Up in the Air - 2009

(Ok, one day late.)

George Clooney plays a man whose job is to fire people. That's what he does. Companies hire him to fly from town to town and sit down and fire people. He's smooth and adopts an understanding look. He tells them that "Anyone who ever created an empire or changed the world sat where you do now," and he tries to set them adrift cleanly. He loves the job. He tells that in the prior year he spent 322 days on the road and that meant he only had to spend 43 lousy ones at the bare apartment he calls 'home'.
One night he meets a woman (very well played by Vera Farmiga) who is his spiritual equal. In a scene that may have meant to more to this corporate travel agent, they compare various car, air and hotel memberships. He tells her that he has a very special frequent flyer number in mind but he won't share it. They develop an extremely casual relationship consisting of phone sex and brief shared overnights.
Clooney's world is turned upside down when a new young employee at his job has the idea of firing people over the internet. His life on the road is threatened. Worse, he is soon told to take her on the road with him so he can show her the ropes.
Clooney plays a man who wants to isolate himself from the world. He does a good job but it's such an extreme that it's hard to really believe. The movie shows him dealing with sudden human connections. He's very good but the hurdle is really a bit too high to clear.
The movie itself is very well told. Real interviews from recently laid off people highlight just how devastating it can be. It's touching and entertaining but ultimately a touch empty. I can see how it garnered a Best Picture nod but I have trouble believing it was the actual best picture of the year.