Anna as:
Natalie Keener

Film info:

Release date:
23 December 2009

Plot:
Ryan Bingham’s job is to fire people from theirs. The anguish, hostility, and despair of his “clients” has left him falsely compassionate, living out of a suitcase, and loving every second of it. When his boss hires arrogant young Natalie, she develops a method of video conferencing that will allow termination without ever leaving the office – essentially threatening the existence Ryan so cherishes. Determined to show the naive girl the error of her logic, Ryan takes her on one of his cross country firing expeditions, but as she starts to realize the disheartening realities of her profession, he begins to see the downfalls to his way of life.

Gerne:
Comedy, Drama, Romance

Photos:
2009: Up in the Air > CAPTURES – Up in the Air Preview Caps
2009: Up in the Air > CAPTURES – Up in the Air Blu-Ray Caps
2009: Up in the Air > STILLS – Stills of Anna in Up in the Air
2009: Up in the Air > ON SET – Filming Up in the Air
2009: Up in the Air > POSTERS – Film posters of Up in the Air
2009: Up in the Air > CAPTURES – Up in the Air Trailer Captures

Crew:

Director:
Jason Reitman

Writter:
Jason Reitman (screenplay)
Sheldon Turner (screenplay)
Walter Kirn (novel)

Co-Stars:
George Clooney
Vera Farmiga
Jason Bateman
Amy Morton
Sam Elliott

Quotes:

• Ryan Bingham: [on getting through airport security] Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love ‘em.
  Natalie Keener: That’s racist.
  Ryan Bingham: I’m like my mother, I stereotype. It’s faster.
• Natalie Keener: Hungry much?
  Ryan Bingham: Our business expense allots forty dollars each for dinner. I plan on grabbing as many miles as I can.
  Natalie Keener: Okay, you got to fill me in on the miles thing. What is that about? You’re talking about, like, frequent flyer miles?
  Ryan Bingham: You really want to know?
  Natalie Keener: I’m dying to know.
  Ryan Bingham: I don’t spend a nickel, if I can help it, unless it somehow profits my mileage account.
  Natalie Keener: So, what are you saving up for? Hawaii? South of France?
  Ryan Bingham: It’s not like that. The miles are the goal.
  Natalie Keener: That’s it? You’re saving just to save?
  Ryan Bingham: Let’s just say that I have a number in mind and I haven’t hit it yet.
  Natalie Keener: That’s a little abstract. What’s the target?
  Ryan Bingham: I’d rather not…
  Natalie Keener: Is it a secret target?
  Ryan Bingham: It’s ten million miles.
  Natalie Keener: Okay. Isn’t ten million just a number?
  Ryan Bingham: Pi’s just a number.
  Natalie Keener: Well, we all need a hobby. No, I- I- I don’t mean to belittle your collection. I get it. It sounds cool.
  Ryan Bingham: I’d be the seventh person to do it. More people have walked on the moon.
  Natalie Keener: Do they throw you a parade?
  Ryan Bingham: You get lifetime executive status. You get to meet the chief pilot, Maynard Finch.
  Natalie Keener: Wow.
  Ryan Bingham: And they put your name on the side of a plane.
  Natalie Keener: You guys don’t grow up. It’s like you need to pee on everything.
• Natalie Keener: He broke up with me by text message.
  Ryan Bingham: Wow. That’s kind of like getting fired over the Internet.

Trivia:

• With the exception of the famous actors, every person we see fired in the film is not an actor but a real life recently laid off person. The filmmakers put out ads in St. Louis and Detroit posing as a documentary crew looking to document the effect of the recession. When people showed up, they were instructed to treat the camera like the person who fired them and respond as they did or use the opportunity to say what they wished they had.
• Jason Reitman began writing the screenplay in 2002 when the economy was booming and planned to make it as his first feature. The opportunity to make Thank You for Smoking (2005) and Juno (2007) presented themselves and he put this off until this year, meanwhile America plummeted into an economic recession. He said the film’s tone changed completely in response to the real world crisis and works much better now as a topical piece than it would have a decade ago, the delays in its realization being fortuitous.
• There are no special privileges awarded by American Airlines for reaching 10 million miles as depicted in the movie – this was a case of artistic license by the filmmakers. However, American (like almost all major airlines with frequent flier programs) does offer special status for reaching 1 million miles. As of 2009, it is estimated that about 400,000 frequent fliers worldwide have reached this plateau in at least one airline’s program. In addition, many airlines – American included – have special invitation-only programs for their most valued customers, usually CEOs who can direct a lot of revenue their way. Perks include faster check-in, escorts to make close connections, and in rare cases free private flights to replace canceled ones.
• While at Lambert Field in St Louis, Ryan tries to make an impassioned speech to Natalie about Charles Lindbergh’s plane The Spirit of St Louis. Officially, Lindbergh’s plane was a Ryan NYP (New York to Paris) so the two share the same name.
• The card that Alex (Vera Farmiga) is so impressed by (that Ryan Bingham has) is the American Airlines invitation-only Concierge Key. After the film was completed, Jason Reitman was invited into the program. Started in 2007, it helps members arrange for reservation changes, upgrades, and even airport meetings. It is sent to selected customers, and since it is not advertised, some travelers consider it a rumor.
• The 35mm print was sent to theaters code titled “Sydney”.
• Ellen Page and Emily Blunt were considered to play Natalie.
• The role of Natalie Keener was written with Anna Kendrick in mind after Jason Reitman saw her in Rocket Science (2007).

Goofs:

• Factual errors: The scene in which Ryan is in an airport in Detroit is clearly filmed at the McNamara terminal (as can be determined by the iconic fountain and the signs for Continental at one of the B gates). However, it’s made very clear in the movie that Ryan only flies on American, and American doesn’t have gates at the McNamara terminal (it uses the North terminal).
• Errors in geography: When Ryan is giving his second “What’s in Your Backpack” talk, he is said to be in Miami, but the podium identifies a hotel in Wichita. (Not Kansas City as previously stated.)
• Continuity: In the scenes where they crash the tech party, Alex enters wearing a lavender satin blouse and then is shown partying in a black v-neck sweater.
• Factual errors: They show next-generation business class seats (i.e. NGBC) in an MD-80. The MD-80 is AA’s oldest plane in service, is in the process of being retired, so AA would certainly not spend the money to refurbish those planes with these modern seats. In addition, they require a wide-body plane to accommodate their size, and the MD-80 isn’t big enough. (Not the plane in the movie shows two aisles of traffic, where the MD-80 only has one lane.)
• Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Ryan and Natalie are in the airport on the ‘people mover’ they are standing on the left side. A seasoned traveler would know that you stand on the right and walk on the left. (Plus, a seasoned traveler would never just stand on the ‘people mover’.)
• Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In one scene, Ryan is upset with his assistant that his next rental car will be a Dodge Stratus. His assistant tells him he is trying for a Chrysler Sebring. In fact, the Stratus and Sebring are essentially the same car. It would have made more sense to ask for a Chrysler 300, a more luxurious model than either of them.
• Continuity: When Ryan gets dropped off after leaving the school, we see him walking inside with the hood of the car still in place, in the next shot, the car is gone.
• Errors in geography: When Ryan and Alex are in the airport in Northern Wisconsin, the sign at the departure gate for Chicago shows “O’Hara” not the correct spelling “O’Hare.”
• Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When pictures of Ryan’s sister and her fiancé’s cardboard cutout are taken at sites of interest, you can see the hand of the person holding the photo. When the pictures are displayed, even Ryan’s, the hand of the person holding the cardboard cutout has disappeared. However, the photos were taken using a digital camera. The clone tool and other techniques could have been used to “photoshop” the hand out.
• Errors in geography: The shuttle bus for the Miami Airport Hilton does not cross any bridges (in this case MacArthur Causeway) going from the airport to the hotel. Hotel only provides complimentary shuttle to/from airport, not nearby destinations
• Factual errors: In a couple of rental car scenes, Ryan is seen handing his credit card to an attendant, and in one scene asked (as he drove off) for his #1 Club Gold Card. Hertz #1 Club Gold members generally do not have to show a credit card or their #1 Club Gold card – they just walk right to their car, get in, and go. Hertz has their credit card info on file, and when they return the car, they are simply handed their receipt – there is nothing to sign for.
• Continuity: When Natalie is firing employees in Detroit over video the user interface on her screen changes back and forth. The video controls and file menu bar switch back and forth.
• Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): (At 1:12:03) When Ryan, Alex and Kara (Ryan’s sister) meet, Alex and Kara are seen handshaking as they meet for the first time. Alex uses her right hand shaking hands with Kara’s left hand.
• Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Bingham enters the Admirals Club, he is known to the person at the desk and waved in, but she still would have needed to swipe his card, which she didn’t.

Movie Connections:

References

• The Terminator (1984)
  -  When Natalie shows Ryan the new program, she says she preferred them to be called “Terminators” instead of “Termination Engineers”, which they had to use due to legal issues…
• Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (2001)
  -  The idea for a photo of Julie and Jim at various famous sites is taken from this film, referred to as “the gnome thing” by Ryan.