MONDAY MOVIES: “Up In The Air”

“Up In The Air” is one of the best movies ever made about working — especially following the 2008 Great Recession. The movie struck a cord with people who had lost their jobs as a result of the economy as well as people who remained employed but felt a sense of loss.

In the movie, George Clooney and his co-workers are hired by corporations to conduct layoffs. It seems heartless, but he’s being hired by a company to provide a service (which also seems heartless, but there are a variety of reasons and factors involved) and he does it with a kind of detached compassion that gets the job done but also takes a little bit of pain out of the process.

As you might imagine, the movie involves all the dynamics of an Oscar-nominated film and Golden Globe-winning screenplay: Witty and thought-provoking dialogue, complex relationships, laughter and tears. But it’s really about Clooney’s character, how hard he works, and why he loves what he does. It’s a spotlight on how engaging with people, no matter what job you’re doing or how long you’ve been doing it, is one of the most powerful skills you’ll ever have.

Pic courtesy: Paramount Pictures