ViewGuide

Created Jan 26, 2010 11:25AM PST • Edited Jan 26, 2010 11:25AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   The story is fairly solid – George Clooney is an ax man for hire (firing employees for various corporations too chicken to do the firing themselves) who spends most of his time flying from place to place to do his work. After meeting a woman (Vera Farmiga) in a hotel bar, a relationship develops and this once confirmed bachelor rethinks where his life has really gone without a partner.

   What really makes the story work are the relationships Clooney has in the film. We know him as one man in the beginning, the happy bachelor traveler who is quite comfortable not having a true home of his own. Then through his interaction with Farmiga, as well as with a newbie corporate ax person (Anna Kendrick), and his not so close family, Clooney’s character truly changes by the end of the film and we feel the changes as they happen. Very good film making, indeed.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   George Clooney is top notch. This might be his best performance. Vera Farmiga is equally as good, and sexy as hell in her turn as Clooney’s love interest. Jason Bateman also does another good turn, just as he has in his last several film roles. The weak link for me was Anna Kendrick. I never really bought into her character as a young corporate ax. She didn’t bring enough to the table emotionally, and didn’t have much depth as a character. Plus her voice is like nails on a chalkboard.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Great 4.0

    The film looks great. Jason Reitman is really coming into his own as a filmmaker. There was nothing that took me out of the movie, or felt out of place. The attention to the small details helped it feel authentic.

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Sordid 3.1

    There is more of an edge emotionally, than physically. The aftermath of the sex is more important to the story than the act itself.

17. Sex Erotic 3.1

18. Violence Brutal 3.1

    No real violence to speak of.

19. Rudeness Profane 3.1

    Some salty language gets dropped around.

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

    Almost perfect in presentation, as the story unfolds in a very naturalistic way. The characters make real choices, and the reactions/consequences feel true.

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0