"Hollywood, ST*U." reviews "Up In The Air"

There are some tip-offs that a movie will probably contain a large quantity of rant. One is the talent which acted, directed or produced it. Another is the theme which it covers. Still another is the praise and awards which it receives. So, knowing that “Up In The Air” starred George Clooney, presented itself as “the world according to the frequent business flier”, and had been nominated for six Golden Globes, I entered the theater with some trepidation. Just the same, I did still make an attempt at objectivity, a lot of movies overcome their circumstances. I mean, whoa, look at “The Matrix”. However, when the movie started with a rendition of Woody Guthrie's “This Land Is Your Land”, I knew that I was in for a treat.

Hmm...Watched this movie and COMPLETELY disagree with the blog review.

The movie is neither a left wing nor right wing rant. It is simply a look at layoffs.

Nowhere in the movie is it said that there should be unions or socialism or anything. Instead, it is a look at how layoffs occur and finds a unique perspective of that.

Layoffs are natural in any capitalistic society. The whole concept of burn and renew. However, being capitalistic does not mean that you have to be cruel

On FT there are literally thousands of business owners. I am sure each one of you has had to do a layoff. I am sure also that each one of you treated an economic layoff that you did (as opposed to fire for cause) very humanely. When I had to let people go (at most of the companies I have worked), I was very honest with them and empathetic. I truly had no answer when my employees told me “I worked hard”. I had no answer to that. Compassion is NOT left wing. Compassion is RIGHT wing and conservative

This movie does NOT take a stand against layoffs. All it makes a gentle prod at is the fact that when you layoff someone, spend 2 minutes talking to them.

That is it. Very very restrained movie.

Also, one of the very America PROUD movies I have seen. Each city that the protaganist visits is shot with pride. All the Americans shown (real people, not actors) in the layoff scenes are GREAT people. They talk about family and kids and pride. Made me proud to be an American

Clooney may be left wing but this movie rocks!

Sorry, have to disagree.

This is Hollywood we’re talking about. Nothing is “simply” anything to the propagandist, self-declared “elite” of the movie scene.

If you believe that they’re willing to spend millions of dollars and assign someone the likes of George Clooney to a role and not use it as a Reifenstahl tool, then I’ve got some hopey changey for you.

Oh.. brother! Go get me another conspiracy while you are at it.

This kind of paranoia is absurd.

Watch the movie and then point me out ONE REAL FACT that supports the blog hypothesis. One single scene that is anti America or anti capitalist

It is a human alienation story, plain and simple. If anything, it is actually PRO business.

The whole last vignette is about the laid off people landing on their feet and SURVIVING. That is the essence of capitalism

Yeah. The movie basically had no resolution of any kind. He learns some kind of lesson about sharing (as he gives away his miles) but he is back to being the road warrior.

Even the technology lesson that you point out.. is not very clear. The technology seemed to work but the girl who was spearheading it..gives up on the job and I guess no one else in the company is passionate about it...

As a hardcore frequent flier myself I saw much in George Clooney that reminded me of my travel habits. The scenes about the security are so spot on as to be scary. If I am travelling with a newbie traveler, I can get through security usually 10 minutes before he can

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