X-MAS X 2?

We should do Christmas more often. I'm not one for out of season, pre-Christmas sales, I still don't understand where it became "law" to announce all the deals and start decorating on Thanksgiving, but to those who enjoy it, fine. And by every New Year's, I'm quite over Christmas, "out with the old, in with the new", we need to move on.

But as for Christmas eve, and the day itself, I'm all for it. People slow down and think, for once. They take inventory of what's important or special. Many reach out and do kind acts. Volunteers across the country feed the homeless, donate gifts and goods to needy children.

I'm all for Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan -- anything in the season with people celebrating, making a sacrifice, reflecting on things -- it's just plain good for the human spirit, and I hope other rites and religions continue to gain exposure as time goes by, it's interesting, and we can always stand to learn from others.

Christmas is film day! That means "Up in the Air" goes nationwide! I've never spent Christmas in the theater, so this will be a first. It's been a long wait, and the film has gotten several nominations and rave reviews. Clooney will definitely be enjoying his Christmas, if he celebrates.

Whatever you celebrate, whatever you do, I wish you a "merry" moment... let's maybe schedule one of these next summer as well?
;-)== "Ho-ho-ho!"

UP IN THE AIR - SCRIPT & TRAILER

UP IN THE AIR

Adapted & Directed by JASON REITMAN
Starring GEORGE CLOONEY

I just read the script for "Up in the Air", which is available at a link on Simply Scripts (click on the title at the beginning of the paragraph, PDF).

GO TO AND DOWNLOAD "UP IN THE AIR" SCRIPT

WATCH "UP IN THE AIR" TRAILER ON YOUTUBE

It's the story of a hatchet-man who terminates employees by contract, collecting frequent flyer miles all the way. It's a drama, not a horror-flick, he doesn't actually kill the people, he just fires them -- same thing, kinda.

Most of this was filmed in St. Louis, and much of that in my old stomping grounds of Maplewood, Missouri. The midwest offers a lot for a shoot -- it's economical, has diverse architecture, trees, rolling hills -- the only thing you won't find there is a desert, or an ocean, the latter being one of the reasons I moved away.

Main character Ryan is an interesting fellow. He doesn't talk, he "quips", and he "lives" in airports and planes. Ryan avoids relationships on every level, this frequent flyer could write a manual on the best techniques to use when speaking to an adjacent passenger on a flight -- keep it to small talk, then depart quickly.

Love interest Alex lives the same lifestyle, and when they cross paths it just might be a deal made in heaven -- which to them is Homestead Suites, a competitor to the Courtyard Marriot hotel chain. Observe --

INT. - HOTEL - BAR - NIGHT

Ryan and Alex have taken over a couch and have the contents of their wallets spread out - ALL MEMBERSHIP CARDS.

RYAN
Courtyard Marriott card? How dare you bring that into this palace.

ALEX
Homestead Suites offers equal value and better food - But the Marriott gives out warm cookies at check in.

RYAN
They got you with the cookies?

ALEX
I'm a sucker for simulated hospitality.

The script is a terrific read, plenty of sub-plot, twists. Clocks in at about 124 pages, it's a PDF scan so I can't be exact.

One of the basic themes is unemployment, or people just about to join the breadline when they get the news of being fired. With the economy the way it is, Clooney's appeal, Reitmann calling the shots, and people flying less these days therefore wanting to feel like they are, I predict a blockbuster sellout, put me on record for --

199 million dollars.

Could go higher, "Hangover" did the upper 200's, but I'll keep it modest.

Please support this film, there's a real story here and it reflects the times we're going through, it's deserving.

"UP IN THE AIR" OFFICIAL WEBSITE, TRAILER, CLIPS

"UP IN THE AIR" ON IMDB