Up in the Air was released over 10 years ago and might be a lesser-known title in George Clooney’s impressive filmography, but this drama about travel and personal philosophy is a good choice for an evening off the beaten franchise path. It boasts an impressive Rotten Tomatoes rating and racked up a host of nominations from the Oscars, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs alike in 2009, though it only won its awards for screenplay at the Globes and BAFTAs.
In the film, directed by Ghostbusters: Afterlife helmer Jason Reitman, Clooney portrays Ryan Bingham, a nomadic business man who splits his time between work as a corporate downsize contractor and a motivational speaker. With no wife, kids, or even a permanent address, Bingham feels perfectly at ease with his lifestyle forever in transit… until he begins mentoring a young upstart in the company, Natalie (Anna Kendrick), who finds his vagabond nature upsetting. When he also seems to find a traveling kindred spirit in another business executive named Alex (Vera Farmiga), Bingham is forced to confront the emotional reality of a life lived too much alone and unmoored.
Up in the Air is available to stream on Netflix until February 29.
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