Oscar beckons for Clooney for performance in 'Up in the Air'

Director: Jason Reitman

Cast: George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, Vera Farmiga

Cert: 15

George Clooney can do no wrong at the moment, soaring from strength to strength as an actor who knows how to turn in one memorable performance after another.

Here, he plays loner Ryan, whose job is to fly around the USA firing – or downsizing – unfortunate folk.

He hates his family but loves his job, especially the collecting of frequent flyer points.

Things take a bad turn when pretty young whizzkid Natalie (Kendrick) joins the firm and devises a better way of chopping people by using video link-ups. Ryan’s way of life is under threat.

His solution is to take her on the road to show her that face-to-face assassination is much better … a journey during which both discover things about themselves.

It’s a wonderful film all round, full of wit and wisdom and understanding and from Clooney comes a performance of vulnerability … a performance with Oscar nomination written all over it.

Star Rating: 5/5