PICK OF THE WEEK
Up in the Air
Jason Reitman’s loosy-goosey adaptation of Walter Kirn’s precise, comic-absurdist novel retains little more than the core of the book, but it is, nevertheless, a smart film filled with sharp performances and genuine insights in to the human condition. It’s also frequently laugh-out-loud funny. Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a suave transition specialist—a man who gives pep talks to downsized employees. As the film explains, “We take people at their most fragile, and set them adrift.” While he is very good at his job, he’s mildly condescending to most of the folks he meets when he’s not working—his estranged family in particular. Clooney is slick, but not oily, and he sells it all without being smug. (Hey, he’s Clooney). Ryan is a guy who is turned on by elite status but used to spending his time in places like the Columbus Airport Hampton Inn. He meets his match in Alex (Vera Farmiga, at her most delectable). She enjoys simulated hospitality, uses airport codes to initiate foreplay, and likes being naughty without consequence. But Ryan is hesitant about commitment, until his sister’s wedding prompts him to develop some feelings. Until then, Ryan is troubled by Natalie (Anna Kendrick), a young go-getter at his company who gets him temporarily grounded. To prove his worth, Natalie accompanies Ryan on his rounds, which creates tension and trouble—even as Ryan gets closer to his goal of flying a certain number of miles. Up in the Air is terrific as it captures Ryan’s “compact living” where everything, including his emotions are compartmentalized. Natalie (a character not in the book), is equally uptight, and opinionated, and therefore a perfect foil for him. If the story threatens to get sentimental at times, wisely Reitman never allows things to get too sticky. His nimble direction and the trio of deft performances from the leads keep Up in the Air from crashing and burning.
ALSO OPENING
35 Shots of Rum
Not much happens in this subtle, leisurely-paced story of an African family in France, but yet… so much does. Watching the characters’ lives unfold in Clare Denis’ wistful film is incredibly pleasurable. Lionel (Alex Descas) is a train engineer eking out his life with his daughter, Josephine (Mati Diop) in a Parisian apartment building. Their bond is the warm human center of the film, and the father-daughter love is symbolized by the rice cookers they buy. Other relationships soon develop that pull at these two hearts. Josephine is being romantically pursued by Noe (Gregoire Colin), a neighbor, while Lionels’ ex, Gabrielle (Nicole Dogue) who lives nearby tries to maintain contact. In perhaps the film’s best scene, the couples head into a bar and dance after a rainstorm strands them and their plans, prompting them to re-evaluate their relationships. Denis coaxes wonderful performances from her entire cast, and films 35 Shots of Rum beautifully, paying close attention to the details of these characters lives. Viewers who appreciate fine arthouse cinema should, too.
Armored
Armored truck guards plan a heist. Of course, it doesn’t go off without a hitch. Laurence Fishburne and Matt Dillon co-star.
Brothers
This wrongheaded remake of a Danish film, Brothers concerns Grace (Natalie Portman), a woman who believes her marine husband Sam (Tobey McGuire) died in Afghanistan. Grace is comforted by her brother-in-law Tommie (Jake Gyllenhaal), an ex-con trying to make his life right. Of course, when Sam unexpectedly returns, he suspects his wife and brother of having an affair. Brothers wants to make points about moral relativism—Sam is forced to make a horrific decision under duress as a POW, which prompts him to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, while Tommie and Grace innocently lean on each other for comfort—without subtlety. Yet much of the film is unbelievable. Hank (Sam Shepard), the boys’ father, transforms from a man distraught from losing his Golden Boy Sam to practically embracing his screw-up son Tommie in just a few scenes. Director Jim Sheridan frequently turns this heavy drama into a music video, and when Tommie and Grace bond over U2 (featured prominently on the soundtrack), it’s more embarrassing than credible. Natalie Portman gives her first grown up performance here but both the buff McGuire and the shaggy Gyllenhaal are miscast—although the latter has a nice drunk comic moment trying to touch an angry bartender’s nose. Brothers tries to address how people rebuild their lives—as evidenced in Tommie reconstructing Grace’s kitchen—or showing how characters learn to “breathe again” after trauma, but the severity of these important messages are belittled by a “let’s hug it out” approach to the melodrama.
Dare
Filmed in Philly and on the Main Line, this romantic drama concerns three high school students who play a romantic game of truth and dare. Native Philadelphian David Brind wrote this film, based on his short. Emmy Rossum, Ashley Springer, and Zack Gilford co-star as the three lovers.
Everybody’s Fine
This remake of a 1990 Italian film, Everybody’s Fine has the lonely widowed patriarch of a family (Robert DeNiro) visiting his kids only to discover things he never knew about them.
Transylmania
This campus comedy about students at a Romanian study abroad program features vampires on the prowl.
AroundPhilly Staff
