Up in the Air

[cos]

mini-review:

You know how sometimes in a movie there's a perfect line of dialogue followed by another followed by another, and the scene is almost unbearably fun to watch, and you remember and quote it later? I can't easily remember those moments from Up in the Air because there were too many of them. I think more than of total screen time was that sort of dialogue. I haven't had this much fun watching people talk in a movie that wasn't of the witty/silly comedy genre often, or maybe ever.

I'm not yet sure how good a movie I think it was, because it usually takes me a while for a movie to sink in and my opinion to settle, but I can say that they did not take the easy way(s) out in resolving the plot, and that even though this was essentially a movie about relationships, it still passed the Bechdel Test.

Comments

[cinnabarine.livejournal.com]

I *really* loved that movie and it resonated with me in ways I completely didn't expect.

[faerieboots.livejournal.com]

I liked it too, but don't recall it passing the Bechdel test. When did it do that?

[cos]

Spoiler alert for other readers!

Remember the firing conversation that turned out to be the most significant one in the movie, and the only one where the fired individual was discussed by name later? With significant effects on the plot? That firing conversation was just her and Natalie talking to each other.

End spoiler.

[faerieboots.livejournal.com]

*looks thoughtful*

I guess that counts, sort of? It was a scripted conversation though =P

[cos]

She wanted it to follow her script and it rather didn't, to her dismay. It was as real as you can get, IMO.

Note: I think some of the chatter between Natalie and Alex at the techsomething party they crashed would count too, but the conversation I picked out was one of the key points of the movie, so that's more substantial.

[faerieboots.livejournal.com]

No, I see what you are saying--it is a very powerful moment, and a very important moment; I just have trouble ignoring the fact that Natalie does not want to be in that conversation.

[cartographer.livejournal.com]

Also when the two female characters meet for the first time, they have conversation then.

[cos]

That conversation was totally about a man.

[cartographer.livejournal.com]

Damn, it was, wasn't it? Oh well.

Bored and reading friends-of-friends journals ... Spoiler alert ...

[paradoox.livejournal.com]

I've been looking for someone to explain to me why they liked this movie. My wife and I went to see it and while I wanted to like it, I hated it. Primarily because the movie was based on a total gratuitous and unrealistic lie: That she didn't tell him she was married. He didn't want commitment, so it seems logical that she would say "Good, works for me, I don't want commitment, I'm married." Besides they went away for the weekend to the wedding and she managed to hide any contact with her family from him during the weekend?

Re: Bored and reading friends-of-friends journals ... Spoiler alert ...

[cos]

That seems like an odd reason to dislike the movie. Also, I don't find it unrealistic at all. She wanted a fantasy completely detached from her life, so part of that was compartmentalizing all portions of her life that didn't fit the fantasy entirely away from the fantasy. It almost boggles my mind to hear that someone didn't find that believable, but okay, I believe you that you didn't :)