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Up in the Air starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick

Posted on March 13, 2010 Written by ripitup

Up in the Air, starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. Emotional and fun. Loved to see George doing some soul-searching. image via newsblaze.com

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) leads most of his life up in the air, literally. His job description mostly is about flying over to whatever company needs his services and firing the employees that need to be fired. He does it with style, grace and professionalism, and without really letting it get to him. He absolutely loves the traveling and the benefits it brings him. This job might have been depressing or tiresome for some people, but strangely Ryan lives for it.

One day he meets a beautiful frequent business traveler named Alex (Vera Farmiga) and they hit it off, starting a very smooth casual relationship. Ryan’s lifestyle is not questioned at all by her.

The only flaw in Ryan’s life comes through in the shape of another woman called Natalie (Anna Kendrick). Ryan’s boss (Jason Bateman) is very impressed by this young and ambitious girl and her “innovative ideas. She thinks firing people can be done on the ground, through technology. From then on, Ryan starts to mentor Natalie unwillingly, trying to prove why the old school methods are best. But of course a young, hopeless romantic versus an older, experienced, proud-to-be-single guy brings out many clashes and makes out for a fun and emotional journey where both will learn some stuff.

While Up in the Air has its romantic moments, emotional realizations and some relationships going on about it, it is not about two people about finding love. This is not a love story or a story about love. This is a story about a journey, being mostly Ryan’s. It is fun to see George Clooney play a seemingly simple but yet so endearingly flawed and complicated character. I missed seeing him be the humane leading man. I had had too much Clooney after Oceans 11,12 and 13. Good to have him in a more sincere production.

I am not saying it doesn’t have clichés. But then again, they are only necessary and they are subtly and entertainingly played. So, it is all good. The movie is based on the novel by Walter Kim (who also wrote Thumbsucker). It is adapted to the screen by director Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You for Smoking) and Sheldon Turner. The cast is pretty good. Frankly, I barely recognized Anna Kendrick. I knew she was so familiar, but I couldn’t believe she was one of the actors in the Twilight saga. Nice job, Anna.

The movie was nominated for 6 Oscars this year: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Both Kendrick and Farmiga), Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Director and Best Film. Though it didn’t receive any Academy Awards, it won many awards- including a BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay.

A bittersweet movie about life, goals, careers, matters of the heart and well…everything in between. It reminds me of Cameron Crowe movies (Jerry Maguire, for instance) and just like I love Crowe, I loved Up in the Air. It might make you evaluate your life or fear about your job many times, though.

7.9 on IMDB. Fair enough.

Other Posts on George Clooney:

The American starring George Clooney, Violante Placido & Thekla Reuten

What Editors Can Learn from the Movie Up in the Air – a post for writers, inspired by the film

Friends Trivia: Monica Geller (Courteney Cox)’s Boyfriends 2 feat. George Clooney

Possession starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lee Pace and Michael Landes

Posted on March 7, 2010 Written by ripitup

Possession, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Lee Pace. And you think your brother-in-law is problematic? Image: iwatchstuff.com

Jess (Sarah Michelle Gellar) adores her loving and extremely romantic husband Ryan (Michael Landes). Her only problem is his brother Roman (Lee Pace), who couldn’t have been more opposite. He has been arrested for assault, he has violent tendencies and he is just creepy enough to make Jesse cringe. Moreover, he stays with the otherwise blissfully happy couple.

Jess’s life comes crashing down when a horrible accident ends both brothers in a coma. She can’t get used to life without Ryan but then something happens to make things even weirder. Roman wakes up, believing he is Ryan. He acts just like his brother. Jesse is more than disturbed by this but what the hell is she going to do when Roman is saying and doing things only Ryan could know?

Don’t let the genres -listed -on IMDB- for this movie fool you. Completely ignore the “horror”, and rather than expecting a thriller, concentrate on the mystery, drama and romance part. If you do that, you have a nice film. It is a really disturbing situation Jess is in and you really feel her confusion and pain. She can’t understand if something paranormal is at work- can her husband’s soul somehow be in his brother’s body now? The love she has for Ryan and her regrets cloud her judgment and from then on things take some interesting turns.

Now, of course you see the twists and turns coming. The explanation is pretty much in front of you. But put yourself in Jess’ position and then the movie becomes an uncomfortably entertaining experience. I liked the performances; especially Lee Pace can very convincingly switch from psycho to sweetheart. Very good romantic drama. Average thriller. No horror. Decide what you are in the mood for, and set your expectations accordingly. Based on a Korean film, so if you are allergic to remakes, do stay away.

P.S. I checked out the alternate ending. I couldn’t find the DVD but thankfully youtube came to rescue. I prefer the alternate version (it has more different scenes- not just the ending). It is more intense, true to the original Korean version. Let me know how you feel about the movie and which version you like best.

Other Posts on Lee Pace

Lee Pace Trivia

Soldier’s Girl: A Haunting True Story starring Lee Pace and Troy Garity

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day starring Amy Adams, Frances McDormand and Lee Pace

The Fall starring Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru

When in Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. feat. Lee Pace

Other Posts on Sarah Michelle Gellar:

6 Movies with Great Casts (feat. The Air I Breathe starring Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kevin Bacon, Brendan Fraser and more)

Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Love stories with a real twist:

Children of a Lesser God starring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin

Posted on March 3, 2010 Written by ripitup

Children of a Lesser God, starring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin — Children of a Lesser God (1986), starring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin. What a beautiful name for a story. The movie is based on the play of Mark Medoff, written for the screen by Medoff himself. Directed by Randa Haines. The movie was nominated for 5 Academy Awards: Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. It won Best Actress.

James Leeds (William Hurt) the new speech teacher at the school for deaf people. Much to the horror and inconvenience of the principal, he is willing to try new methods to teach his students to read lips and speak using their own voices. His energy and fun methods engage most of the kids and he manages to bond with them.

However, not everyone is willing to learn from him- especially the school’s custodian Sarah (Marlee Matlin), who is one of the old students at school. He is intrigued by this extremely frustrated, angry and smart woman who claims to be content with her cleaning job, as long as she is left alone.

Even though she dismisses James’ efforts, she also finds herself attracted to him. They eventually start a relationship but misinterpretations, misunderstandings and temper will put them through many challenges…

This is a beautiful romance/drama with powerful performances. Marlee Matlin, deaf in real life as well, won the best actress oscar for her portrayal of Sarah and William Hurt was nominated for Best Actor. Sarah’s mother is played by Piper Laurie, another oscar nomination for the film.

Sometimes passionate love stories make you wonder how the actors felt about each other in real life. In this case, William Hurt and Marlee Matlin were together for a while and maybe this adds to the effectiveness of the story.

I especially love William Hurt’s role.

Favorite scene:

– He is teaching a deaf student to feel music and then dances with her. Brilliant. So much fun.

Favorite Line:

James (Hurt): I am falling in…to the pool with you……

photos from:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VQ2GAM62L.jpg

http://randazza.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/children-of-a-lesser-god.jpg

Down in the Valley starring Edward Norton and Evan Rachel Wood

Posted on February 28, 2010 Written by ripitup

Down in the Valley with Edward Norton and Evan Rachel Wood. Interesting romance/drama/western/thriller.

Tobe (Evan Rachel Wood) is living with her sister and father. Her brother Lonnie (Rory Culkin) is quiet and a bit too dependent on her for his age. Their father Wade (David Morse) seems less than loving and she is the typical problematic teenager. She smokes, takes drugs and doesn’t mind inviting the cute southern cowboy wannabe Harlan (Edward Norton) to the beach. She doesn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that she just met him or he is older than her.

At first it is a fun, contemporary whirlwind romance: hooking up right away, getting romantic, having a quickie and dating afterwards. Harlan seems really nice, Lonnie likes him and the only problem seems to be that Wade hates this guy. As the story progresses, we start to realize maybe Harlan has more problems than wishing he lived in a western. But ordering a teenager not to see her boyfriend never works. Especially when Harlan treats them a lot better than Wade…

Down in the Valley is an interesting film. It has some pretty intriguing characters, a fun plot idea, good scenery and nice music.

But the director really takes his time to tell the story. Sometimes the movie feels a bit slow. It It has some really decent moments. Don’t think of it as a thriller. It has some action, but if you consider at a romance, the little action will please you rather than disappoint. Enjoy the scenery and the music. Written and directed by David Jacobson, 2005.

Why watch?

1) Anyone who has seen David Morse, Evan Rachel Wood or Edward Norton before in a film know that they are never bad.

2) I have loved Morse ever since he co-starred in House in season 3, as the only guy who seemed smart enough to really give House hell. It was brilliant to see our pill-popping, brilliant yet unconventional doctor had finally met his match-in a cop-who was out to get him.

3) Edward Norton doesn’t have one bad movie in his career. Some might be boring or not my cup of tea, but bad isn’t his thing.

4) Evan Rachel Wood is so beautiful and natural, she just fits the role perfectly.

5) If the plot summary I gave you didn’t make you think the movie was original, it was because I was trying to refrain from giving spoilers. What happens- especially after the second half- is well….Harlan is full of surprises and they are not good ones.

6) Rory Culkin (I am guessing you remember his brother Macaulay) is really good.

Its 6.6 IMDB rating seems fair. Although sometimes it might act like a 7…

All Movies with Edward Norton:

Leaves of Grass

Kingdom of Heaven

25th Hour

Fight Club

The Illusionist

The Painted Veil

American History X

Primal Fear

The Incredible Hulk