20 Opening Movie Scenes That Are Totally Flawless
11. People Do Crazy Sh*t When They Get Fired - Up In The Air (2009)
Character studies make for the best kind of drama, and Up in the Air is one of the most affecting character studies to come out of the late 2000s.
Directed by Jason Reitman, the film concerns a man called Ryan (George Clooney) who fires people for a living, and spends his days travelling the world to complete his latest jobs. Along the way, he falls in love, loses touch with his career path, and struggles to mentor a newcomer (Anna Kendrick).
It's a seriously great piece of cinema, toeing the line between comedy and drama with pin-point precision, and it opens with a simple scene which sums up the entire movie in just two minutes.
A montage of people come across the screen, reacting to the news they're being fired with disdain and sadness, before Clooney enters the picture and a voice-over reveals everything you need to know about Ryan and his admittedly cruel job. It's funny, dark, and mournful, and sets the stage for the rest of the film beautifully.