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

• @petersonwhill on IG, Letterboxd, and Twitter
• Previous Guest on Gone Girl (2014), Parasite (2019), Fight Club (1999), Ben-Hur (1959)

You can find this episode in full video on YouTube.

You can now follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or TikTok (@gmoatpodcast).

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

Ronny Duncan Studios