plot

Up in the Air is by far the best movie of 09/10 and is truely oscar worthy.

Up in the Air is a breath of fresh air in the stagnet movie climate. Unlike, the recycled air in all the planes Clooney flies in, he is refreshing and honest. At first it is hard to know whether or not you are going to like his character, but come on this is George Clooney. Even he can take an isolated character, who fires people for a living and make him lovable.

The most striking thing about the film is that an unlikely plot and a quirky cast of characters can be so real and revealing of the human condition. The main character is meticulus and very good at his job, but he hates being home alone. He would rather be traveling and firing people than have to live in his one bedroom appartment. He is given a shock when a new know-it-all 23 year old girl comes in and tries to revolutionize the company, and in doing so turns his life upside down. This movie shows the economic climate and down sizing in an all new light.

Of course, since his character is the best at what he does he has to 'train' the new go getter about what she is really doing. He also ends up meeting an interesting love intrest who is appropriately his own age. Throughout the movie his is juggling between these two completely different women and their oppositional takes on love and life.

In the end there is a suprising turn when Clooney's character actuallly tries to open himself up and make a real connection with another human being. This movie deals with both the subtly and complexity of the human connections and looks deeply into the human desire to not be alone.

It doesn't end how you would think and to me that is the most surprising and endearing element of this film. I recommend anyone to see this movie. You will walk away with a new perspective on life, with your feet firmly planted on the ground.

A Study in Sherlock

There is one thing that everyone can agree upon both critic and consumer alike, this is a new Holmes. The big debate is he better, worse, modern, a sell out, or a new vision of an old character. As all of you who truly know me (yes especially the ones who new me when I was in sixth grade just got my boobs and was working on some wicked acene, know I fell in Love with Sherlock Holmes). I read every single Author Conan Doyle Holmes book and even some shoddy knock offs just to get my Sherlock jones on.

So, I consider myself somewhat of a true affecianado. What other pre-teen do you know would stay up until 10:00pm on Sunday night just to watch Mystery on PBS (yes PBS) just to catch a glimpse of the dashing Jeremy Brett play the perfect Holmes. He embodied the Holmes of my dreams (just a tad bit to old). He was brooding, he was tall, he had a huge nose, a deer stalker, but more important a top hat (drool). He was dapper, he was a dandy, he was a piece of intellectual candy. The pipe, the pomp, the circumstance. He was a drug addict, he was eccentric, he paid street urchins and sometimes shady characters to do his bidding. In short he was Holmesian perfection.

Now on to the Robert Downey/Guy Richie Holmes. For one I must say I am unabashadely biased, because I Love RDJ, Guy Richie, not so much. I believe Downey was brilliant. He was younger, he was brooding, he was self loathing, when he didn't have a case, he was unkempt. Most all of these are Holmesian traits. So what he didn't wear a deerstalker? He was still the seedy, disgruntled, dashing Holmes I love. Sherlock Holmes does not get a long with people. He is exsaperating, rude, and a tad vulgar.

Unfortunately, the plot of the movie was lacking and yes, I hate to say it hokey. That was not Downey or Jude Laws fault. It was the writer and yes, the directors. This is a Holmes for the masses, not the intelllectuals. This is a sexed up, super sleuth, with a mind for work and a bod for sin. It's kind of cool, but too calculated. So, if you want a wild ride with a different take of a character they tried to revamp go see it, but if you a die hard fan, wait for the video and try not to cringe, too much.