'Up in the Air': What he thought he wanted isn’t what he truly wanted at all | Movie Review

By EMMA BRAND

"Up in the Air" was directed by Jason Reitman. It is based mainly on Walter Kirn’s comic novel, and stars George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick.

The film follows Clooney, who portrays Ryan Bingham, a businessman who travels around the United States downsizing companies, one person by one person at a time. Each individual he lets go is a small success for him. No matter how many tears of frustration, confusion and despair are shed over his actions, he doesn’t feel a thing. According to him and his company, there is a right way and a wrong way to fire someone, and as far as he’s concerned, the right way doesn’t involve losing a wink of sleep.

Never tied down, committed, married, or with any ties binding him to life on the ground, he is the man who has never truly loved anything. His life is all packed suitcases, shiny, hard, plastic, frequent customer cards, and airport security checks.

While some would have the goal of getting married, having kids and getting a good job, the ambition of Ryan Bingham is to get 10 million frequent flier miles. It is a feat accomplished by only seven others, and since Bingham spends hundreds of days up in the air it is a reasonable goal for him.

However, when a new, young employee joins the office with ideas of cutting back on travel, Bingham gets upset. Not only will he not be able to complete his goal of reaching 10 million frequent flier miles, he will have to stop seeing his fellow frequent flier with whom he has become acquainted.

Near the end of the film, Mr. Bingham begins to “feel.” He feels sorrow, love, and heartbreak, things he isn’t used to feeling. In the end, he accomplishes his goal, and he realizes that, in getting what he wanted, it isn’t what he truly wanted at all.

— Emma Brand is an eighth-grader at Friday Harbor Middle School.

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