Up in the Air (2009)
Comedy, Drama, Romance |
Up in the Air is a American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner, based on the 2001 novel of the same name by Walter Kirn. The story is centered on corporate “downsizer” Ryan Bingham and his travels. Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, and Danny McBride also star. Filming was primarily in St. Louis, Missouri, which substituted for a number of other cities. Several scenes were filmed in Detroit, Omaha, Las Vegas and Miami.
Reitman promoted Up in the Air with personal appearances at film festivals and other showings, starting with the Telluride Film Festival on September 5, 2009. The Los Angeles premiere was at the Mann Village Theater on November 30, 2009.
Ryan Bingham works for a human resources consultancy firm specializing in termination assistance. His work constantly takes him around the country, conducting company layoffs on behalf of employers. Ryan also gives motivational speeches, using the analogy, “What’s in Your Backpack?” to extol living free of burdensome relationships and material possessions. A frequent flyer, Ryan aspires to earn ten million frequent flyer miles with American Airlines. While traveling, Ryan meets Alex, a professional woman who also flies frequently. They begin a casual relationship, meeting up in various cities as schedules allow.
Ryan is recalled to his company’s offices in Omaha, Nebraska. Natalie Keener, a young, ambitious new hire, promotes cutting costs by conducting layoffs via videoconferencing. Ryan, unwilling to give up traveling, raises concerns that the new system could be impersonal and apathetic, and argues that Natalie lacks understanding about the firing process and how to handle emotionally vulnerable people.
Director: Jason Reitman
Writers: Walter Kirn (novel), Jason Reitman (screenplay), Sheldon Turner (screenplay)
Stars: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, Amy Morton, Melanie Lynskey, J.K. Simmons
►Cast:
| George Clooney | … | Ryan Bingham |
| Vera Farmiga | … | Alex Goran |
| Anna Kendrick | … | Natalie Keener |
| Jason Bateman | … | Craig Gregory |
| Amy Morton | … | Kara Bingham |
| Melanie Lynskey | … | Julie Bingham |
| J.K. Simmons | … | Bob |
| Sam Elliott | … | Maynard Finch |
| Danny McBride | … | Jim Miller |
| Zach Galifianakis | … | Steve |
| Chris Lowell | … | Kevin |
| Steve Eastin | … | Samuels |
| Marvin Young | … | Young MC |
| Cut Chemist | … | Conference DJ |
| Adrienne Lamping | … | Tammy |
| Meagan Flynn | … | Flight Attendant |
| Dustin Miles | … | Ned |
| Tamara Tungate | … | Club Hostess |
| Laura Ackermann | … | Check-in Lady |
| Meghan Maguire | … | Business Woman |
| Courtney Kling | … | Airport Clerk |
| Matt O’Toole | … | Alex’s Husband (voice) |
| Alan David | … | Hilton Clerk |
| Erin McGrane | … | Dianne |
| Cari Mohr | … | Purser |
| Jerry Vogel | … | San Francisco Manager |
| Adhir Kalyan | … | Irate IT |
| Jeff Witzke | … | Goalquest Host |
| Dave Engfer | … | Software Dude |
| Paul Goetz | … | Rental Car Assistant |
| Michele Lee | … | Conference Worker |
| Jennifer Flaks | … | Wedding Cousin |
| Bill Yancey | … | Wedding Pastor |
| John Mebruer | … | Band Leader |
| Ellen Gutierrez | … | Wedding Coordinator |
| Adam Rose | … | Makeout Dave |
| Kevin Pila | … | Terminated Employee |
| Kelly Bertha | … | Terminated Employee |
| Cozy Bailey | … | Terminated Employee |
| Lamorris Conner | … | Terminated Employee |
| Deborah L. Norman | … | Terminated Employee |
| Casey Bartels | … | Terminated Employee |
| Billy Phelan | … | Terminated Employee |
| Art Hill | … | Terminated Employee |
| Patricia Allison | … | Terminated Employee |
| David F. Rybicki | … | Terminated Employee |
| Andy Glantzman | … | Terminated Employee |
| K. Darnell Lewis | … | Terminated Employee |
| Jo Michelle Favaro | … | Terminated Employee |
| Stephanie Janiunas | … | Terminated Employee |
| Thomas M. Martilotti | … | Terminated Employee |
| Erin Welsh-Krengel | … | Terminated Employee |
| Marlene Gorkiewicz | … | Terminated Employee |
| Mark Sommers | … | Terminated Employee |
| Wilbur Weidlich | … | Terminated Employee |
| Grace Smith | … | Terminated Employee |
| Scott Lapinski | … | Terminated Employee |
| George Batten | … | Terminated Employee |
| Sope Aluko | … | Software Woman |
| Mike Ancrile | … | Business Traveler / IT Conference Attendee |
| Jeffrey Arrington | … | Software Tech |
| Kojo Asiedu | … | Business Traveler |
| Patrick Austin | … | Break Room Co-worker |
| Courtney Benjamin | … | Gate Agent |
| Michael Bentele | … | Extra |
| Nicole Blaszczyk | … | Stewardess |
| Kourtney Brown | … | Make-Out IT |
| Wayne E. Brown | … | 1st Officer |
| Ed Callison | … | Conference Room Executive |
| Brian Carney | … | Laid-Off Worker |
| Jeff Carr | … | Man in Yellow Shirt |
| Shawn I. Chevalier | … | Detroit Co-Worker |
| Alissa Collins | … | Software Model |
| Kevin Crawford | … | CTC Team Member |
| Sara Crowell | … | Convention Attendee |
| Jeremy Curran | … | Wedding Guest |
| Rodney Davis | … | Extra |
| Karla Dieseldorff | … | Bikini Girl |
| Vanessa Elgrichi | … | Flight Attendant |
| Dona Ellis | … | Desk Girl |
| Didier Elysee | … | IT Guy |
| Chad A. Fehr | … | Extra |
| Vohn Ferguson | … | Miami Convention Attendee |
| Doug Fesler | … | Business Traveler |
| Patrick H. Fox | … | Conference Atendee |
| Bobby J. Gatus | … | Extra |
| Angela Golden Bryan | … | Dockside Shopper |
| Charlotte Grace | … | Airport Employee |
| Brad Groux | … | Traveler |
| Joe Hammerstone | … | Airport Traveler |
| Lanette Fugit Hannah | … | Flight Attendant |
| HeMan | … | Software Dude |
| Ernesto Hernandez | … | Angel Goodman |
| Carri Jarvis | … | Flight Attendant |
| Tamala Jones | … | Karen Barnes |
| Walter Kirn | … | Conference Room Executive |
| Andrew Kruczynski | … | Sergeant Perez |
| Suzanne LaChasse | … | Flight Attendant |
| Ashley Leilani | … | Software Technician |
| Laurel Levey | … | Computer Geek at Miami Convention |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia