Yesterday morning, a clip from Jason Reitman’s much buzzed-about frequent flyer dramedy, “Up In The Air,” starring George Clooney and Vera Farmiga, was released on Apple and we were decidedly underwhelmed.
Some even took it harder than that and perhaps even personally. From all accounts, the job downsizing storyline and economic hard-hittin’-times theme of the film is evidently making the picture potentially the, “timeliest, most zeitgeist-capturing movie released this awards season.” But since the aforementioned clip didn’t quite capture those qualities, Vulture seemed rather pissed, upset or maybe even wanted their money back (time is money after all).
Perhaps to make up for the meh quality in that clip, a teaser-trailer has been released. Let the kvetching begin! And or more sarcastic commenting shortly? Nope, this one seems to nail the tone of the script quite well and contains the moving and difficult (not to mention a bit duplicitous) speech Clooney has to make in the first act about acclimating to the conditions of being unemployed. Clooney’s character is essentially not super different from his “Michael Clayton” role. He’s an adjuster, a fixer. His job in the picture is to gently, but motivatingly prepare you for life outside the workforce. It’s calculated and cold — sort of like his carefree character in the beginning — and at the same time it’s strangely inspiring. Much better on this teaser! Now all Paramount has to do is make sure they don’t stick a cornball Coldplay song onto the mainstream version for popcorn audiences (as much as that might sell tickets), and we should all be fine. [/Film]