Flick of The Day: Up in the Air

American director Jason Reitman burst on to the scene with his debut film Thank You for Smoking, a witty and acerbic take on the big tobacco lobbying industry and followed this up with the lovely Juno. Hopes were high then for his third film, an adaptation of a 2001 novel by American author Walter Kirn which is today's flick of the  day Up in the Air.

Up in the Air

George Clooney is Ryan Bingham, a businessman who travels more then 300 days a year, moving around the country working as a consultant who fires people on behalf of large companies. He lives a life of solitude and revels in the little details and status symbols of his life on the road. His air miles, his priority check-in at the airport and car rental office. Alone by choice, he revels in these little perks. Then of course he meets someone, a fellow traveller called Alex played by the gorgeous Vera Farmiga. Two very similar people, they are soon synchronising their schedules to meet up in hotels across the country. Of course Ryan's perfect bubble life is soon threatened by the arrival of a career oriented twenty-something Natalie, played by Anna Kendrick who has big plans for his business including taking people off the road and firing people via video conferencing. Ryan convinces his boss Jason Bateman to allow him to take Natalie on the road and show her the ropes. It is a learning experience for both of them and as the film moves towards a conclusion, Ryan is forced to engage with real life and reconcile himself with the remaining family he has left.

George Clooney is the real star here but there are some fine performances from a great ensemble cast. There are blink and you will miss it cameos from J.K. Simmons and Zach Galifianakis and they all make the best of a great script. There is a great sense of realism to Clooney's characterisation. His regimented method for passing through airports is a delightful truism. That said, we never really get to the bottom of why he lives life the way he does, in a luxury cocoon with nothing to tie him down. Indeed, while much of the film is upbeat and quite funny at times, it ends on a sour note. Ultimately, it becomes apparent that he longs for more and is in fact lonely. No man is an island I suppose.

It is an ambitious movie and Reitman deserves to be lauded for this. It attempts to ask serious questions about modern life and the way we compartmentalise our lives while still offering a funny and entertaining piece of cinema.

Ryan Bingham: [on getting through airport security] Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love 'em.

You can't really ignore that ending though, it is a sad film at heart and that is not something that the proceeding 90 minutes would lead you to expect. Man lives in bubble. Man decides to leave bubble. Man is crushed. Man returns to bubble. 

All in all, an enjoyable film and well worth a look. It marries the usual charm of George Clooney with some fine character actors and a great script. A bold and modern romance, it was nominated for Best Picture losing out in a strong year. It is definitely worth a viewing and I look forward to Reitman's next film.

Ryan Bingham: [End of closing monologue] The stars will wheel forth from their daytime hiding places; and one of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over

Flick of The Day: Paul

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have a reputation producing some of the best British comedy of the past decade, from the influential and short lived TV series Spaced  to the wonderful zombie rom-com Shaun of the Dead, which launched them to stardom, propelling Pegg in particular to the Hollywood big time with roles in Mission Impossible III and Star Trek. The duo had not worked together since 2007's Hot Fuzz until the eagerly awaited arrival of today's flick of the day, Paul.

Paul

Graeme played by Pegg and Clive played by Frost are two British sci-fi geeks on the holiday of a lifetime in the US. They visit the world famous Comic-Con in San Diego before launching into a cross country road trip to visit various sites of supposed UFO contact such as Area-51 and Roswell in an RV. In short then, they are  a particularly unworldly duo. Of course, there is great humour in the various pop culture references and geek nostalgia  a regular feature in their past collaborations. Of course, the road trip doesn't go to plan as they have their very own close encounter on a lonely desert road with a foul mouthed Alien by the name of Paul voiced by Seth Rogen. Paul is on the run from the American government in the form of Agent Zoil played by the always entertaining Jason Bateman. Paul is entertaining and endearing and it is not long before his new friends are enlisted to help him return home as they try and outwit government agents, backward rednecks and a fire and brimstone preacher. Along the way there are some great gags and a voice cameo from a very famous director.

The real enjoyable aspect of this film are the numerous pop culture and film references that give it a warm charm that is impossible to resist. Pegg and Frost are as usual perfect as the amiable dorks and in Paul, they have created one of the great screen aliens. Rogen was a good choice as the voice artist, giving Paul a familiarity and wonderfully profane aspect. While not as laugh out loud funny as some of their previous efforts, there are some great one liners.

Graeme Willy: You are an alien! 

Paul: To you I am, yes. 

Graeme Willy: Are you gonna probe us? 

Paul: *Why* does everyone always assume that? What am I doing? Am I harvesting farts? How much can I learn from an ass?

They have succeeded in maintaining their usual brand of humour while also adding a warm sweet natured comedy that has a lot of heart. This is a new strong to the Pegg/Frost bow and we can only hope that they push on from here.

All in all, this is a very enjoyable film if nothing ground breaking. There is a lot to be said for a film that is short, sweet and funny. So often Hollywood seems incapable of delivering this with each new Summer delivering a new batch of turgid comic book adaptations. Be thankful then for the small mercies of Paul, charming and slight though it may be. I await the next Simon Pegg and Nick Frost collaboration.