Title: "In the Clouds"
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
Released: December 4, 2009 Japan (United States)
■Recommendation index: ★★★★☆☆
■Reader: Bai Xiaoding
■One-sentence comment: It seems to be a departure, but in fact it is a return. In the end, it is still promoting traditional American values.
While Chinese audiences were overwhelmed by housing prices, house slaves and squatters, American audiences were also panicking about the crisis of unemployment and layoffs caused by the economic depression. It can't be too cruel; a little pessimistic, but still hopeful; it seems out of reach, but it is close at hand - "In the Clouds" with a smooth rhythm and a bright tone, exudes charming little sentiments everywhere.
Ryan is someone who brings bad news to others, and as an HR specialist, his job is to help client companies fire employees, and the busier the economy gets, the busier his job gets: more than 320 days a year in the air The trapeze performs step-by-step routines and tricks in different places, and the only thing that changes is the unemployed people they face.
The word "burden" is constantly mentioned in the film. Those who have been laid off will say sorry to their loved ones, parents, children, and friends when they lose their jobs. During training, Ryan also warned the trainees to throw away their psychological burdens, because burdens mean giving, oppression, and restraint, as if only like him The "lightweight people", because we don't have to be responsible to anyone to enjoy the fun of life best, can we really get rid of the burden?
"In the Clouds" has a solid and conflicting script that brings both values to the fore in witty humor. The biggest joy is to accumulate airline miles. Ryan, who has no concept of family and marriage, and Natalie, who proposed to use the network office model to shorten the company's office expenses, chose a strange city because of love, two completely different people, collided in Together, only this time, this pair of "happy friends" did not collide with sparks of love, but collided with thinking about life, marriage, and even emotions.
Without big dialogues or epiphanies, these Hollywood themes are replaced here by step-by-step plots, paved with in-depth details. So Ryan's transformation goes with the flow, the warmth of family affection, the sustenance of feelings, those shining points that he seems to have thrown away but are actually hidden in his heart still move him - he can't let go of his own burden, and even hopes to have a stable Home - He was "changed", although the outcome was not as complete as he had hoped.
The word "in the cloud" has a double meaning, which not only points to Ryan's busy working state, but also points out that he lives a life that seems to be in the cloud. Down-to-earth, this is the fate no one can escape.
It seems to be a departure, but in fact it is a return. In the final analysis, it is still the traditional American values that are promoted and recognized - optimism about life, responsibility for the family, and care for the family, but it is only expressed in a different way.
Several main actors have won Golden Globe nominations for best actor and best supporting actress in one fell swoop, but I think the best actor should be given to the unemployed who were interviewed in the film, rather than those routine consolation speeches, Although their performance is simple, it makes me want to cry. Anger, calm, helplessness, disappointment, daze, fear, shock, grievance, in this worst period, these most real expressions are reproduced one by one, this movie is no longer as disgusting as those fake inspirational movies, which is actually It is also the most moving part of the movie.
That's why we are willing to believe that "being unemployed" is just the loss of a job, not the whole of life. We still have relatives, friends, and even dreams to support us through the most difficult times. These burdens are impossible for us Lost, they are never a burden, but a driving force to move forward.
Although "In the Clouds" is beautiful and warm, it is not perfect. It is just an appetizer or a sugar-coated cannonball, and there is not much to remember. In fact, I am not satisfied with the fact that unemployment is treated lightly as a background. Unemployment seems to be justified, and the unemployed have no choice but to accept it optimistically or pessimistically. This kind of argument is actually not to draw closer, but to deliberately alienate.
Just like "Slumdog Millionaire" last year, which summoned individuals to realize their dreams, it just appeared at the most suitable time and gently touched the most sensitive nerve of the audience. 【Beijing Youth Daily】
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