that is a good thing, even if she doesn't have much to do in UP IN THE AIR.....She rocked as Damon's wife in THE INFORMANT! and as the Mom who can't get preganant in AWAY WE GO Kendrick is passable in Up in the Air (maybe even the weekest performance), I thought Vera Farmiga was incredible though (also awesome in a very different role in Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED). The actress who played Clooney’s sister was awesome.

And, trivia bit (while we are talking UP IN THE AIR actresses), the girl getting married to Danny McBride was the young star of HEAVENLY CREATURES, Melanie Lynskey along with Kate Winslet. Obviously Winslet has gone much further than her, but I’ve seen Lynskey pop up here and there lately and that is a good thing, even if she doesn’t have much to do in UP IN THE AIR…..She rocked as Damon’s wife in THE INFORMANT! and as the Mom who can’t get preganant in AWAY WE GO

]]> By: Goon http://www.rowthree.com/2009/12/04/review-up-in-the-air/#comment-37814 Goon Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:33:06 +0000 http://www.rowthree.com/?p=22501#comment-37814 Has anyone here seen Rocket Science? Worth it for Anna Kendrick, who is in Up in the Air. in the year everyone was unrightly up Ellen Page's one-note ass, Kendrick was kicking ass and going unnoticed. Glad to see her get her due. Has anyone here seen Rocket Science? Worth it for Anna Kendrick, who is in Up in the Air. in the year everyone was unrightly up Ellen Page’s one-note ass, Kendrick was kicking ass and going unnoticed. Glad to see her get her due.

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