Up In The Air (Jason Reitman) -2009

George Clooney is living my nightmare.  His life is nothing but airport security lines, connecting flights, taxi lines, hotel lobbies, and schedules, schedules, schedules.  This is why I retired at 62.  When the Clooney character is not traveling, he has the most depressing job possible.  He fires people he has never met. He has no friends, no hobbies, and very little contact with a mostly estranged family.  The character finally realizes the error of his way but it is too late.  He is trapped by the life he has created for himself.  This movie is well-crafted but it is also the most depressing movie I have seen this year.  I am happy to report that there is life after soul-sucking work. [JAM 12/28/2009]