Glowing word of mouth and quietly ga-ga audiences in Telluride mean Jason Reitman's Up In The Air is currently buzzier than some demented buzzing thing trapped in a bottle. Jason Reitman's return is one of the new year releases we're most excited about, and, judging by a new clip released by Paramount, for good reason.
The snippet shows Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) and Alex's (Vera Farmiga) morally-frayed corporate henchpeople engaging in the kind of brilliantly juvenile who's-got-the-most-airmiles competition that sparkles with chemistry and is almost certain not to end with Clooney smugly pulling out a Tesco's Clubcard. Click hereto watch the clip.
Alongside Clooney and Farmiga, Up In The Air boasts a strong support cast, including Jason Bateman, Danny McBride and Twilighter Anna Kendrick who plays the young rival Ryan takes on the road to learn the niceties of firing people.
Juno was 2007's offbeat delight, but, with Reitman assuming writer/director duties again, fingers are crossed for a repeat of Thank You For Smoking's acerbic, satirical wit ("Mummy says smoking kills!", "Oh, is your Mummy a doctor?"), as Up In The Air casts a wry eye over American corporate culture and the mores of its jaded executives.
**Up In The Air **flies into cinemas nationwide on January 15, 2010.