I am going to keep with the pandemic theme since my illness is still kicking my ass and this is a late post. Sucks being bed ridden and tired. So yeah, I Am Legend, I got to say that I am a fan of this movie, but I will contest that there are a lot of things that hampered my initial enjoyment of the movie, which I will get into after the jump, but suffice to say I am a staunch supporter of this movie despite the blow back from viewers. Again, this movie hits upon the whole post apocalyptic tones that I love in movies, seeing the lone survivor angle in a wasteland of danger and desolate locations. The ending though, bad bad bad. I do much prefer the “controversial ending” that was included on the home video release and it isn’t really controversial.
Oh Phillip K. Dick, if there is one thing you have contributed to society, other than a fantastic body of work, is a fantastic body of work in which Hollywood fucks up most of your writings into shitty adaptations. Sometimes thought, sometimes, there is a gem that is created out of his work. Listen, we can all agree that Blade Runner is a master piece in filmmaking. The adaptation of Dick’s story “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” to the Scott inspired cityscape of Blade Runner was just awe-inspiring, but I am going to save the praise for that movie for another day entirely. I want to talk about the film that was inspired by the novel of the same name, A Scanner Darkly. The rotoscoped film that features a strong cast of actors and seems to blur the line between what is real and what is a drug induced haze of paranoia.
There was a time in my life when I would have loved to work in a record store. Just going to work everyday, playing what you want and being snobbish about latest Smiths vinyl pressing (I realize that The Smiths broke up in 1987, so just bear with the reference dammit). It kind of appealed to my sensibilities about talking all day on music. Now, I guess I would be more comfortable in a independent film theater. Anyways, I digress as I typically do in the opening of my posts. I guess I choose this movie today, not because of the excellent Nick Hornby novel or me rehashing past flames in my consistently single life, but rather I just want a movie that marries both angst and some adult development. High Fidelity is really one of my favorite John Cusack film, exuding snark and contemplative insight into the inner workings of women and music.
So I like to think in some weird way, that someone who might stumble upon reading this blog post, is eating some form of fast food. Is it ironic, meh, but if anything that tells about our love of the fast food culture. Even on our downtime reading a blog about movies, we still find a way to squeeze in that burger or chicken. While the book, Fast Food Nation, is more of an expose on the fast food industry and all the working cogs that go into getting us that burger and fries, the movie is more of a drama that weaves together the humanistic side of all the cogs that produce our meals. It some aspects, it frames the way we perceive the food we eat and in other ways, skirts the real issue of the fast food industry. The story none the less is important and timely given our love of fast food.
” Tonight most people will be welcomed home by jumping dogs and squealing kids. Their spouses will ask about their day. Tonight they’ll sleep. 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.”
Movies that deal with companionship or relationships tend to be one-sided. The male or female lead tend to feel incomplete with their lives, although successful or fast-moving as their life may be, as they don’t have someone to share in their experiences. It is always rather predictable with movies that deal with relationships in a drama, we know that eventually there will be a reconciliation with the person that they are meant to be with after some pondering over slow music and panoramic shots of beautiful vistas. All ends up well as was intended or so we love to have happen. Up in the Air is one of those movies that looks at delivering a different side to the act of companionship.
Jason Reitman creates a movie where our lead lives by a philosophy. A philosophy that is living your life without ties, without people, and without someone. Up in the Air centers around Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), who is a corporate downsizer and his travels around the country, essentially leaving a wake of unemployed people in his path. The fact that he is a corporate downsizer is not the focus piece of the movie, but rather his travels. Ryan has no ties, either personal or tangible, he lives out of his suitcase running from terminal to terminal and interacting briefly with those that he meets on his travels. It’s a life filled with small moments that are just stops on his journey to his ultimate goal, 10 million flier miles. Ryan also give motivational speeches along the way, in particular the speech you heard in the trailer sums up his life philosophy on relationships and people. Relationships are the biggest thing weighing someone down from their goals, in his case, the 10 million flier miles. It isn’t until he takes on a partner in his travels through the corporate America downsizing. Here is where Ryan’s philosophy is challenged as the young upstart Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) grills Ryan on why he chooses to live a life of isolation and why he doesn’t want to be with Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) who is another like-minded traveler. Alex is compatible with Ryan in every way and two seem genuinely happy when meet at different times throughout the movie.
I won’t spoil the movie for you if you haven’t seen it. Up in the Air is a deep movie where we are presented with the opposite of a love story, one where the lead isn’t looking for love because they don’t want it. I really liked this movie because of the subject matter it presents. Time and time again we are given a movie that indicates that a complete life is one where we have someone special. One whom we can share our thoughts, travels, and experiences. There are several examples in the movie where this idea is challenge, particularly when Ryan’s sister gets married and the husband has cold feet. We see Ryan debate internally about his decision to lead a life where his only connections happen from airport hub to airport hub.
I think the most important thing that the movie does for the viewer is make you think about your current situation. Whether you are swan or a shark. Living your life with someone or going at it alone. This is where is motivational speech comes center stage. Do you take stock in what you have, people or things and continue to live that life? Do you cut your ties and live your life without the anchors of possession or people? For some people, they jump from relationship to relationship, not wanting to be alone in life, wanting to share their experiences with another person. For others, they are content with living their life without the need for companionship. Sometimes your personal goals will never be achieved because you have to think about the other person in your life.
I absolutely loved this movie and what it discusses. What side of the relationship issue I fall on is not relevant. I liked the presentation and adaptation of the novel on which the movie is based on. It is a smart and thoughtful script with a lot of humor in it as well. George Clooney does an incredible job with his role as an isolated man. You can see the conflict in mind as he is confronted time and time again with dealing with his life philosophy and his ultimate goal.
