Up In The Air

This tiresome film looks set to pick up at least a couple fo oscars; it doesn't deserve anyway.
Lets start with the plusses; this is not an utter stinker. George Clooney is still a suave, sophistictated screen presence, with almost literal magnetism holding a soft pull of the viewer towards him. The idea threatens to be interesting at times, with notions of loneliness, modern simulacra and society, the psychological cost of unemployment, and various other modern discourses all rearing their hands at random points. The airport settings are inherently cinematic. This is not a TV movie.
All told though, it's not much of an experience. Firstly, this has to have one of the worst written (non braindead multiplex action category)scripts in recent mainstream memory. Bad lines intrude on the actions, the poor actors pausing at times, stumbling through fragments, as though to convey to the viewer and each other 'this isn't my fault'. Too wordy and unreal at times, utterly predictable, plain cliche. The direction is flabby, scenes go on too long and there's a lot of pointless drawing-the-obvious-out. The interesting settings aren't well shot, no build up is ever sustained to create a specific mood. Music either intrudes or is dreary background fodder.
The ideas are also confused, either lacking in the ability to sustain their arguments or simply reverting to the cracker-wisdom twee when sincerity appears to be aimed for. The film falls apart structurally towards the end, though to be fair this at least gives it a little variety.
All told, it just about holds the attention, but can't ever be categorised as anything but a below par, out-and-out poor movie.