Up In The Air (2009)

 So I decided that film two in my ill phase would be something that was released a few years ago and had rave reviews at the time but I just hadn't got round to seeing. 'Up In The Air' was one of the big award season films in 2010 and was nominated for six Academy Awards. Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) has a strange job. Essentially he flies around America firing people when their bosses don't have the nerve to do it themselves. In a time of recession and mass unemployment, this means that he lives out of a suitcase and his home is an airport, a life that Ryan enjoys. When a young graduate, Natalie (Anna Kendrick), comes in and attempts to modernise the company by grounding all employees and sacking people via webcam, Ryan complains about the changes and in turn gets to show Natalie the ropes and what firing people face to face is really like.

 The three main actors in this were all nominated for Academy Awards. George Clooney for Best Actor, and Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga competing for the Supporting Actress trophy. Out of the three of them, George Clooney is yet again playing the charming older man with a few commitment issues and does it very well (I wonder why), and Vera Farmiga pulls off playing the aloof Alex, who is essentially the female version of Ryan. However, the film is stolen by Anna Kendrick. I have seen her in a few films now (Pitch Perfect, 50/50) but this is by far and away her best acting performance I have seen to date. The characters insecurities are equally matched with the humour and emotion of the situations she finds herself in, and all in all an award winning performance (if she hadn't been nominated against Mo'Nique for Precious).

 I won't go on too long about this film, but I think it is definitely one worth seeing. It is charming, funny and in a way romantic all at the same time, which makes for a great combination. Round that off with a great cast and you can't really go wrong.