Analysis of Movie Up in the Air

This assignment provides a detailed analysis of the movie Up in the Air. It includes an opinion/feelings section where the author discusses their thoughts on the film, an impact section where they share how the movie affected them, and a behavior of main character section where they evaluate the actions of the protagonist. The text also includes reference lists with relevant sources. The assignment is suitable for students studying literature or film studies.

“UP In the Air” Movie Analysis
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Table of Contents
1.0 Section A : Plot and analysis of the movie “UP in the Air”......................................................3
1.1 The Film.................................................................................................................................3
1.2 Description of plot and characters.........................................................................................4
1.3 Ethical issues of individuals and business activities..............................................................5
1.4 Behaviours of main actors based on ethical theories.............................................................5
2.0 Section B : Questions.................................................................................................................6
2.1 Losing job impact on identity................................................................................................6
2.2 Ryan Bingham fires employees as in assembly line. Dehumanization explained.................7
2.3 Judgment on outsourcing practice firing process......................................................................8
3.0 Section C....................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Opinion / feelings for film.....................................................................................................9
3.2 Impact of film.......................................................................................................................10
3.3 Behaviour of main character................................................................................................10
4.0 Reference Lists........................................................................................................................11
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1.0 Section A : Plot and analysis of the movie “UP in the Air”
1.1 The Film
The American movie “Up in the Air” is a comedy-drama film released in the year 2009.
The film was directed by Jason Reitman and it was written by written by Sheldon Turner and
Reitman. The movie is based on the novel of Walter Kirn (Kirn, 2002). The film is based on
Ryan Bingham, who plays the role of a corporate downsizer and his continuous travels. The film
depicts Ryan working for a Human Resource consultancy firm that aids big corporates in
termination. Ryan also conducts motivational speeches at places that he travels titled, “what’s in
Your Backpack?”. He travels continuously American Airlines and wishes to become seventh
youngest person to earn ten million frequent flyer miles. In his company a young female
colleague propose a cost cutting technique for conducting layoffs through video conferencing.
Ryan has his concerns for the programs and asks Natalie Keener to assist him in a layoff. During
the trip she learns a lot regarding travelling from Ryan. She learns the difficulties associated with
layoffs, which proves Ryan valid point.
While Ryan is in a casual relationship with Alex, they meet whenever they get a chance.
Natalie is shown to be in a serious relationship and gets dumped by her boyfriend during the trip.
Then the movie shows Ryan’s sister wedding, where he is accompanied by Alex. There he helps
the groom before the wedding to overcome his cold feet using his motivational skills. Ryan starts
flying again and Natalie quits her job. Ryan, while delivering his motivational speech decides to
get into serious relationship with Alex. Only to his dismay to find that she is married with
children. Ryan finally crosses ten million miles and airline’s chief pilot meets him. Ryan
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transfers his miles so that his sister can go for honeymoon with those miles. In the meantime
Natalie joins another job, where she gets recommendations from Ryan. Finally Ryan decides to
let go off his luggage while looking up at the destination board at the airport.
1.2 Description of plot and characters
The central plot of the movie revolves around a Human Resource person Ryan
specializing in layoffs for corporate clients. The movie depicts uncertainties of life as several
employees in the U.S.A get laid off (Marx, 2010). Lack of attachment to human life is shown in
this movie very clearly as Ryan and Alex is shown to enter into a casual relation. On the other
hand, Ryan’s sister is shown to enter family bonding and Ryan’s colleague Natalie is also
interested in the same. In the end Ryan gets fed-up with his hectic life and gives up on his
travelling.
Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney played the role of a corporate downsizer.
Alex, who played the role of frequent flyer with whom Ryan got into a casual relationship.
Natalie Keener, played by Anna Kendrick is a young and dynamic at the Human Resource layoff
office who devises video conferencing lay-offs.
Ryan’s sister, who got married in the movie.
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1.3 Ethical issues of individuals and business activities
The movie discusses the case of corporate lay-offs being handled by outside Human
Resource consultants. Here the primary ethical issue concerns the corporates that hire outside
consultants in laying-off their own employees. It is morally wrong on humanitarian grounds for
an employee, who has worked for years committedly to be suddenly handed a package for
leaving the company on sets of false promises that he or she will find better opportunities. The
Human Resource Consultant that is conferring the role is committing a moral wrong by laying
off people for payment of a fee. Individuals as Ryan and Natalie, who work as corporate
downsizer are conducting morally wrong acts by acting in favor of the HR company. Alex is also
committing ethically immoral act by having a relationship with Ryan inspite of having family
and children.
1.4 Behaviours of main actors based on ethical theories
Ethical framework is used for description of legitimate rights and responsibility of
multiple stakeholder group. Each actor in the movie was overriding certain codes of ethics hence
their legitimate rights and responsibilities. In the movie Ryan follows the Duty based approach
of deontological ethics. He abides by his corporate regulations and conforms to standard
practices that needs to be done. Natalie and Alex makes use of Egoistic approach, whereby ethics
of self-interest comes into being. Though Natalie feels that there is greater Common Good
associated with video conferencing approach for corporates and their organization, but she
purely follows approach for her- self benefit.
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2.0 Section B: Questions
2.1 Losing job impact on identity
A job provides us with a sense of identity and longer the time period of employment,
greater is one’s association with their work. An individual starts associating oneself with his or
her work role. He starts contributing to the job role considering it to be a contribution to society.
Therefore, not only a job creates an identity for an individual rather it creates an identity for the
individual within the society. Losing a job snatches away that identity all of a sudden that creates
a vacant position within one’s personal life creating identity crisis. Losing job hence creates an
immense impact on self-esteem and personality of the person, who feels he is losing his self-
worth after losing out on the job role.
Lack of work strips one of their self-image, as individual starts visualizing themselves as
a contributor in their role. Losing a job does not only create instability but creates a greater
impact of identity crisis. Job provides an individual to be a productive member of the society and
being expectations of being a contributor gets internalized, as job entitles a person’s to his self-
worth. When one work’s for an organization, it means that he is acceptable, which creates an
avenue to earn stably. Sudden loss of a job or being unemployed can lead to disorientation.
When an individual no longer works, their perceptions change. Adjusting to one’s identity can be
truly unsetting as there can be loss of prestige causing embarrassment. Disorientation and shame
from loss of job might lead to undermining of confidence, which further creates financial
distress.
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Any ordinary individual spends more time on an average at work than in any other
activities. Work is so deeply associated with every individual that it helps create an identity. A
sense of identity is used for comparison with others and also to distinguish from others. It is
through work that one finds intellectual simulation of comfort. Though identity being
multifaceted in the world and complex or ever changing, identity allows creation of relationship
with others. Work identity does not only define who a person is but also drives the person’s
behaviour. Job is a route to define regarding oneself and creating a sense of belongingness.
Therefore, job definition is used to identify behaviours and characteristics of an individual.
Therefore, it creates an identity for individuals which touch deeply.
2.2 Ryan Bingham fires employees as in assembly line. Dehumanization
explained
Ryan’s role played in the movie is that corporate downsizer. He used to regularly visit
corporate offices that needed to lay-off their employees and conduct the same for them (Clifford,
2009 film). The plot depicts a rather sophisticated manner of lay-off, which is rather a painful
situation for employees being done in a single moment across the table by an outside Human
Resource consultant. It also shows human character and reactions of employees, when they get
laid off. The movie has been successful in demonstrating Ryan’s impulsive life living out of a
backpack. It is shown how flexibility and lack of responsibility eases a person’s life and he is
able to manage even when he does not have a job. His role was to hand over the package
smoothly over to the employee so that he does not raise a legal claim or does anything to upset
the entire setting of the corporate office. His focus was to ensure that laid-off employees went
out of the office without much issue. The entire process of lay-off for employees is alarming and
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demotivating. Employees suddenly have no job and they generally have huge financial burden
over them. Ryan was seen to be randomly laying off employees and handling them over the
package in assembly lines, where they were working for the Company. This process is extremely
dehumanization as it deprives the person from his positive human qualities. An employee was
seriously committed to his role and performing his duties diligently at the assembly line, when a
third person he does not even know comes to tell him that he is no longer needed within the
organization. This dehumanization activity deprives the individual of his self-image as he is
faced with a shock suddenly and he does not know any reason for the same. Moreover, he is
being told to let go off his post by a third party and not by his immediate boss or any other
person within the organization he knows.
This dehumanization can only be explained in a manner that the company employing the
individual have not been able to find any suitable faults with him. Hence, they have found out an
effective method to let go off his role. The company along with Ryan’s role is immoral as
without any fault of the employee, he suddenly is made to leave his job and settle with nothing.
This act of dehumanization cannot be explained in a better or more detailed way rather than
justifying the ill-acts of the company and downsizer.
2.3 Judgment on outsourcing practice firing process
The very act of firing process is dehumanization. A person, who comes to work regularly
and has no faults is made to let go of his duties cannot be explained and to add on to that
outsourcing the process makes it more dehumanization (Du Preez, 2015). Companies in the USA
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do not want to face troubles or legal hassles of letting go an employee while downsizing or
restructuring. Hence, to avoid all possible troubles they generally appoint an outsourced
consultant to conduct the role for them. These consultants generally well versed with various
human resource rights and obligations are able to fire an employee in a more sophisticated
manner. They are able to handle the process smoothly such that employees do not create any
negative impact on the company. As in this movie it was shown that Natalie tried to justify one
employee and she committed suicide. Therefore laying-off or firing is an extremely sensitive
issue and has to be handled carefully as well as sensitively, which only an outsourced specialized
personnel can do.
3.0 Section C
3.1 Opinion / feelings for film
The film reflects the true scenario that was happening in the USA during the period 2009.
Introduction of computer and software based application had impacted jobs of several
Americans. Many companies thought that they could save immensely on expenses related to
human resources by replacing them with machines. Therefore, large corporate houses started to
downsize and restructure their businesses for becoming more profitable and more competitive in
nature. They hired professional help from human resource consultants to aid them in the process
of downsizing such that they do not face legal consequences. Labor laws within the US are
stringent hence in case an employee files a suit in the court of law against the company, there is a
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chance that company might stand to lose. Therefore, comes the role of these experienced expert
professionals who help in the process of outsourcing.
My opinion regarding the film is that it has good casting and it is played well. It reflects
true facets of life that any individual can face at any point in time of their lives. Hence, the
motivational speech by Ryan, “What’s In Your Backpack?” is applicable. On the other hand
thinking from an humanitarian approach, the film shows the negative aspects of life and job,
there are some positive ones as well. For example Natalie still manages to find herself a job in
depression market and Ryan decides to leave his role. An individual might face firing but he has
to look out for opportunities and keep trying.
3.2 Impact of film
Initially I was negatively impacted by the film. I was compelled into believing that
having a family is burdensome and I was scared that I can easily get fired from my job. This
helped me to plan carefully for career and future prospects. I will work hard and try to achieve as
much academic excellence as possible. This will allow me to excel in my career and have a
family fearlessly of my own.
3.3 Behaviour of main character
I judge the behaviour of the main character Ryan to be ethically appropriate. He was
merely following orders for the company for which he worked, he was also very good in the role
that he played. He handled employees quite sensitively and managed through firing them
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effectively without raising much concerns related to legal issues. He had value for human
sensitiveness and this was what employees that he fired liked in him the best. However, he was
not achieve to attain much success in his private life.
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4.0 Reference Lists
Clifford, J. R. (2009 film). Topic relevant selected content from the highest rated entries, typeset,
printed and shipped. Combine the advantages of up-to-date and in-depth knowledge with
the con-venience of printed books. . 83.
Du Preez, A. (2015). Re-imagining place, home and belonging Up in the Air. Critical Arts,
29(6), 785-800.
Kirn, W. (2002). Up in the Air. Anchor.
Marx, C. M. (2010). Up in the Air: directed by Jason Reitman, with screenplay by Sheldon
Turner and Jason Reitman. Produced by Daniel Dubiecki, Jeffrey Clifford, Ivan Reitman,
and Jason Reitman. Hollywood, CA: Paramount Pictures.
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