# Up in the Air

> 2009 comedy-drama film by Jason Reitman

**Wikidata**: [Q211429](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q211429)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_in_the_Air_(2009_film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/up-in-the-air

## Summary
Up in the Air is a 2009 comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman, starring George Clooney and Anna Kendrick. The film explores themes of corporate downsizing and personal relationships, earning critical acclaim and multiple award nominations. It is recognized for its sharp dialogue, strong performances, and timely commentary on modern work culture.

## Key Facts
- **Release Dates**: Premiered September 5, 2009; released in the U.S. on December 4, 2009, with international releases through early 2010.
- **Director**: Jason Reitman.
- **Starring**: George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, and Danny McBride.
- **Genre**: Comedy-drama.
- **Production Companies**: Paramount Pictures, Cold Spring Pictures, Fox 2000 Pictures, and others.
- **Awards**: Nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Clooney.
- **Box Office**: Grossed over $166 million worldwide.
- **Critical Reception**: Holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise for its writing, acting, and relevance.
- **Source Material**: Adapted from Walter Kirn's 2001 novel of the same name.
- **Themes**: Corporate downsizing, isolation, and the dehumanizing effects of modern technology.
- **Music**: Score composed by Rolfe Kent, with a soundtrack featuring indie and folk artists.
- **Filming Locations**: Primarily shot in St. Louis, Missouri, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
- **Runtime**: 109 minutes.
- **Budget**: Estimated $25 million.
- **Language**: English.
- **Country**: United States.
- **Wikipedia Sitelinks**: Available in 50 language editions.
- **Wikidata ID**: Q11424 (film), with specific properties including IMDb ID (tt1193138) and Freebase ID (/m/06_x996).

## FAQs
**What is the main plot of Up in the Air?**
The film follows Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a corporate downsizing specialist who travels extensively, advocating for a life unburdened by relationships. His worldview is challenged when his company hires a young analyst (Anna Kendrick) to digitize his role, forcing him to confront the emptiness of his lifestyle.

**Who wrote and directed Up in the Air?**
Jason Reitman directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Sheldon Turner, based on Walter Kirn's novel.

**What awards and nominations did Up in the Air receive?**
The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Clooney), Best Supporting Actress (Farmiga and Kendrick), and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also won the National Board of Review Award for Best Film and the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film.

**How was Up in the Air received by critics and audiences?**
Critics praised the film's sharp script, strong performances, and timely commentary on economic uncertainty and personal connection. Audiences responded to its blend of humor and pathos, contributing to its commercial success.

**What themes does Up in the Air explore?**
The film examines corporate culture, the impact of technology on human relationships, and the search for meaning in a transient world. It balances satire with heartfelt moments, reflecting on isolation and the value of personal connections.

## Why It Matters
Up in the Air stands out as a poignant commentary on early 21st-century societal shifts, particularly the 2008 financial crisis and the rise of digital communication. It resonated with audiences navigating economic uncertainty and questioning the balance between professional ambition and personal fulfillment. The film's exploration of loneliness and connection in a hyper-mobile world remains relevant, offering both entertainment and social critique. Its influence is seen in later films and media tackling similar themes of modern alienation and the gig economy.

## Notable For
- **Awards and Nominations**: Six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for George Clooney.
- **Critical Acclaim**: Widely praised for its screenplay, acting, and direction, with a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score.
- **Cultural Relevance**: Captured the zeitgeist of the late 2000s economic downturn and the rise of digital communication.
- **Performances**: Notable for George Clooney's nuanced portrayal of Ryan Bingham and Anna Kendrick's breakout role.
- **Adaptation**: Successfully translated Walter Kirn's novel into a cinematic narrative, retaining its thematic depth.
- **Director's Career**: Cemented Jason Reitman's reputation as a filmmaker adept at blending comedy and drama.
- **Box Office Success**: Grossed over $166 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, demonstrating commercial viability for character-driven dramas.

## Body

### Production and Release
- **Development**: The screenplay, adapted from Walter Kirn's novel, was developed by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner.
- **Filming**: Principal photography took place in St. Louis, Missouri, and Las Vegas, Nevada, from January to March 2009.
- **Release Strategy**: Premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in September 2009, followed by a limited U.S. release in December 2009, expanding internationally through early 2010.

### Cast and Crew
- **Director**: Jason Reitman, known for *Juno* and *Thank You for Smoking*.
- **Screenplay**: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, based on Walter Kirn's novel.
- **Cast**: George Clooney (Ryan Bingham), Anna Kendrick (Natalie Keener), Vera Farmiga (Alex Goran), and Danny McBride (Jim Bingham).
- **Cinematography**: Eric Steelberg, emphasizing a muted color palette to reflect the protagonist's emotional state.
- **Music**: Rolfe Kent's score incorporated folk and indie elements, complementing the film's tone.

### Themes and Analysis
- **Corporate Culture**: Critiques the dehumanizing aspects of corporate downsizing and the commodification of labor.
- **Technology and Isolation**: Explores the tension between technological efficiency and genuine human connection, symbolized by Natalie's digital innovation threatening Ryan's job.
- **Personal Relationships**: Questions the sustainability of a life prioritizing independence over intimacy, as Ryan navigates fleeting encounters and familial obligations.

### Awards and Legacy
- **Academy Awards**: Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Clooney), Best Supporting Actress (Farmiga and Kendrick), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
- **Golden Globe Awards**: Nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Director, Best Actor (Clooney), and Best Supporting Actress (Farmiga).
- **Cultural Impact**: Frequently cited in discussions about work-life balance and the gig economy, with Ryan Bingham's character becoming a symbol of modern professional detachment.

### Connections and Comparisons
- **Literary Source**: Walter Kirn's novel provided the foundation, with the film streamlining the narrative while preserving core themes.
- **Director's Filmography**: Part of Jason Reitman's thematic focus on contemporary societal issues, alongside *Juno* and *Labor Day*.
- **Actors' Careers**: Boosted Anna Kendrick's career, leading to her *Pitch Perfect* franchise success, and reinforced George Clooney's status as a leading dramatic actor.

### Technical Specifications
- **Runtime**: 109 minutes (1 hour 49 minutes).
- **Aspect Ratio**: 2.35:1, shot on 35mm film.
- **Soundtrack**: Featured tracks by artists like The Rolfe Kent Orchestra, with a score blending orchestral and folk influences.
- **Budget and Box Office**: Produced for $25 million, earning over $166 million globally, demonstrating the viability of mid-budget dramas in the late 2000s.

### Historical Context
- **2008 Financial Crisis**: Released in the aftermath of the crisis, resonating with audiences experiencing economic instability and corporate restructuring.
- **Rise of the Gig Economy**: Anticipated discussions about remote work and professional transience, foreshadowing later societal shifts.

### Academic and Critical Reception
- **Film Studies**: Analyzed in academic contexts for its portrayal of masculinity, capitalism, and digital communication.
- **Critical Consensus**: Praised for its "sharp, funny, and surprisingly tender" storytelling (Peter Travers, *Rolling Stone*), with Clooney's performance highlighted as a career peak.

## References

1. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/)
2. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/w-chmurach)
3. [FilmAffinity](http://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film461062.html)
4. [AlloCiné](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=138895.html)
5. [Metacritic](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/upintheair)
6. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/fullcredits)
7. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
8. [Source](https://dfwcritics.com/awards/2009-2/)
9. The Movie Database
10. Up in the Air. Rotten Tomatoes
11. IMDb
12. Letterboxd
13. Freebase Data Dumps
14. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/releaseinfo/)
15. AlloCiné
16. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/releaseinfo)
17. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/158992/2010_filmbemutatok_osszes.xlsx)
18. BBC Things
19. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/parentalguide)
20. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/technical/)
21. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1193138/)
22. Kinopoisk
23. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/up-in-the-air/)
24. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
25. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
26. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2009&s_month=11&e_year=2009&e_month=11&pageID=1)
27. [film distribution certificate](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/124598)
28. Online-Filmdatenbank
29. [Source](http://portal.mj.gov.br/ClassificacaoIndicativa/jsps/DadosObraForm.do?select_action=&tbobra_codigo=38362)
30. ClassInd database
31. Bechdel Test Movie List
32. mymovies.it
33. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/B406-B6DF-1C3A-41FA-2660-Y)
34. Danish Film Database
35. TheTVDB
36. Trakt.tv
37. FilmVandaag.nl