Below are Mini Reviews from Cineman Syndicate for three films opening on December 4, 2009.

UP IN THE AIR. Topical, humorous, and moving, this savvy dramedy about corporate life in America should resonate across the classes -- from First to Economy, boardroom to cubicle. George Clooney plays a "transition specialist" who travels the country firing people and giving motivational speeches on the virtues of shedding human connections. The pink-slipper extraordinaire takes immense pride in his vagabond existence, especially in the frequent flier miles he's racked up. Time spent with another road warrior (Vera Famiga) and a green colleague (Anna Kendrick) begins to alter his outlook however. Retaining a cheerful cynicism throughout, director Reitman (Juno) and company understand that what's implied is as powerful as what's scripted. (R) GREAT COMEDY-DRAMA; Director - Jason Reitman; Lead - George Clooney; Running Time - 107 minutes. Limited opening on December 4 -- wide on Christmas Day. (Capsule review by John P. McCarthy)

BROTHERS. What a moving and morally murky melting pot of a film Brothers turns out to be. A reworking of Susanne Bier's 2004 Danish drama, it circles the globe to comment on our nation's military presence in Afghanistan, then doubles back to administer a swift kick to America's heartland. Directed by an Irishman -- Oscar nominee Jim Sheridan (In the Name of the Father) -- it's carried by three American stars -- Tobe Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman -- capable of deglamorizing their celebrity for meaty roles. Inevitably, some of the original's impact is shed, but the emotional currents remain so charged you won't need a translator to understand the heartache conveyed on screen. (R) GOOD DRAMA. Director - Jim Sheridan; Lead - Tobey Maguire; Running Time - 110 minutes.  (Capsule review by Sean O'Connell)

EVERYBODY'S FINE. Robert De Niro's recent widower sets off on a cross-country trip to visit his adult children (Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, and Drew Barrymore) after they bail out on a visit to him. The resulting drama is deceptively low-key -- emotions will run very high by the end -- and nicely detailed as well as beautifully modulated. De Niro gives one of his better performances as a simple man who's deeper than we see at first. Kirk Jones' script, loosely based on the 1990 Italian film Stanno tutti bene, is a sharp and perceptive exploration of family. Its major insight: we keep secrets because we think lies are kinder than the truth. (PG-13) GOOD DRAMA. Director - Kirk Jones; Lead - Robert De Niro; Running Time - 100 minutes.  (Capsule review by MaryAnn Johanson)

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