Up In The Air, Yes, Way Up There

In writing a review of Up In The Air, one would be wise to try to avoid all the airplane-related puns and cliches, such as "Clooney soars" or "Director Jason Reitman pilots his film with nary a jolt of turbulence". The film is much more serious, both in content and as an Oscar contender to merit such trifling comments. Quite simply, it is the best movie that I've seen all year and should probably garner Clooney his second Oscar, if nod a certain nomination.

Comedy, drama, satire and social commentary abound in the story of Ryan Bingham, a corporate suit for hire whose job is to fire people with technical precision for companies who lack the strength to do it themselves. Not only is he great at his job, but embraces his lifestyle that has him traveling 350,000 miles a year and spending 270 days out of the year 'on the road'. But, when a young college grad, Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), sells his boss (a sublime Jason Bateman) on a new method of execution that requires only a T1 line, Ryan finds himself looking at a 'future of options' and not liking any of them anymore than the people he fires.

There is much more to the film, such as the devastating effect the economic recession is having on people, told through actual interviews filmed by Reitman in Detroit and St. Louis. For while the film travels to San Francisco and Miami, most of the action occurs in and above cities in the Midwest such as Wichita, Dubuque and Kansas City. As a matter of fact, when Ryan takes Natalie on the road to show her the ropes and they travel to Detroit, the entire auditorium I was in let out a collective groan even before Ryan could state the obvious, that the city has been amongst the hardest hit by the recession. The end products of their booming business are varied reactions from outrage, to depression and even optimism by some who truly take it as a chance for a new opportunity.

But, the real story is the way Ryan begins to place more value on people than on his miles. He meets a kindred spirit in Alex (Vera Farmiga), a business woman with whom he immediately connects, yet he struggles to reconcile his lifestyle choice and his obvious feelings for her. At the same time, he becomes increasingly aware of his sisters that he has left behind in Wisconsin, while trying to be there for them as one plans a wedding and the other is dealing with marital problems. Natalie provides a perfect mirror for him to see a younger version of both himself and Alex and examine what everything means to him and what he really needs in his backpack.

The performances are wonderful all around from the three leads to J.K. Simmons and Danny McBride. But, Clooney carries the picture, particularly in a fantastic scene between the two actresses in which he has one line and merely reacts to the rest of the conversation. Here, we see a character who starts the picture as confident and secure as Danny Ocean and by the end, becomes more vulnerable and changed than Michael Clayton. Of course, he could not do it all alone and Anna Kendrick is wonderful, feeling the pain of firing people than Ryan has long since blocked out and while she shines at her job, fights the inevitability of becoming like him or Alex.

A good film is one that you can watch and in it see yourself and your world. Up In The Air can do all of that for audiences, making me think about my own life, reinforcing decisions I've made regarding my future and hardening my resolve. While it left me with a similar feeling I had after watching Revolutionary Road, there was a greater note of hope and optimism at the end. Perhaps, like Ryan believes, every ending is a new beginning. I certainly hope so for my own sake. And for your own sake, go see Up In The Air as soon as it comes to your city. You will see a film guaranteed to win at least one Oscar this year, if not nominated for at least five.

Arrested Wednesdays #2

First names aside, I have always felt a deep connection with Michael Bluth. My favorite Bluth, Michael is fiercely loyal to his family and always puts them first, but is not above trying to get them to better themselves. Michael struggles both in his life and at work to always do the right thing, even when a short cut presents itself. He has aspiration of being a lawyer, finding another wife and mother for his son and handles all of his frustrations with a dry wit and confidence that even I cannot emulate.

While he may seem mild mannered, there is a darker side of Michael. He is capable of turning on his family, whether it's stealing his brother's girlfriend, deceiving his mother into rehab, keeping his father in prison, out of prison or on house arrest and striking a blind woman in the face with a bible, burning down the family banana stand and threaten his secretary all in the first season.

But, Michael does everything for his son and the Bluth Company. He lives and dies for them, putting his blood, sweat and tears into his work. Particularly, the sweat as evidenced in the clip below.

Arrested Wednesdays #1

Today marks the debut of a new weekly feature on Big Mike's Movie Blog, entitled 'Arrested Wednesdays'. Every week I will be writing a short post highlighting the funniest television series ever, 'Arrested Development'. The purpose of this feature is twofold. First, to increase awareness of the critically acclaimed and publicly dismissed series as the likelihood of a feature length film based on the show grows greater by the week. Secondly, to motivate me to write something new even when I haven't seen anything new and exciting.

That is part of the charm of 'Arrested Development'. Off the air for years now, the show has gained a cult following and for some fans, has become part of their everyday vernacular. I am on of those devotees and will be recounting similar stories in the weeks to come. But, more importantly, I came to re-discover the series this past week and it lifted me out of my funk. I adore the show and wished I could write about it instead of the awful movie I saw instead. So, I decided to do just that.

'Arrested Development' was a Fox sitcom that ran from 2003 to 2006 and in just three seasons managed to win 7 Emmys and constantly stave off cancellation while struggling with ratings. It helped to launch the careers of Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Tony Hale and Alia Shawkat while serving as a huge career boost to Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walters and David Cross. The show hosted such special and recurring guests such as Charlize Theron, Henry Winkler, Liza Minnelli, Jeff Garlin, Ed Begley Jr., James Lipton, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Zach Braff and Ben Stiller. Infinitely quotable and rapid fire with its jokes, the show never found an audience on the air, but lives on eternally on DVD, reruns and in the hearts of fans around the world.

If you are unfamiliar with the show, you can find the three seasons on DVD for under twenty dollars each in most places, especially Target.

Now, the blog feature about the story of a wealthy family who lost everything and the one son who had no choice but to keep them altogether.

It's Arrested Wednesdays.

Extract is 100% Pure Comedy

Extract is Mike's Judge's third film after Idiocracy and Office Space. Following in the vein of Office Space, it is the natural progression of his work as a filmmaker and as someone who identified so strongly with Office Space as a teenager, Judge was able to tap into that same sense of humor and frustration as he did ten years ago and make a movie that I related to just as well now, working in a management position. While he was fighting the establishment and rallying for the freedom of the working man before, here he gives us a likable man who has worked hard for everything he has, only to see his world unraveled by bickering, lazy employees and a bored wife.

Jason Bateman, as extract creator Joel Reynolds, finds that everything he values is about to be lost to him, until he decides to get off his ass and do something about it. Bateman's dry, straight man delivery, perfected in Arrested Development, is on display as he carries this movie almost single handedly. Not to take away from the rest of the cast as everyone is excellent, but aside from Bateman, everyone else seems like they are barely in the movie. Even the gorgeous and comedically talented Mila Kunis is wonderful, but she has only a handful of scenes. Which, I believe, makes Bateman's performance that much more remarkable seeing as how he gives everyone in the cast so much of himself to work with. From Kristen Wiig as his distant, adulterous wife, J.K. Simmons as his number two man at work and David Koechner as his far too familiar obnoxious neighbor, everyone plays what would normally be very one note roles, very different and they do it all around Bateman. The dude should've popped way before this, AGAIN, but it will probably take audiences awhile to catch up.

Ben Affleck is hilarious as his pusher friend Dean. The Fleck hasn't had this great a supporting role since Boiler Room.

In the same way that you have to had worked in an office to appreciate Office Space, so too do you have to had been in charge of increasingly insipid subordinates, been in a dull, listless relationship with someone you truly care for and made some bad decisions under the influence to understand Extract. Judge's humor comes not from over the top set pieces or irrelevant, gross out gags, but from common situations that occur far to often to not take notice of. The jokes don't come rapidly, but are measured and methodical in delivery. For someone looking for another Apatow/Kev Smith type film, you're likely to be mildly unimpressed. But for fans of Arrested and terrific actors and dialogue, Extract is your best bet for weeks to come. Mike Judge has grown up to find that working for the man is just as maddening as being the man, but just as funny as well.

Hancock, A Not-So-Super (hero) Movie

My friend and I walked out of Hancock with two very different opinions of the film. As we discussed it, we decided that he was being too negative and I was being too positive. Be that as it may, we both thought the movie was average. So, if we ended up finding middle ground, maybe we actually started out with a completely different take on the movie. And so too, I think, did the makers of Hancock.

Originally titled Tonight, He Comes, the film went through quite a few different directors’ hands including Jonathon Mostow (Terminator 3), Michael Mann and Gabriele Muccino before Peter Berg got the job. The film feels like a good stew with too many chefs as the tone and dialogue changes constantly throughout the movie, so that you’re never quite sure what they are trying to achieve, but you just know they’re missing it. Even though Akiva Goldsman is not credited as a writer the film has his trademarks all over it. Although they sometimes work splendidly like in Constantine, where everything that happens is accepted by the audience as plausible, here events and characters get brushed off and we’re left wondering why. The movie shifts from being an action R to a family PG-13, from a superhero movie to a character drama. And just when you think you knows what’s going to happen, the movie takes a last unusual turn and I was doing the classic, “But, if she… then that’s means he… how could they… what?”

The movie’s redeeming quality, saving it from being completely unwatchable, is the performance of the three leads Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman. I’ve been a Will Smith fan since the first Fresh Prince album in 1988. While I hold him in the highest regard, he is not above critique. For people who think he is infallible, I have three words; Wild, Wild West. But, Will is great in this role, trying to be darker than we all know he is not. There are shades of Mike Lowrey there, but nothing compared to his turns in Ali or I Am Legend. It’s hard not to root for Hancock, because you know, that Will Smith can be a real hero and you’re just waiting for him to do it. Charlize is not only fascinating to look at, but she has great chemistry with both Will and Jason. By time her character’s true nature is revealed, she has a lot of fun playing with it until the film’s flimsy final act. And if you’re an Arrested Development devotee like me, I dare you to watch her and Jason Bateman in bed and not think “Married, married, married!” in a British accent. Which of course brings us to the real hero of the movie, The Bateman. Long content to play the second fiddle, third in line for everything, always finishing fourth and being the fifth wheel, Bateman gets an opportunity to shine as Hancock’s PR agent. As an earnest, liberal goody two shoes out trying to make the world a better place for his son, Bateman is the real hero of the movie, giving the audience someone to identify with. Hopefully, he’ll get a chance to be in more movies like this, even though I love him in Dodgeball, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Juno, Smokin’ Aces, Necessary Roughness and The Kingdom. He’s so dreamy.

Big Mike's Lil' Update 7/4/08

It's the Fourth of July, Independence Day. So, which movie should be watched today, Independence Day or Born on the Fourth of July? Hmm...

- OK, I know not everybody loves Spaced as much as I do, but there are several events coming up this month if you do. In Los Angeles, there will be a signing at Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash followed by a screening at the Hollywood ArcLight with Edgar, Simon, Jessica and Kev Smith in attendance. Will you be as well?






- Yes, I saw Hancock, yes, a review will be forthcoming and yes, I have a man-crush on Jason Bateman. This is NOT a bromance, just a man-crush.






- Helena Bonham Carter in Terminator 4? This week has no lack of good news for me.


- I was getting ready to get into my fall/winter preview, but most of those films still don't even have one-sheets out yet, like Harry Potter. Oh well, I guess I will put if off for a few weeks.


- I'm not sure which is odder, David Gordon Green directing Pineapple Express or Huey Lewis doing the theme song? Yea, it's David Gordon Green.


- So, if it is generally held that Batman Begins is basically Batman:Year One and The Dark Knight is The Long Halloween, then would it be all bad if the next movie were based on Dark Victory? Could Bale's insistence on not bringing in Robin merely be an attempt to throw us off the trail, akin to Raimi expressing disinterest in Venom? Would a young Robin actually work for Nolan's Batman? Do you think he will shoot the third movie entirely in IMAX? What's your favorite Batman comic? Who writes him better, Kane, Miller or Loeb? Will Nolan bring in Scarlett Johansson to play Selina Kyle or fulfill my wishes/internet rumors and cast Eva Mendes instead? Or does she just play Renee Montoya? Is it possible for Dark Knight to NOT live up to the hype? Does Heath get the Oscar or just a nomination? If everybody is comparing it to Godfather II and Empire Strikes Back, can I be the first to compare it to Aliens? Have you told all your friends about the Batman Blog-A-Thon? If I got a Batman tattoo, would I get the new logo or the classic 1989? If I were Chandler Bing, could I ask anymore questions?














-Oh, and for the first question, I'm going with neither. I just got Control. Hooray for British black and white musical bio docudrama!