Don't let the best be the enemy of happiness now

Keegan 2022-04-20 09:01:14

Frankly, I probably wouldn't have watched "Up in the air" if it wasn't for the news reports that George Clooney had already won an Oscar for this film. The design of the poster is that three shadows stand in the waiting hall, gloomy and cold. In today's high pressure, I don't need such a thing to add to my luggage.

In fact, it tells a very simple story. Ryan, played by George Clooney, is a "flying trapeze" whose job is to go to companies across the country to fire employees, endure each other's tears, self-deprecating and scolding, and face each other with cold eyes. He said, "To konw me is to fly with me, this is where I live." The airport is home to him, and all the unbearable criticisms of ordinary people during travel are just synonymous with warmth. Ryan will also give lectures. The general content is how to reduce stress. He compares life to a big backpack full of things. We are naturally tired when we carry it. We should learn how to subtract, take out unnecessary things, and pack lightly. Go into battle. Don't think it's just a speech he made up, Ryan did it in his life, the director recorded in detail how Ryan organized his suitcase, neat, clean and free of extra items.

He has no girlfriend, no warm house, and no family that he gets along with day and night, but even though he lacks these "necessities" in our eyes, he is still happy and still enjoying it. But the director did not let Ryan go, he must let Ryan return to the family, recognize the warmth of family, recognize the happiness of being accompanied, so Alex appeared, she and Ryan are doing similar occupations, and they also need to fly day and night , they are calculating the next reunion place, although there is no in-depth conversation, but in such a lonely trip, in such a deep night, company is the best antidote.

Finally, Ryan has another thing, which is her sister With the photo of his fiancé, this extra thing couldn't fit into Ryan's original suitcase, so it formed a funny picture, with two heads exposed on the huge drag box.

In fact, this photo is not a simple photo. The moment Ryan decided to go back to his hometown to attend his sister's wedding, the moment he invited Alex, the original Ryan was gradually disintegrating. He was about to be surrounded by warmth and about to fall in love. Also about to discover the sorrow of life.

The director tries to explain the importance of being accompanied. In this society where interpersonal relationships are gradually indifferent, we gradually prefer to do everything alone. For example, more and more people are willing to travel alone. The best-selling books on the market are In "Five Years Alone", we ignore family, others, and how wonderful it feels to have "people" around.

But is it really so? The question I most want to know after watching this film is not what would happen if Ryan was a person who valued his family, but what would happen if he continued to fly "heartless"? The answer is obvious, he will still be happy, such a flight has not dehumanized him, and every employee he has fired can leave peacefully.

Having someone with you is the best state.

But don't let the best be the enemy of present happiness.

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Extended Reading
  • Clare 2022-03-23 09:01:22

    It is really hard to find any shortcomings of [in the cloud], it is exquisite and flawless. When you feel that Clooney's classic speech makes sense, when you feel that the movie and your life are familiar, pay attention, Jason Reitman is counting on you!

  • Verda 2022-04-24 07:01:03

    It's actually an otaku movie in its core, but the golden statue and the previous awards are all in vain, do you wait until the Oscars to be a dark horse~?

Up in the Air quotes

  • Ryan Bingham: [giving a motivational speech] Anybody who ever built an empire, or changed the world, sat where you are now. And it's *because* they sat there that they were able to do it.

  • Natalie Keener: [to Ryan,on the docks in Miami] Can you stop sounding condescending for one second or is that one of the principles of your bullshit philosophy?