Dana and Tom with returning 5x Club members Kieran B (Host and Creator of the Best Picture Cast) and Peterson W. Hill (Co-Host of the War Starts at Midnight podcast) discuss Up in the Air (2009) for its 15th anniversary: written and directed by Jason Reitman, with Sheldon Turner, music by Rolfe Kent, starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, JK Simmons, and Zach Galifinakis.
Plot Summary: Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate downsizer who spends most of his life traveling for work, reveling in the freedom of a rootless existence. Obsessed with achieving a coveted ten-million-mile frequent flyer goal, Ryan avoids emotional entanglements and personal commitments. However, his carefully constructed life is disrupted when a young efficiency expert, Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), proposes a cost-cutting plan that could ground his lifestyle. Simultaneously, Ryan begins an unexpected relationship with fellow traveler Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), forcing him to confront the emptiness of his transient life. Up in the Air is a poignant exploration of connection, loneliness, and the value of relationships in a disconnected world.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome to Our Guests
07:58 Cast and Recognition for Up in the Air
09:25 Relationship(s) with Up in the Air
13:37 What is Up in the Air About?
21:00 Why Isn't Up in the Air More Popular?
28:42 Plot Summary for Up in the Air
29:51 Did You Know?
31:36 First Break
35:39 What's Up with Kieran and Peterson
42:27 Ask Dana Anything
48:26 Best Performance(s)
01:04:06 Best/Favorite/Most Indelible
01:17:55 Second Break
01:18:36 In Memoriam
01:20:56 Best/Funniest Lines
01:26:20 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
01:35:02 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
01:42:47 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
01:51:50 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
01:57:05 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
02:04:30 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
02:06:08 Remaining Questions
02:23:07 Thank Yous to Our Guests and Final Thoughts
02:28:24 Credits
Guests:
Kieran B
- Host and Creator of the Best Picture Cast; @bestpicturecast on X, IG, Letterboxd - BPC, Letterboxd - Personal
- Previous Episodes: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1957), Lost in Translation (2003), Gran Torino (2008), Stalag 17 (1953), Shane (1953), A Fistful of Dollars (1964), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) Revisit, 12 Angry Men (1957) Revisit, The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Revisit, Saw (2004)
Peterson W. Hill - Co-Host of the War Starts at Midnight podcast
You can find this episode in full video on YouTube.
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/up-in-the-air-2009-ft-kieran-b-and-peterson-w-hill
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
Up in the Air, film analysis, isolation, connection, movie podcast, Clooney, Oscar nominations, cultural impact, themes, movie discussion, lawyer, film performances, Clooney, Kendrick, memorable moments, screenplay, direction, charisma, best scenes, film legacy, film analysis, novelty, classicness, rewatchability, character development, audience engagement, movie discussion, cinematic themes, storytelling, film critique
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